Michael Nesmith - Lifetime Achievement Award Speech

[jpsmart59]

David Jones, RIP.

[123Rockchild]

What happend to this Monkee? He doesn't look like Mike Nesmith anymore.

[gamesDAMNED]

@123Rockchild He grew old. Their heyday was 45 years ago, verrry long ago. I still remember their 1980s revival (thank you, cable TV), and that was 20 years after their time. Now another generation has passed. But, yeah, I hear what you're saying.

[bornyesterday21]

@gamesDAMNED we all grew old...lol...I was 11 years old when the monkees came around. the best decade for rock and roll by far, the 60's were......hey mike, where's the hat?

[coltmanm]

@123Rockchild i swear i saw a picture of him a couple of years ago and he didnt seem that old

[BrightStaroftheDawn]

@123Rockchild

His SON looks like Mike Nesmith now.

[BrightStaroftheDawn]

Very intelligent man.

[paghob]

@BrightStaroftheDawn Totally agree Bright Star. I understand his mother was a Research Chemist who invented and marketed liquid correction paper (known as Tippex in Britain). He certainly must have inherited some of her brains. Though its hard to make that differentiation when you see him as one of the Monkees.

[BrightStaroftheDawn]

@paghob

Well, whatever he did in life, I'm sure there are no regrets.

I wish I could have had a break in my early twenties like that. It looked like fun.

[paghob]

@BrightStaroftheDawn Yeah BrightStar we're about the same generation. Those were the days when music held a special meaning in your life. It gave life an extra dimension and definition. The world was so young and the Monkees sang "we're the Young Generation" Now one of them is gone.

ps you might like to hear a few pieces I've put on the Tube.

[19music57]

@paghob In 1951, Bette Nesmith Graham was working as a typist. She invented the first correction fluid in her kitchen. She manufactured and marketed it from her home for 17 years before selling the company and rights to Gillette for about 48 million dollars.

[paghob]

@19music57 Ah ok thanks for filling me in there 19

[75smurfette]

Aww, this is lovely!

[greeneyeddg]

Hey, I'm with Rockin 1953 on this one. Mr. Nesmith for President! I think he has too much integrity for a life of politics but if we had integrity in DC, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now. For what it's worth, you'd have my vote, Mr. Nesmith. Congratulations on your Lifetime Achievement Award and thank you for gracing my youth with some fun memories in silliness and song. ~Deb

[nystuff421]

he looks like President Johnson

[Llrnccrp]

The Monkees seemed to be a direct response to the Beatles - particularly the campy Beatle movies like "Help!" and "A Hard Day's Night" - so, some of the episodes were considered slap-stick interspersed with some wonderful music. You could see that Michael Nesmith wanted to do something more serious and his accomplishments have been more than inspiring - his music is and has been taken seriously for entertainment quality and value.

[michelicnek]

the only genius in a redneck piece of shit trailer park array....

[jerico641]

Jesus Christ, he looks like Lyndon Johnson now...

[sshelget]

He kinda sounds like Tom Hanks (if you close your eyes and listen). :)

[Mickagume]

Another reason to be proud to be a Texan.

[klwewf]

Nesmith is too smart to be President of the United States.

[RnbwSpice]

I wouldn't vote for him for anything.

He betrayed his bandmates & has continued to so.

And ya know, they're better off w/o him.

[klwewf]

@RnbwSpice LOL - What's your problem?

[RnbwSpice]

@klwewf Deal w/it!!



[klwewf]

@RnbwSpice Deal with what? What are you talking about?

[sshelget]

@RnbwSpice He didn't abandon his "bandmates" - the Monkees was a television show. The other 3 Monkees have always continued to invite him to join them on tours. But Mike is a businessman now and the others respect that.

[RnbwSpice]

@sshelget Do you read English -- I said "betrayed" & he did & has continued to do so

Deal w/it!!

End of convo

[sshelget]

@RnbwSpice Holy Shit, why you sound so mad at my comment? Yes I read English and if I misunderstood you, SORRY!!! My comment wasn't meant to argue or make you feel defensive. I don't agree that he "BETRAYED" his bandmates because they were a TELEVISION SHOW, not a typical "band" - and he had his own career path to follow.

[earthday1984TB]

@RnbwSpice No he didn't. He was hired to do a TV show back in the 60s. He did that, and more. Where in the hell was there some sort of lifetime contract that he had to do it forever? I've been a Monkees fan for a long time, and I have NEVER heard him utter a single cruel word against any individual member of the group EVER. He just didn't want to do it anymore so he didn't. I love all four guys, and Michael did not "betray" them. They would tell you that too!

[Andraste77]

@earthday1984TB - Well said! I said the same to someone else on YT who was slagging off Nez unfairly, and you said it better. I get really angry when people assume Nez owes them or the world a lifetime of Monkee-related music, tours, etc. He grew up, moved on, did other things, reunited with the other Monkees when schedules permitted, but built a great career and life doing other things he found fulfilling. Jeez!

[earthday1984TB]

@Andraste77 Thanks! I love Nez, and I think a lot of people misunderstand him.

[Andraste77]

@earthday1984TB - Me too. HUGE fan, and not just of the Monkees - he's got a huge body of work to look back on and be proud of, beyond a two year tv show!

