Monkees Singer and Bassist Peter Tork Died Yesterday (Videos)
Peter Tork from THE MONKEES died yesterday, of complications from adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare, slow-growing form of head and neck cancer. He was 77.
Peter was the group's bassist, beginning in 1966 when the show launched. He also sang a little. Of course, The Monkees were initially the stars of a TV show about an imaginary band that wanted to be The Beatles but was never successful.
And ironically, the success of the show led to them becoming successful in REAL life. The Monkees have sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
Among other things, Peter is known for contributing the piano introduction to "Daydream Believer" and the banjo part on "You Told Me". Peter also sang on "A Better World", which was a bonus track from their 2016 album "Good Times".
Both videos YouTube/The Monkees
Peter was the oldest member of the group. He was 24 when the show began. He was also the first to leave in 1969 by BUYING himself out of his contract. However, he reunited with the band four times . . . in the late '80s, the late '90s, the early 2000s, and for the 45th-anniversary tour in 2011.
He also toured with Micky Dolenz in recent years, without the other surviving Monkee Michael Nesmith who appeared at a few shows.
Peter is the second Monkee to die. Davy Jones passed away in 2012 after suffering a massive heart attack.
Yesterday, both Micky and Michael released tributes. Micky posted this on Facebook: Quote, "There are no words right now . . . [I'm] heartbroken over the loss of my Monkee brother."