First National Band
| The First National Band | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Country rock |
| Years active | 1970–1972 |
| Labels | RCA |
| Associated acts | The Monkees, Michael Nesmith |
| Website | videoranch |
| Past members |
Michael Nesmith, guitar & vocals O.J. "Red" Rhodes, pedal steel guitar John London, bass guitar John Ware, drums |
The First National Band or Michael Nesmith and The First National Band was a short-lived American collaborative band, led by former Monkee Michael Nesmith. During the two active years, The First National Band released three albums in the country rock genre between 1970 and 1971.
During his time in The Monkees, Nesmith was unhappy with the bubblegum pop records that musical director Don Kirshner was providing for the group, and fought to get his own compositions to be recorded under the Monkees name. Before The Monkees, Nesmith had released a handful of singles under the name "Michael Blessing" which were Bob Dylan/folk rock inspired.
In 1968, Nesmith released "The Wichita Train Whistle Sings" as a side-project from the Monkees and, due to continued frustration, bought himself out of his Monkees contract altogether in 1970.
In 1969, before Nesmith had left the Monkees, it was clear to both him and his friend John Ware that The Monkees were soon coming to an end. Ware suggested that Nesmith form another band with Ware and their mutual friend John London and put his studio connections to good use while he still had the chance. When he was free from his contract, Nesmith took Ware up on his offer, so long as Orville "Red" Rhodes would join. Also, Nesmith did not want to "just do that power trio thing". The First National Band was the start of a long collaboration between Nesmith and Rhodes, which lasted until Rhodes's death in 1995.
The First National Band endured many problems in its short career. Nesmith's association with the Monkees had made him a joke to some people and as a result many fellow musicians would not take his music seriously. During one of the band's first gigs, they played alongside Gram Parsons and the brand new, Flying Burrito Brothers. Nesmith recalls how others seeing a former Monkee decked out in a Nudie suit with a steel player in tow must have been laughable to seasoned Country devotees, such as Parsons. However, their unique sound was enough to win over the LA club scene and create a new image for Nesmith. Nesmith also requested of venues that they not promote or reference his being a Monkee/ex-Monkee in their advertising or the band's introduction. Unfortunately, many Emcees would ignore his request and Nesmith would become irritated with them as well as with folks who would shout out requests of "Last Train to Clarksville" and/or other Monkee hits.
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