I worked on Elephant Parts and spoke with Nez just before his passing .. unusual talented man !!

@gardensofthegods

5 ай бұрын

What did you do on elephant parts ? Do you remember what that last conversation with him was about ... can you share it with us ? Was he not well before he died ? They said he died peacefully in his sleep ... but then I also heard he died of a heart attack which is not the same thing

@cjogocarmel

5 ай бұрын

I was documenting the production -- a "stills" man .. The last meet == we spoke of Elephant Parts ++ since I was along for the ride every day ...

@aburrage7697

2 ай бұрын

Such a wonderful moment of your life. Thanks for sharing with us all.

@aprilgubbins465

Ай бұрын

Elephants Parts was phenomenally- precursor to MTV. Groundbreaking!!

So sad to hear Mike passed. He was my favorite Monkee back in the day. In fact, my freshman year is college, I had a wool cap like Mike's and wore it all the time. Thanks Don. As always a very good job.

@trentnunyabiz6204

2 жыл бұрын

"You know that's not even michael nesmiths real hat" kzread.info/dash/bejne/Y6Bpl62HdszAZ7w.html

@mhunsypainters

2 жыл бұрын

@@trentnunyabiz6204 lmao

@buddywilliams5650

2 жыл бұрын

Why the cap? Brain Wilson of the beach boys nowhere near what Brain wrote or did in the studio.

@dalemunkres6915

5 ай бұрын

EXACTLY!

RIP Mike. :( Everybody, form a protective circle around Mickey Dolenz

@siggylloyd3566

2 жыл бұрын

I much prefer Coco to Mickey.

@KOSMICKEN09

2 жыл бұрын

Micky without the E. 😁

Not the wildest interview ever, but then again, that was Mike in a nutshell. RIP to a pretty fascinating individual.

@ecogreenarchive

Жыл бұрын

He was so fascinating I hate that I missed his final shows :,( love him dearly!

@zakmartin

Жыл бұрын

Well, no; it was Mike in a suit. Or Michael, as he apparently wanted to be addressed.

My God Im gutted. Happy Trails Mike. Thanks for the soundtrack to my youth.

What an interesting interview. Dave really adjusted his energy to Mike's. *That* was a real *chat.* Serious stuff. We all gotta go, and Mike Nesmith did some interesting stuff with his time here. Glad to have seen this piece of it.

A teacher at my high school went to see The Monkees and saw the tour that Jimi Hendrix opened up on - RIP Michael!

@anotherjoshua

2 жыл бұрын

so did my sister -- at the old forest hills tennis stadium. we lived a few houses down from the stadium. hendrix was mercilessly booed.

I saw this when I was 21. Now I see it again at 59. RIP Mike.

@merriemisfit8406

9 ай бұрын

I'm quite sure I didn't catch this on its first run, but I do believe I saw it rerun in the spring of 1984. My mum drove into town (Los Angeles) to visit, and my three roommates and I told her to ditch the motel and just stay with us in our apartment. So we were up late one of those nights, kind of one of those "I'm too tired to go to bed" things, and Mike Nesmith was a guest on whatever was on the living room telly. We were listening to him (talking about an award he'd won) so attentively that I didn't even remember, for years, whether the host was Johnny Carson or Dave Letterman. That talk show appearance was how I first heard about Bette Nesmith's great invention -- straight from her dear son, not from the Wikipedia.

I remember these videos appearing on HBO as "shorts" before MTV. Mike was the pioneer of music videos, and MTV. But that all falls back on his time and experience with the Monkees. And very much encouragement from the great, Frank Zappa. Thanks, Mike, for all you've done for modern musicians.

I always felt that Mike was to the Monkees what George was to the Beatles. The most interesting member, the most complex sounds. I always preferred his songs. Such a loss, such a loss.

@michellevitali4540

2 жыл бұрын

Mike and George are my favorite members of both groups!!

@bradypierce3194

2 жыл бұрын

It

@johnpripusich2876

2 жыл бұрын

Great piece from Letterman! I like David, and Nesmith is an all time favorite of mine! I only wish this segment was longer! If I were the host, I'd have been more enthusiastic and ABSOLUTELY complimented Mike on already 13 years of incredibly great solo music by 1983, and talked about that extensively. And his Monkee-era and solo songwriting. Dave could have mentioned "Rio", heard in one of the "Elephant Parts" clips shown, and its chart success in the U.K.. R.I.P. Mike Nesmith. Thanks for the incredible music and fun.

@BlueEyes-gp8lg

2 жыл бұрын

You may be right on George being the most interesting Beatle. Certainly the deepest thinker. But Paul was the most complex songwriter musically...the true art-rocker of the four.

@debbieschue5068

Жыл бұрын

I have been a Monkee s fan since I was about 7(52 yrs ago!). Mike's songs have always been my fave too. Great tunes and lyrics!

An incredibly bright and creative and talented man.

Michael was a great songwriter I have several albums and they wonderful. I remember watching the tv show as a young boy in the ’70’s and rediscovered the band and Michael’s music in the early ‘90’s and I have been listening ever since. RIP

I always thought that Michael had the best voice in the band by far listen to his solo work it's awesome

@humphreygruntwhistle3946

Жыл бұрын

He absolutely had the best voice in the band. It wasn’t close. But the “poppy” stuff the Monkees cranked out was better suited for Micky and Davy. As a serious musician, I’d bet that Mike had no problem NOT singing those songs.

RIP Nez.🙏🏻 thanks for sharing this, Don.

Been watching and listening to Mike a lot the last 2 years as my 3 year old son loves The Monkees, one of his fave bands, & he always points out Mike when he's on vocals. So the news of his passing makes me very sad!

It's interesting how much of what we would call throwaway TV during the 60's lasted so long. The Monkees. Gilligan's Island. Lost In Space. Star Trek. The Beverly Hillbillies. The Munsters. The Addams Family. The Brady Bunch. (It began in 1969) Batman. It just shows how something which we took for granted had a lasting effect on so many people.

Man, I looked for that for years. I went downtown one day to a huge record store we had down there, about 1988 or 1989 or so, and I finally found it. Zoomed home, got on the phone and called up my buddy. I'm like, "Hey, Alan! Come on over!" "Wha' for?" "I've got Elephant Parts!" "... ... ..." The silence on the other end of the line was funnier than anything he could have possibly said. :D

Loved Mike he had one of those voices you can never forget rest in peace Michael ❤❤❤

He was so fucking hot. And talented. And strange. In a good way. 💔

@joealexandra7185

2 жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more. He had that old-school Southern charm. And he was so talented -- he was only twenty-two when he wrote that beautiful song, "Different Drum," which in itself is about being strange in a good way.

RIP to a legend. You will be missed my friend. 🌹

Everytime I see Liquid Paper or Whiteout in the stores. I'll think of Mike Nesmith's mother.

@cindikirkland1955

2 жыл бұрын

❤

Like everyone else, I was saddened by the news of Nez. What a loss. I saw The Monkees live the summer of '96 at Pine Knob Music Theater just outside of Detroit. Different world then, for sure. A better world. I'll never forget that experience with my dad (I'm 41 now). It feels like everything is crumbling and passing away in the world. But, the memories cannot be taken away. Ah, the good ole days. They just slipped away like sand. If I'd have known they'd one day be considered as such, I wouldn't have been in such a hurry to move on past em'. That's the thing---- when we're presently experiencing what will one day be considered "the good ole days" ----- we're not aware of it. So, we take it for granted (and rush on through to the next chapter of life). Then, inevitably, we find ourselves longing for what was so flippantly overlooked and disregarded. Life is a self-contradicting oxymoronic paradox. But, if you catch it in the right light, while in the right mood---- it's beautiful.

@Newton14alan

2 жыл бұрын

Ontologically Steve -- Yes, yes, yes!...and so very well put (the second paragraph really says it all)...Thank you!

@andrewpotok2661

7 ай бұрын

By the 2nd paragraph I was falling asleep. Ty

Brilliant man! My favorite Monkee! His voice definitely stood out! R.I.P. Michael ❤

Thanks for the memories Don. I was a devoted member of the Monkees Fan Club back in the day. My how time passes by. RIP Robert Michael Nesmith

Hello from England! Very sad to hear this news. We loved the Monkeys over on this side of the pond. Thank you for all the great songs.

@dongiller

2 жыл бұрын

Monkees. I know - damn autocorrect. :)

Thank you for sharing this. Haven’t seen this clip for quite awhile. Love and miss you very much Michael. ❤

I grew up to them. I was a Huge Beatles fan!! In fact in 67ish I wanted to have my name changed to John. So you never let your friends know you liked them well until the Last train was a anti Vietnam war song so they became cool. But I will say the best Monkee song & one of my all time fav of all songs is You just may be the one! Rip Mike, Peter and Davey...

Don, you are to be commended repeatedly. Your channel is beyond incredible. Many, moving videos, such as this, I've teared up on multiple occasions. Thank you, sir. Subscribed today.

@dongiller

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

I rented Elephant Parts VHS back in the mid 80's. Already being a Monkee fan, I was interested prior to watching it. There some classic, funny segments of that tape.

Here is an interesting tid bid as well. VHS is capable of producing near CD quality audio. So Mike Nesmith knew what he was doing by releasing his music on HiFi VHS. Far superior to vinyl. This was also before CDs really took off. Mike was a total pioneer in more ways than one and a creative genius.

R.I.P. Mike Nesmith! YOU ARE MISSED!

So ironic that I was watching this when I saw the news on Facebook. Thanks for finding and posting this video. RIP Nez

I love him so much!! What a mind he had. RIP

Thank you a very special interview

Thanks Don

@carlharrison9503

2 жыл бұрын

Too qwik... He will be missed.Does the tour continue?

Liquid paper got me thru college. Rip

Awesome job as usual Don. My wife is a huge Monkees fan and Mike was her favorite. She'll enjoy watching this interview

I've watched the Rodanne clip many times and I still laugh, It's fricken hilarious! It's starts at the intro where Michael is desperately trying to keep from laughing! I've watched Time Rider several times thru the years, what a great movie it is and a very creative and unusual storyline!

Also Executive Producer of the amazing film "Repo Man" (1984)

@factsoverfiction7826

2 жыл бұрын

🎬 Really?! Love that movie.

SO talented and handsome!!!! Kim

The soundtrack to _Repo Man_ LIVES in my car. "Bad Man" and the one and only "Reel Ten".

How handsome! R.I.P. Nez! 🌹

Just watching the old interviews. Broke my heart to hear he passed. That's all.

The feet blocking the television was always my favorite commercial bumper on Letterman!

R.I.P. Mike much loved by so many ❤️.

Thank you for Repo Man, Mike

@granthurlburt4062

Жыл бұрын

His greatest contribution. Funny, smart, and satirical. Emilio's deadpan lines and Harry Dean Stanton were great and I often say to myself "Radiation is GOOD for you"! at random appropriate times. Along with Buckeroo Banzai, it is half of a two film genre, IMHO.

@erilaz7

Жыл бұрын

@@granthurlburt4062 I probably quote Repo Man more than any other movie. I said "Plate of shrimp" at work just this afternoon.

I actually wore a wool cap in the summer for a while in junior high because of Mike. He was the coolest and funniest Monkee, and his were the best songs. And he had the best, most interesting post Monkees career. He was the George Harrison of the Monkees heh heh.

Thank God for Liquid Paper / white out.

Dave ,you blew it. Your legacy could have been immortalized with one act of entrepreneurial wisdom. Have Sonny and Cher reunite with Mike Nesmith.

I dumped TV in 1997, but I forgot just how subtleiy hilarious David Letterman was. Mike was holding his own as well, though I suspect it went over a lot of folks heads...😁

A great fellow Dallas Texan 💔 This aired two years before I was born, but I’ve loved him since I was a kid

A lovely, brilliant, complex man. 💕

The Monkees are Legends ..Top Class 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

RIP Michael Nesmith

Mike & Micky just played as The Monkees 3 weeks ago in LA 😥

Ha! The things you learn on KZread! I had never heard of liquid paper and after looking it up... Tippex!!! At least that’s what we call it over here in the U.K.!!! Brilliant... that’s some serious pub trivia right there! “Did you know that the mother of Michael Nesmith from the Monkees invented Tippex?!” Lol

Mike looks different but his speaking voice is SO distinctive.

Thank-you Don

oh how everything's changed in 30 years.

Cool interview he looks like a young Allen Rickman

It's funny to see people having to explain the concept of videocassettes in the 1980s . . . and having to explain them again to kids in the 2020s 😆

Your early Letterman posts, D.G, show a much more variegated guest booking philosophy than later, when the show became the great late night hit. In the early days it seemed to be about who was simply available (whether or not something needed to be pitched) and who among them might be interesting. Later, it was much more about ratings and marketing. It's only that so many of the greatest segments seem to come from the first 18 months of the show, and then that magic slowly trails off in a different direction.

@Piwork69

2 жыл бұрын

I love this type of booking before it became all about celebrities.

Well, if you can’t be on The Brady Bunch then being on Letterman is the next best thing. - Davy Jones

What a cool dude 😎

RIP Mr. Nesmith

Smart man...

Timerider was cool & clever for what it was, even at a $1 million budget. Glad that Mike was able to get into movie production as well during his life.

Elephant Parts!!

Mike was the inspiration for MTV later....I heard back in those days...

i remember nesmiths nbc special it had a lot of future stars and was very entertaining. He seems very creatively intelligent and a bit impatient with run of the mill stuff but who knows from a brief interview. sorry to see him go. farewell

He really is just a good ol' country boy! What you see is what you get!

That video category wasnt even carried by the Grammys live on TV? I dont think Mike or Letterman knew what this new medium would become!

Michael looks like Hans Gruber from Die Hard in this interview.

Loved Nez. RIP

He was quite hard work. Comes across more as a businessman. You can see how he jarred with Pete Tork’s zany approach to life.

My comment is if it wasn't for Michael Nesmith it would be no monkeys he was my favorite. I actually played the guitar myself and actually had my mom buy me a green beanie with a pom pom and had her so on four white buttons. Later on I became a big fan of Gretsch guitars which is the guitar he most likely was famous for. We miss you Michael

I always liked his little cameo as a cabbie who picks up Bobcat Goldthwait in Whoopie Goldberg's Burglar (Bob: "You look a little like Elvis...not when he was all fat and on drugs and everything"). RIP

handsome devil

God, I wish NFTs could be as easily explained as "video albums" were here!

Thanks for another neat video, Don. I have a question and I'm not sure how else to reach you. I saw a clip on your channel featuring a young, disheveled standup comic whose act involved lots of screaming and panicking and such. Do you know who the comedian is or which video he was in? Thanks!

@dongiller

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like Sam Kinison. kzread.info/dash/bejne/iYFquqimfti6o8o.html Or Bob Goldthwait. kzread.info/dash/bejne/g3mhs86ffLTakso.html

@grahambrant8509

2 жыл бұрын

@@dongiller It was Bob! Thanks so much

@gardensofthegods

5 ай бұрын

Sam Kinison had an unusual life and he was actually a child preacher . His brother has said that when he was holding him as he was passing away that Sam was talking and saying something along the lines of okay I'll come home now ... to someone the brother couldn't see .

R.I.P. Nez

timerider? we have you to blame for that?! i think it's out of print. i need that one! rip, mike.

A pocket battleship - a very influencial guy - notice how David calls him Mr Nesmith

@cherylhulting1301

6 ай бұрын

I always notice that too. 🙂 Nez was a pioneering business man with Pacific Arts by this point as well.

Talented he was, however I don't think I could have watched the video much longer.

I had elephant parts on laserdisc. If it had been on videotape, it would have been worn out quickly.

Awwwwwww, and he was on tour with The Circus Boy..yeah, Mickey D.

🧡

That sounds like a small audience. 😳

@PlumbPitiful

2 жыл бұрын

This was Dave's original studio at NBC. It was a lot smaller than the Ed Sullivan Theater that he was in when he moved to CBS.

He wants to be taken seriously...minimal reaction ..he knows this appearance is important

Time Rider deserved more admiration. Fred Ward was awesome.

Very Talented guy although he seemed to act like he was better then anybody else..

@cherylhulting1301

2 ай бұрын

Just a rather smart and introverted man. He was actually a pretty humble fella. But he had faith in his artistic abilities.

Tom green ?

@woodenturkey

2 жыл бұрын

He was like 6 years old when this aired lol

@cookie5335

2 жыл бұрын

@@woodenturkey It looks like him

I remember watching an interview with Rafelson once and he said that the Monkees were the four least talented people he ever met and I remember being surprised by it at the time but now watching both Peter and Michael on Letterman I have to scratch my head and wonder maybe he had something there, I mean at least from his perspective not mine of course

@cherylhulting1301

6 ай бұрын

Rafelson didn't know what he was talking about. He made his fortune on the backs of the Monkees.

Shame dave didn't talk about movie more.

Wow…he was such an innovator…Beyoncé did this with Lemonade thirty something years later.

So, let me get this straight: You watch a video and listen to music at the same time? Hmm...I don't know. You really think people will want to watch this? I mean, listen to it? I mean -- gak, this is so confusing!

@cherylhulting1301

6 ай бұрын

😂😂 You know that Michael Nesmith literally pioneered the format for MTV, right?

@sm5574

6 ай бұрын

@@cherylhulting1301, yes, it was a joke. I have been a huge Monkees fan for over 35 years, so I am well aware of the guys and their endeavors.

I thought this was 82?

@dongiller

2 жыл бұрын

That was Peter Tork. kzread.info/dash/bejne/hpqH19mNd9O8ZbQ.html

Tom Green’s dad

check out his guitar strap. i guess he was way before his time.

Mike was the only member with big family money, he never had to do anything he didnt want to do to make money. I assume most of his business ventures were self funded vanity projects.

@cherylhulting1301

6 ай бұрын

They wasn't the case initially. Nez and his mom didn't have a lot of money as he was growing up. But Bette Nesmith's company finally started to turn a profit in 1968 when Nez was on "The Monkees" and earning his own bread. She turned that company into a multinational corporation. Bette sold the company to Gillette for $48 million in the late 70s; Nez reportedly inherited about half on her death in 1980. That did indeed give him some freedom. In his memoir Nez had interesting things to say - pro and con - about inheriting so much money.

@gardensofthegods

5 ай бұрын

​@@cherylhulting1301Interesting , thank you for explaining that ... and I figured that since his mom was a single parent and he was born in the 1940s ... and she didn't invent the stuff until the mid-1950s , then I knew he did not grow up with the silver spoon ... he possibly had a good bit of struggling in his early childhood . Do you remember what he said about the negative aspects of inheriting that money ?

@cherylhulting1301

2 ай бұрын

​@@gardensofthegods I do. The primary thing is that, while the money gave him a lot of freedom and no more worry about bills, Nez was quietly devastated by his mother's loss. He grew up just with her, until she remarried when Nez was in his late teens. They were very close. Bette died from a sudden stroke at age 56, and I think he would have traded the money for more time with his mother. He also talked about the responsibility of managing the money well, which was something he hadn't learned to do well when he had and blew through his first Monkees fortune. There was making sure that people weren't courting friendship just for his money. Lastly, though he didn't go into many details, he said the inheritance came between him and his second wife, and contributed to their eventual divorce.

@shmataboro8634

13 күн бұрын

If you're poor and you scrape together enough money to do a project you have in mind they call you creative. If you're well off enough to do your project without having to sell your soul to someone else for the money first they call your project a vanity project. Seems kind of judgemental, doesn't it?