(New York) American musician and composer Michael Nesmith, a member of rock group The Monkees who competed with the Beatles in the 1960s, died on Friday at the age of 78, his entourage announced.
“It is with great sadness that I learn of the death of Michael Nesmith. For thirty years we have shared many trips and projects together, which culminated with the Monkees farewell tour which was completed just a few weeks ago, ”wrote Monkees manager Andrew Sandoval on Twitter.
The artist died of natural causes at his home in California, according to local media citing his family.
The Monkees played in a television show, which aired from 1966 to 1968, four men seeking to become rockers in Los Angeles. In the midst of The Beatles’ madness, their resemblance to the British group, including hairstyles, was anything but coincidental.
The quartet was the precursor of boy bands, made up of young people who did not play their own instruments, even if they were really musicians.
In the United States, they had even surpassed the Beatles in terms of sales for a while: their first two records. The Monkees and More of the Monkees had climbed back to the top of the album charts, remaining number one for 31 straight weeks in 1966 and 1967.
Among their biggest hits are Last Train to Clarksville, Daydream believer and I’m a Believer, written by Neil Diamond.
After their television successes, the group had pursued their career outside the small screen and created their own music, with a revival in the 1980s.
Michael Nesmith had refused to partner with his former acolytes for this comeback tour, but had reunited with them in 1996 for a new album, Justus.
“My heart is broken,” reacted on Twitter, Micky Dolenz, the only survivor of the original group.
Davy Jones, the band’s lead vocalist, died in 2012 and bassist Peter Tork in 2019.