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Friday, February 22, 2019

Peter Tork

Musician and actor Peter Tork (The Monkees) (born Peter Halsten Thorkelson in Washington, DC) - February 13, 1942 - February 21, 2019, RIP

Pretty sure visitors will have read what The Monkees meant to me as a youngster and accounts of my rushing home from the evening shift of my newspaper round to catch the TV programme at teatime here in the UK!

Peter Tork was certainly an accomplished musician despite his 'wacky' persona in the group and the attendant TV series. My old boss, Katie, in the USA sang with him early on in both their careers and he was picked up from the circuit as a multi-instrumentalist. That they were a construct seems to have been difficult for many to accept which in retrospect is laughable. Based on the success of the Beatles films friend to Jack Nicholson,Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider specifically for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968. Frankly this was a commercial brainwave to construct a band with similar characters and make a TV programme about them using that sort of teenage irreverent humour. Despite what the newspapers said about none of the Monkees playing on their records, (they may not have at first) but clearly they could sing and play, Davy came from musical theatre in the UK, and Tork, Dolenz and Nesmith were all accomplished and competent musicians. Mike Nesmith perhaps the most accomplished and who went on to have the greatest album success. There has been talk over on other blogs I note with some irritation that this was not the case and there was an awful trolling of the blogs by followers denying they ever appreciated the likes of Jimi Hendrix who did indeed play support when he first started the Experience. The Monkees sold over 75 million records which makes them angst the most successful pop bands fall time {Davy Jones passed away 29th February 2012 from a heart attack after running his beloved horses - he had once been a jockey and raced and kept a stable in Indiantown, Florida. He was 66. At the time Peter Tork bid him farewell with "Adios my Manchester Cowboy"}

Julie Newmar and Peter Tork in The Monkees (1966)

They boys were in awe of his talents and certainly appreciated his expertise and were happy too be associated even if Jimi may not have been entirely as happy with the association, early on you would open sets for anyone!

Peter will l be missed by his friends and family and all the fans of the Monkees and I count myself amongst them. Frankly you do not get your obituary in Rolling Stone magazine if you are some no mark show band bassist.

BBC says:

PETER TORK R.I.P. 1942 - 2019

Peter Tork, a member of the made-for-TV pop group The Monkees, has died on February 21, 2019 at his home in Mansfield, Connecticut. He was 77. “There are no words right now… heartbroken over the loss of my Monkee brother Peter Tork,” bandmate Micky Dolenz tweeted.

Tork, who played keyboard and bass for the group, was diagnosed with a rare form of tongue cancer in 2009. The Monkees - Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork - were brought together for an American TV series in 1966. They were huge in the 1960s, with hits like I’m A Believer and Daydream Believer.

A post on Tork’s official Facebook page said “the devastating news” was being shared “with beyond-heavy and broken hearts”. It said: “Our friend, mentor, teacher, and amazing soul, Peter Tork, has passed from this world.” A message posted on the band’s official Twitter page said that Tork had “passed peacefully” and invited fans to share their favourite memories by adding their comments.

Tork’s contemporary, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, tweeted: “I’m sad to hear about Peter Tork passing. I thought The Monkees were great and Peter will be missed. Love & mercy to Peter’s family, friends and fans.” - BBC

Mike Nesmith said “Peter Tork will be a part of me forever,” said Mike Nesmith. “As I write this my tears are awash, and my heart is broken. Even though I am clinging to the idea that we all continue, the pain that attends these passings has no cure. I share with all Monkees fans this change, this “loss”, even so. A band no more, and yet the music plays on. As for Pete, I can only pray his songs reach the heights that can lift us and that our childhood lives forever — that special sparkle that was the Monkees. I will miss him – a brother in arms.”

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