The Monkees bassist Peter Tork died yesterday at the age of 77. An announcement on Tork’s official Facebook page revealed his passing, although they didn’t reveal a cause of death. He was diagnosed in 2009 with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare form of cancer of the tongue, but he made a full recovery. Tork is now the second member of the Monkees who has died.Davy Jones passed in 2012. “I am told he slipped away peacefully,” his Monkee bandmate Michael Nesmith said in a statement. “Yet, 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.”MickyDolenz also tweeted, “There are no words right now...heart broken over the loss of my Monkee brother, Peter Tork.” The Monkees, which consisted of Tork, Nesmith, Dolenz and Jones, were a made-for-TV group, with Tork playing the dimwit of the band. The series premiered in 1966 and ran for two seasons, sparking widespread fandom. The group released several albums, landing number one hits like “Daydream Believer,” “I’m a Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville.”
Tork quit the group after the release of their 1968 movie “Head,” but they reunited in 1986 (without Nesmith) for several reunion tours. In 2016 the remaining members got together to record the anniversary album “Good Times.” They also released a Christmas album last year. Nesmith added of his late bandmate, “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. Take flight my Brother.”
Tork also had his own band The Peter Tork Project and Shoe Suede Blues, which was very successful. Brian Wilson wrote, "I am sad to hear of the passing of Peter Tork. I thought the Monkees were great and Peter will be missed." And Mark Hamill wrote, "So sorry to hear we lost #PeterTork. The Monkees never got the respect they deserved. Their music catalogue remains one of the richest in Pop History. Thanks for being such a big part of my childhood & beyond, Pete. #RIPPeterTork.
He most certainly will be missed. Mickey Dolenz and Mike Nesmith will be playing the Palace Theater in Albany on March 10th and I'm sure they'll pay tribute to their fallen brothers at that show. Tickets are still available at ticketmaster.com
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