Michael Nesmith

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 12 Dec 2021 4:29 pm

Great story Herb. Five Fender 2000s, really?

I'm enjoying seeing the photos and reading the stories.

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 13 Dec 2021 1:07 pm

I am still in shock; I just spent 2 1/2 months being with Nez almost every day, traveling to 40 different cities to play shows. To try and process his sudden passing over this past very rough weekend since we heard the news I wrote this remembrance, which our cool local weekly published today:

https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/na ... fa29f.html

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 13 Dec 2021 1:27 pm

Well written & well said, Pete. My condolences to you & to all his family & friends.
I played with him only once, at the NAMM show in '94. I enjoyed every minute of it, and once was definitely not enough.
Vaya con Dios, Nez...

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 13 Dec 2021 3:44 pm

Thanks for sharing that, Pete.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Dec 2021 6:40 pm

Great remembrances, but I also want to extend my sympathies on the loss of your friend and hero.

I was fond of the Monkees TV show as a little kid. I remember him as the most serious one, the dad of the Monkees (and in turn, my least favorite—ha!). I didn’t actually learn about Mike’s own music until I became a part of this community, so I am thankful for that.

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 14 Dec 2021 12:43 pm

Nice write up Pete. Thanks for sharing the link.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 14 Dec 2021 3:55 pm

Another picture of Nez and Peter Tork in the recording studio. The Fender 2000 made an excellent coffee table! The two necks on those were wide apart with plenty of shelf space in between.

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 14 Dec 2021 5:30 pm

I've always considered Mike to be a pretty good guitar player no matter if the guitar is acoustic or electric. Through the years I've read multiple times that Mike considered Peter Tork the better guitar player of the two. I do know both played multiple instruments well.

Dennis Lee · Post by **Dennis Lee** » 16 Dec 2021 8:38 am

Rest In Peace, thank you for your huge contribution and great songs. I also thought his voice was very special.
I love Herb's story too, that is classic inside information that was a pleasure to learn.

Peter Dollard · Post by **Peter Dollard** » 16 Dec 2021 2:45 pm

Didnt he write different drum? I remember hearing it and wondering who wrote it perhasps for Linda ronstadt...

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 16 Dec 2021 4:03 pm

Didnt he write different drum? I remember hearing it and wondering who wrote it perhasps for Linda ronstadt...

Michael Nesmith wrote "Different Drum" early on, before the Monkees show started, and demoed it in 1965. The Greenbriar Boys got it directly from Nesmith and recorded it first; their version was released in 1966. The Stone Poneys (with Linda Ronstadt) got it from the Greenbriar Boys version and recorded it in 1967.

At some point, probably late '65 or early '66, Nesmith pitched the song to the music supervisors on the Monkees TV show, but they weren't interested in using it for the group or the show. Then Ronstadt had the big hit with it, and went solo soon after.

Nesmith has recorded it several times in the years since, and Micky Dolenz recorded and released it earlier this year on his "Dolenz Sings Nesmith" album. Nesmith wrote a lot of great songs; I've been a fan for over 50 years and am still finding ones I never knew about!

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 16 Dec 2021 6:00 pm

While Nez was a fan and champion of great pedal steel guitar, let's not forget he, too, was a steel player. When The Monkees won the right to play their own instruments, he played steel on several tracks for their "Headquarters" album (photos of those sessions are here in this thread)...you can hear his playing on:

Mr. Webster https://youtu.be/OZPro5Rc8w0

Shades of Gray https://youtu.be/D9ZxRjItD1o

I'll Spend My Life With You https://youtu.be/UI0vBvjuSbY

Interestingly, he didn't utilize the pedal steel on his own country-tinged tracks for that album ("You Told Me," "Sunny Girlfriend" and "You Just May Be The One").

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 16 Dec 2021 7:07 pm

This got me listening to a number of his solo works and I'm completely impressed. I wasn't aware of his material and for that I am sad. What a talented writer and singer.

Peter Dollard · Post by **Peter Dollard** » 16 Dec 2021 9:01 pm

I had forgotten about the Greenbriar Boys version and I even have their CD thanks for the history lesson!!!!

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 18 Dec 2021 2:11 pm

Just over two years ago, Jim Palenscar was tasked with tuning up Nez' Baldwin Crossover - possibly this is the one he bought in 1968 when doing his famous Nashville sessions with Lloyd Green. The steel has his initials inlaid on it.

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 18 Dec 2021 4:40 pm

Joe, great pictures. Two observations if I may. First I've never seen a pedal steel with a wrist lever. Second, that steel looks so heavy it could mess up your back setting up and tearing down.

John Brabant · Post by **John Brabant** » 28 Dec 2021 8:02 am

A nice obit in the Guardian. Includes a pic of Nez on the road last month with Pete Finney doing what he does best. RIP Michael.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/ ... h-obituary

John Brabant · Post by **John Brabant** » 28 Dec 2021 10:34 am

Listen to Nez discuss his being asked to play pedal steel with the Byrds in 1968 by Roger McgGuinn...humble guy Michael is...also mention of doing a two man show with Pete Finney. starts at 12:08 mins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCuadqN7SXQ

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 30 Dec 2021 6:44 pm

Note that today would have been Nesmith's 79th birthday. Going a different route today and listening to his "Elephant Parts"-era music in remembrance.

Also note that Red Rhodes shared a birthday with a Nez, and he would have been 91 today.

Both are greatly missed.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Michael Nesmith

Michael Nesmith

Different Drum

Re: Different Drum