Michael Nesmith

format_quote (describing his financial slump, after paying a huge default to leave The Monkees in 1969) "I had to start telling little tales to the tax man while they were putting tags on the furniture."

stars  Gave up taking the "A" side of the first single actually performed by The Monkees, instead choosing friend Bill Martin's song "All Of Your Toys", which Nesmith believed would be a bigger hit. A publishing snag kept "Toys" from being released (until the late 1980s), but Nesmith's "B" side, "The Girl I Knew Somewhere", backed their next single - Neil Diamond's "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You".

stars  Was the only Monkee who'd actually seen the initial trades ad for the show's casting.

stars  Michael's mother, Bette Nesmith, invented Liquid Paper.

stars  He has an on line store called videoranch.com that allows customers to buy his works straight from him. Products include CDs, DVDs, and music downloads.

stars  He was was invited to the famous orchestral session for "A Day In The Life" by John Lennon.