‘Minor Health Issue’ Ends Monkees’ Duo Tour Four Nights Early
Michael Nesmith, guitarist for the Monkees, encountered what is being described as "a minor health issue" during a soundcheck prior to his concert with Micky Dolenz at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pa. Tonight's show, and the remaining dates on the tour, have been canceled.
"Michael Nesmith had a minor health issue today in advance of his tour date in Philadelphia tonight," a Rhino Records source told UCR. "He visited a local medical facility and, although the issue was not serious, was advised to rest for the next week, so unfortunately the remaining four dates on The Monkees Present: The Mike & Micky Show tour have been postponed until a later date. Nesmith has been dismissed from the hospital and is traveling back to his home in Carmel Valley. He is in good spirits and thanks all the fans for their support and understanding. He looks forward to getting back on the stage again soon."
The Monkees Present: The Mike and Micky Show brought together two of the three surviving members of the pop group. Peter Tork, the holdout, said that he wasn't participating due to his work on a tribute album to Lead Belly, although Nesmith suggested something else was keeping Tork off the road. "I'm afraid I would betray a confidence if I said any more than, 'This is not a right time for him,'" he said. "He has his reasons. They are very private."
The threesome toured together in 2014, two years after singer Davy Jones passed away. Two years later, they released Good Times!, an album comprised mostly of songs written by those who wrote some of their biggest hits -- like Neil Diamond, Harry Nilsson and the team of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart -- and those who grew up on their music, including Andy Partridge of XTC, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer and Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard.