The Brian Jonestown Massacre
(BJM
) is a neo-psychedelic rock band. The group was founded by Anton Newcombe, Matt Hollywood, Ricky Maymi, Patrick Straczek and Travis Threlkel in the early 1990s in San Francisco, California. According to the bands MySpace page, the current line-up consists of Anton Newcombe, Matt Hollywood, Frankie Teardrop, Ricky Maymi, Collin Hegna, Dan Allaire, Rob Campanella and Joel Gion.
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BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE TICKETS
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Name
Band leader Anton Newcombe is influenced by the
surrealist technique of
pastiche
and image appropriation, "Brian Jonestown Massacre" itself being a
portmanteau
of
The Rolling Stones' guitarist
Brian Jones and the infamous mass
cult suicide in
Jonestown, Guyana. The band's name has been noted (in the documentary
DiG!) to likely be a reaction against a late 80s and early 90s trend toward monosyllabic band names such as
Blur,
Loop, and
Ride.
Music
The band have recorded albums that could fit into a variety of musical genres across their history. 1995's
Methodrone
approximates the UK
shoegazing sound of the time, a sound they would return to with the band's most recent album,
My Bloody Underground
.
Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request
from
1996 reflects a pastiche of '60s psychedelia that continues to characterize the BJM sound to the present day. Newcombe defines the term 'psychedelic' as "mind-expanding," and BJM's output is generally referred to as such because of the revivalist nature of the music.
[1] [2] Elements of Middle Eastern and Brazilian music are also apparent along with influences by 1960s artists such as
The Beatles,
The Velvet Underground,
Donovan,
The Byrds and
Bob Dylan. The song "Jesus" is reminiscent of
Spacemen 3's
The Perfect Prescription
. The album's title is an
homage
to
Their Satanic Majesties Request
by
The Rolling Stones.
Thank God for Mental Illness
displays a country and
rhythm and blues oeuvre
with voice and acoustic guitar dominating the overall sound. This is a format that Newcombe occasionally resorts to when presenting live material during times of transition in the band. A further
country/
folk approach was applied to the
Bringing It All Back Home - Again
, the title itself an
homage
to
Bob Dylan's
Bringing It All Back Home
.
Electronic music crept into
2003's
And This Is Our Music, evidencing more contemporary influences as well as name-checking the identically-titled albums
This Is Our Music
, each by the artists
Galaxie 500 and
Ornette Coleman. In
2005 the band released the EP
We Are the Radio
on Newcombe's label
The Committee to Keep Music Evil, which featured a close collaboration with
indie singer-songwriter Sara Beth Tuceck.
My Bloody Underground
was released on Cargo Records in
2008, and demos were available since September 2007 from the band's website
[3]. The title has been interpreted to be a name-check to the bands
My Bloody Valentine,and
The Velvet Underground as well as referencing BJM's endless procession of bandmates and the "scene" they collectively created. Newcombe has down-played such interpretations in an interview, however
[4]. Music videos of the songs on the album have also been released, including a music video compilation DVD entitled 'Book of Days'.
Their next record is an EP entitled
LOVE and will be released
September 21st,
2009. The single for
LOVE will be "This Is The One Thing We Did Not..." which can be found on their Myspace
Members
BJM has undergone many personnel changes, with Anton Newcombe being the only consistent member.
Current BJM line-up:
- Dan Allaire - drums. Also a member of Spindrift.
- Ricky Maymi - guitar (formerly drums & bass). Is a founding member.
- Frankie "Teardrop" Emerson - six and twelve string guitar. Member since March, 2000. Said to be a "multi-instrumentalist" . Also plays for Spindrift, The Situation, and formerly with The Cold War Direction.
- Rob Campanella - organ, keyboard and guitar. Also leader, producer and engineer of The Quarter After. Previous projects include The Tyde, Beachwood Sparks, Dead Meadow, Mia Doi Todd, Frausdots, Scarling.
- Anton Newcombe - leader, guitar and vocal. Also a "multi-instrumentalist" [5].
Other members who play with the touring line-up of BJM:
- Joel Gion - percussion.
- Will Carruthers - bass.
- Matt Hollywood - guitar.
- Travis Threlkel - guitar.
Notes on some former BJM members:
- Matt Hollywood - bass, guitar, vocal, songwriting. Founding member and in the band for seven years. Also leader and founding member of The Out Crowd and The Rebel Drones.
- Jeff Davies - guitar. Member of BJM from 1992-99 and 2001-03. Currently with the country-pop/folk rock band The Burlington Family. Previously with Dead Meadow, The Tulips and Smallstone.
- Joel Gion - percussion, specifically tambourine and maracas. Has been an on/off member of the group since 1994. Has had the longest-standing collaborative relationship with Newcombe to date and has quit and rejoined the band more times than anyone else. Also leader of The Dilettantes.
- Dean Taylor - guitar. Currently contributes to Tokyo Raid (formerly The Mandarins). Left BJM permanently in 1999.
