
In 1967, the Monkees sold more records than the Beatles. And the Rolling Stones. Combined. That year they also scored their third number one single, plus another Top Five hit. The assembled-for-television quartet were the biggest rock music act in the United States and United Kingdom. Three short years later, they’d be stripped down to duo and watch their final pre-reunion single peak at a pathetic #98.
So, what happened?
First, The Monkees was canceled after two seasons when the boys and network couldn’t agree on a new direction for the third year. Then, the quartet’s feature film debut, Head (co-written by none other than a psychedelically-enhanced Jack Nicholson), was a confusing, resounding flop. To make a bad situation worse, their first variety special for NBC was scarcely watched, scheduled against the Academy Awards. Citing exhaustion, Peter Tork split, leaving the remaining three to release two more middling albums as a trio before troubadour Michael Nesmith rode off into the country-rock sunset.
And then there were two. (more…)


Former Monkee Michael Nesmith closed out the ’70s in a better position than when the decade began. After the Monkees disbanded, Nez knocked around a bit on RCA Records, scoring a sole Top 40 hit with “Joanne” in 1970, then a few lower charting country-rock singles as the years wound on, until he parted ways with the label. It was probably the best move of his career, outside of auditioning for the Pre-fab Four. Free of a major label contract, Nez founded Pacific Arts, a multi-media company specializing in commercials, filmwork, music, and most prescient, music video.