[Andraste77]

@RnbwSpice - What a stupid thing to say. he never betrayed anyone - he reunited with them, several times when schedules permitted. Was there some commandment that he was somehow BOUND to them forever and required to never move on and do anything else? For your information Tork was the first to quit the group, and Davy Jones had the most vitriolic things to say about the others in the press. He moved on, grew up, did other things. YOU deal with it.

[klwewf]

@RnbwSpice You must be a woman. Or, a homosexual. Then again, you might just have a mental problem. He moved on w/ his life and endeavors. You seriously can't understand that?

[yippierb]

I always liked this guy. He's got class.

[HerrEllsworth]

If the Monkees ever do get into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, Mike would be there with the others. That would be the perfect post-scriptum in the history of the group.

[ThePicklepirate]

Inspiring speech. You sir, are one cool dude.

[tsloverlarry]

Papa Nez is the EPITOME of cool!!!

[rockgirl954]

Damn, Nesmith is great with words.

[MrChrispy777]

I won't vote for you, Mr. Nesmith, if you run for president. I want to see you live for many more years.

[babeesquid]

was he cyring?

[photobart1]

Mike looks and talks like President Johnson.

[MrPete60441]

@photobart1 Yes he does speak like President Johnson and and I think he looks like President Ford

[jitterbug121]

BRAVO!

[armadafanforever]

Age hasn't rotted his vocabulary any. Beautiful speech, very moving :')

[mollycottontail]

Very handsome and distinguished. He has aged well.

[Babyhowdy233]

@mollycottontail

His MIND has aged well, bu the rest of him has aged like a road apple in the sun. :(

[Rocketryman]

Good job Mike!

[FuzzballToday]

I think the NEZ is genuine and human and compassionate and natural in his own way as he always seemed to be as I view him as a fan all these years....Come ON NEZ...You don't need anything but a GUITAR and a Wool BLACK CAP....I and many others would SO like to see you on tour with your band friends we grew up with...You are as young as you feel..So Mike...feel young and get your son to play along with....I wanna see who plays and sings better....We would cheer you and and the monkees grandkids

[RIchardEPfeifer]

Michael Nesmith was great, my fav until somebody gave me a cigarette and flipin forgot.... Love all of his songs still!

[tas6010]

Michael is a video genius. He's also one of the finest songwriters of my generation.

[TheDorr71]

has Mike written a biography on his life? He, in my opinion was the most interesting,most stable one of the group

[MaskedMarvyl]

Mike Nesmith virtually invented the modern music video; he created a collection of videos he called "Pop Clips", and his idea for a music channel turned into MTV.

[NightGallery]

He does have a very presidential air about him!

[TheDorr71]

when are David,Mickey,and Peter going to realize,that without Michael,forget touring! They want to tour-unbelieveable. It's not the same. Michael got it.

[Poochyenagirl]

@TheDorr71 I don't agree. The guys went on tour before without Mike and they did just fine. It would be great if he would tour with them again but I think that's highly unlikely.

[madmike180250]

@TheDorr71 Dead right it's only The Monkees if there are 4 of them ,without Michael it is not them

[TheDorr71]

@madmike180250 Well, maybe they are doing it for fun only. Mike certainly was the best songwriter.I also thought he sang the best,which is my opinion,I know.

[poptopia1]

mike is a music pioneer and was years ahead of his time.

[courttube3]

WAY TO GO MAN!!!! MIKE FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!

[JamesPortland]

This guy could walk down he street and you would never know it was Michael Nesmith. Definitely and business man now.

[scriptbird]

I'm definitely a Mike Nesmith fan. Way to go, Mr. Nesmith!  Continued success for you and yours.

[pollyesther63]

This man has one of the best vocabularies I have ever heard- look at the many songs he wrote, plus his book "The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora". I have always admired his dry wit and intelligence.

[rockin1953]

Mr. Nesmith, have you ever thought about running for President of the United States ? if so, You have my vote

[pollyesther63]

@rockin1953 - Oddly enough, in the early 80s, I thought he should run for president and Stewart Copeland for VP- an artist friend of mine even created a screen print poster of them for me.

[avlisk]

@rockin1953 I think he already has, under his other pseudonym of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Separated at birth for sure.

[christinazweck]

@rockin1953 He'll have my vote too!

[tiffanyann5152]

@rockin1953 Nez for Prez. I already have the t-shirt that says that lol

[hummer1258]

@rockin1953 AMEN!

[mark8ball]

Well done Mr. Nesmith, a surprisingly good speech, well constructed, not too long, well spoken with pauses for effect in all the right places, and a very cool metaphor about the airline route map. If he didn't in fact pay a speech writer for this, then he should become one himself - maybe help Obama out. Agree about the audience noise; are people that rude or was a floor microphone (the one for questions from the audience) left switched on and mixed in with the stage mic ?

[johnbonham92580]

gotta luv m,nesmith....

[tedm1975]

What a cool guy!

[christinazweck]

Love Mike Nesmith! Always have and always will! Thanks for posting!

[meallen6464]

Great speech, but who are all of those people in the audience talking while he makes it?! Rude boneheads...

[Monkofmagnesia]

Nesmith once said that we have rap music, country music, rock music pop music, classical music, folk music, jazz music, but there's only one song.

[bitterchew]

not a bad speaker

[mickydolenz4ever]

great speech thank you for posting :)