Roseville Pop Culture Expert, Monkees Devotee Traces Mike Nesmith

Editor's note:  The following opinion essay was written by Rik Schwinden, the owner of Mr. Zero's, a pop culture, music and memorabilia store in Roseville.

Schwinden, who buys and sells vintage and collectible music, is a devotee of the Monkees, following the group and its individual members for decades. 

*Michael Nesmith of The MONKEES; will be performing Friday, April 5 at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul, his second solo tour in 21 years.

I have been getting this question asked a lot "Will Nez be performing  a lot of MONKEES songs? The answer is “Sorry, No.” 

However,  "Papa Gene's Blues" & “Tapioca Tundra" he does perform many songs he recorded first under the MONKEES name & can be found on "Missing Links1- 3" but did not release until his 1st few RCA solo LPs like "Some Of Shelly's Blues" & "Propinquity."

Now here's a guy who truly has done it all ! I am going to try to dispel all the misinformation surrounding Nesmith, however there is a lot to cover.

Background on Nesmith

Papa Nez was born Robert Michael Nesmith: 30 Dec 1942 in Houston, Texas to Bette (Betty Clair McMurray /Nesmith- Graham. Michael was an only child raised in Dallas/ Ft. Worth.

Bette created "Paint Out" in 1955 renamed "Liquid Paper” in 1958 (NOT: "White Out") & then sold the rights to Gillette in 1979 for $47 million (Nez inherited half of this amount in 1980).

Nesmith started his recording career in 1963 when he released his first  single "Wanderin b/w Well Well" on Highness Records & later that year "How Can You Kiss Me b/w Just A Little Love" on Omnibus.

In 1965 Nez changed his performing name to Michael Blessing, then auditioned for and got the part on the TV Show "The Monkees" & signed with Colpix Records (same label as Davy Jones) & released "The New Recruit b/w Journey With"  In Oct ’65.

Then in January 1966, Nez released his fourth 45 Single (before The Monkees 1st record was released in Aug 1966) "Until It's Time For You To Go b/w What Seems To Be The Trouble Officer." However a fifth single was re-issued to capitalize on Nesmith's Monkees' fame "Just A Little Love b/w Curson Terr" on Edan Records in 1966.

 The Monkees Project and Solo Works

 Nesmith was hired for "The Monkees" project with a 7 year contract from 1965- 971. He wrote some 46 songs for The Monkees project and was on 8 albums and 11 singles, 58 TV episodes, one feature film one TV Special.

Nez recorded his first solo album in July 1968 "Wichita Train Whistle Sings". Nesmith announced he was leaving The Monkees in Nov 1969 but did fulfill  some commercial work in 1970 as a Monkee.

Papa Nez formed the "First National Band" in early 1970 and released six LPs on RCA, the first being "Magnetic South" in Jul 1970 with the #21 Hit "Joanne" in Aug70.

His second album "Loose Salute” was in Nov 1970 with the #42 hit "Silver Moon" in Jan71. In May 1971, the band released a third LP "Nevada Fighter”. His 4th album as "The 2nd National Band"  the LP is “Tantamount To Treason" in Feb'72,  later he releases "And The Hits Just Keep A Coming"  in Aug'72.

Nez releases his final LP for RCA "Pretty Much Your Stand Ranch Stash" in Oct '73.

Nez opens his own record label "Pacific Arts" Oct'74, then releases "The Prison" boxset a record with a book in late 1974.

In March of 1977, Nez put out "From A Radio Engine To The Photon Wing" with Thee first official video single "Rio."  Though it did not score high on the charts, it became a huge TV hit as Nesmith created the show “PopClips" (in 1979) and then released his first 'Live Album' "Live At The Palais" in Aug'78.

In May 1979 Nez released "Infinite Rider On The Big Dogma" with the minor hit "Crusin" again, because of "PopClips" which ran on the "Nickleodeon" channel from late 1980 to early 1981 for 1 season of 30 min. episodes when the show was purchased by Warner Cable & turned the idea into MTV.

VHS and Film Releases

Starting in 1980, Nez turned towards VHS & Film releases, the first in 1981 was "Elephant Parts," a comedy segment video for which Nez won the 1st ever "Video Grammy".  Then in 1982 the film "Time Rider" & in 1984 the film "Repo Man".  In Mar '85 the TV Special "Television Parts" leading to the short lived TV Series (9 episodes) "Television Parts" in Jun '85. Then in 1986 the VHS "Dr. Duck's Super-Secret All-Purpose Sauce" (a part #2 of 'Television Parts") in Feb 1987 the film "Square Dance" & then in Mar 1987 "Burglar" followed by the film "Tapeheads" in 1988.

Then in the late 80s, Nez returns to releasing audio albums with "Newer Stuff" in 1989 followed by "Older Stuff" in 1991 & releases "Live @ The Britt" on VHS (in 1999 the CD came out) & to everyone's surprise releases "Tropical Campfires" in Jul'92.

With a renewed interest in writing and recording, Nez opens "Rio Records" 1994 & releases "The Garden" (the follow up to 'The Prison' 1974).

Meanwhile Nesmith's Pacific Arts Co. has had a distribution deal with PBS since 1990, over time, with neither party happy with the other. Several lawsuits were filed and in 1994 the suit, shuts down operations of Pacific Arts & in 1995 the law suit shut down his newly opened ‘Rio Records.'

However, in Feb 1999 Nez & Co. were awarded $48 million in damages.

Nesmith Returns To The Monkees  Amidst Solo stuff

In 1997 Nesmith returned to The Monkees for a new studio LP "Justus" a TV Special "Hey, Hey, It's The Monkees" & UK Tour.

In early 2000 Nez launched www.VideoRanch3d.com selling his products and "on-Line" performances. Nez finally released a new CD "Rays" in 2006. Papa Nez being a prolific writer released his first novel "The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora" in 1998 followed by his 2nd "The America Gene" in 2009.

Last year, Nesmith, Dolenz & Tork (Monkees) toured the US.

Nez also went out solo last year and is on tour now.

I remember seeing Nez on TV in 1979 for a "Where are they now" segment and my Dad said "What has he really done outside of The Monkees?” With all due respect Dad... Michael Nesmith, well he did it all.
Until the next time.... Mr.ZERO  (RLSchwinden)