"It is with great sadness that I learn of the passing of Michael Nesmith. For thirty years we have shared many trips and projects together, which culminated with the Monkees' farewell tour which was completed only a few weeks ago," writes on Twitter Monkees manager Andrew Sandoval.
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 forerunner of boy bands, made up of young people who did not play their own instruments, even though they were actually 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" were placed in quick succession at the top of the album charts, remaining number one for 31 consecutive 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 join his former acolytes for this return tour but had found them in 1996 for a new album, "Justus".
"I'm heartbroken," reacted on Twitter, Micky Dolenz, the lone survivor of the original group.
Davy Jones, the band's lead vocalist, died in 2012 and bassist Peter Tork in 2019.
© 2021 AFP