"Many Photos" - Monkees bassist Peter Tork dies at 77 after being diagnosed with rare tongue cancer 10 years ago

Monkees bassist-and-singer Peter Tork died Thursday at the age of 77, his sister Anne Thorkelson has confirmed.

Tork's sibling did not clarify the suspected cause of his death but in 2009 the musician was diagnosed with a rare cancer that affected his tongue. 

The oldest member of the group in 1966 when their NBC show The Monkees first aired, the 24-year-old helped spark Monkeesmania with an offshoot of merchandise, top-selling music and tour tickets from the TV hit. 

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Monkees bassist-and-singer Peter Tork died Thursday at the age of 77, sister Anne Thorkelson confirmed. He's pictured September 2015

Tork (right) was oldest member of the group in 1966 when their NBC show The Monkees first aired

Tork helped spark Monkeesmania with an offshoot of merchandise, top-selling music and tour tickets from the TV show hit he auditioned for

Although it only ran for two seasons, the Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider-produced program won an Emmy for outstanding comedy. 

As well as playing bass for the four-piece - also made up of Mickey Dolenz, David Jones and Mike Nesmith - Tork sang lead on some of the band's tracks including Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again.

He penned the tune for the four-piece's 1968 movie, Head, which features cameos from the likes of Dennis Hopper, Frank Zappa and Jack Nicholson.

In 2009 the musician was diagnosed with a rare cancer that affected his tongue. He's pictured in 2005

The Monkees: Peter Tork (top left) and Mickey Dolenz (top right), David Jones (bottom left) and Mike Nesmith (bottom right) in 1967 

The Daydream Believer hitmakers surged in popularity past the likes of the Beatles and Rolling Stones in 1967 with their album selling 35 million copies, a round double that of their rivals combined. 

Titled Monkees, the LP featuring hits such as I'm a Believer and Last Train to Clarksville, resulted in several no.1 singles for the group.

While talented Tork also played keyboards in the group, the Washington DC man was said to be 'mortified' when he joined and realized they would not actually play their instruments.  

He penned the tune for the four-piece's 1968 movie, Head, which features cameos from the likes of Dennis Hopper, Frank Zappa and Jack Nicholson 

Peter Tork of the Monkees (pictured circa 1970 in New York) sang lead on some of the band's tracks including Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again

The manufactured had tunes written by the likes of Carole King, Neil Diamond and Jeff Barry when they first emerged on the music scene and had used session musicians for their debut release before he had even signed up.

The men had answered an advert for 'four insane boys aged 17 to 21' to star in a new TV series. 

But after the release of their second album More of the Monkees in 1967, the men fought for more songwriting and performance control.

They would go on to have Jimi Hendrix as a tour support act. But it wasn't enough for Tork who longed to be taken seriously as a musician.

His venture into a new group called Release proved unsuccessful in 1970.

Davy Jones, the group's lone Brit, died of a heart attack in 2012 at 66 as they prepared for a reunion tour.

Dolenz told Daily Mail: 'When it came to Daydream Believer, which was really Davy's song, we told the audience, "We can't sing this song any more – it belongs to you now," and they sang it instead.' 

Rumors of the band's squabbling and infighting have always plagued them ('Infighting?' corrected Peter. 'Oh no, we always fought right out loud!') and Davy once headbutted Peter. 'I hit him back and we both had to go to hospital,' he said.

Reunion tours in 1997 and 2001 reportedly dissolved into bickering, but there was no real animosity. 'There were moments of tension,' admitted Peter. 'But the Monkees never promised to stay together. People forget we started out as the cast of a TV show.' 

Trained musicians Tork and Dolenz were cast as the members of a rock band who found themselves in one crazy adventure after another as they struggled to make it big. 

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News Photo Monkees bassist Peter Tork dies at 77 after being diagnosed with rare tongue cancer 10 years ago 
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