- Peter Hayes - guitar. Was a member circa 1996. A founding member of alternative rock trio Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
- Brad Artley - drums. A touring member circa 1996-97. Former member of punk rock band The Richmond Sluts.
- Travis Threlkel - guitar. A founding member. Is leader of psychedelic/experimental rock band The Imajinary Friends.
- Miranda Lee Richards - guitar and vocal. Currently a solo recording artist.
- Brian Glaze - drums. Founding member. Currently a solo recording artist and member of The Gris Gris.
- Bobby Hecksher - bass and guitar. A member circa 2000-01. Is currently leader and founding member of The Warlocks.
- Jeff Levitz - guitar. Previously with The Warlocks.
- Lenny Pops - guitar. Founding member of The Red Hearts and The Snakes.
- Sune Rose Wagner - guitar. Founding member of The Raveonettes, Psyched Up Janis and The Tremolo Beer Gut.
- Irina Yaikowski - drums. Replaced original drummer Ricky Maymi.
- Tommy Dietrick - bass. Currently with Sky Parade.
- Tony O'Neill - organ. Former member of Southpaw and currently a published author.
- Christian Omar Madrigal Izzo - drums. Member of BJM in 1998. Previously involved with Chokebore, Shadow Project and Christian Death 1334.
- Johnny Haro - drums. Formerly of Freak of Nature and currently with The Dreaming.
- Will Carruthers - bass and guitar. Previously with Spaceman 3 and Spiritualized. Currently a solo recording artist under the moniker "Freelovebabies".
- Matthew J. Tow - guitar. Leader of Australian band The Lovetones. Previously with indie rock bands Drop City and Colorsound.
- Dave Koenig - guitar. Currently with Spindrift and The Clean Prophets.
- Robert Desmond - guitar and vocal. Previously with Pusher, The Minstrels and currently with BJ & The Green Apples' Corps. Involved in the Viper Room showcase brawl featured in DiG!.
Comprehensive Line-Up History
Guitar
1990- . Anton Newcombe
1990-1993. Patrick Straczek
1990-1993. Travis Threlkel
1993-1996. Elise Dye
1997. Robert Desmond
1999. Tom Thomas
1999-2000. Jeff Levitz
2000-. Frankie “Teardrop” Emerson
2001-2002. Jeff Davies
2002-2003. Kirpatrick Thomas
2003-. Ricky Maymi
2009-. Matt Hollywood
Bass
1990-1999. Matt Hollywood
1993-1994. Chris Dupré
1995-1997. Nanker Phelge
1998- Larry Thrasher
1999-2000. Bobby Hecksher
2000-2003. Dave Koenig
2003-2004. Tommy Dietrick
2004-. Collin Hegna
2008-. Will Carruthers
Organ/Guita
2001-2007. Rob Campanella
Drums/Bass/Guitar
1990-1993. Ricky Maymi
| Guitar
| Bass
| Drums
| Vocals
| Miscellaneous, Guests, Etc.
|
1990-1991
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Ricky Maymi
Patrick Straczek
Travis Threlkel
| Matt Hollywood
Ricky Maymi
| Ricky Maymi
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
|
|
1992
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Jeff Davies
Ricky Maymi
Travis Threlkel
| Matt Hollywood
Ricky Maymi
| Ricky Maymi
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
|
|
1993
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Jeff Davies
Ricky Maymi
Travis Threlkel
Elise Dye
| Matt Hollywood
Ricky Maymi
Chris Dupré
| Ricky Maymi
Brant Graff
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
| Ian Sefchik - Guitar
|
1994
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Jeff Davies
Elise Dye
Dean Taylor
| Matt Hollywood
Chris Dupré
| Brian Glaze Milo Warner Martin
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
| Joel Gion - Tambourine/Maracas
Sophie Guenan - Tambourine
Mara Keagle - Organ
Dawn Thomas - Accordion
|
1995
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Jeff Davies
Elise Dye
Dean Taylor
| Matt Hollywood
| Brian Glaze Milo Warner Martin
Graham Bonnar
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Miranda Lee Richards
Mara Keagle
| Joel Gion - Tambourine/Maracas
Sophie Guenan - Tambourine
Mara Keagle - Organ (appears as "Mara Kagel" on Take It From The Man!
)
Dawn Thomas - Accordion
Eufloria - Vocals on “Evergreen” & “Wisdom (Demo)”
Paolo Simmonds- Vocals on “Everyone Says”
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1996
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Jeff Davies
Dean Taylor
| Matt Hollywood
| Brian Glaze
Mike Burns
Brad Artley
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Miranda Lee Richards
Mara Keagle
| Joel Gion - Tambourine/Maracas
Derek Hoeckel - Guitar/Tambourine/Maracas
Dawn Thomas - Accordion
Dan Knop - Vocals on “All Around You (intro)”
|
1997
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Jeff Davies
Robert Desmond
Dean Taylor
Miranda Lee Richards
Peter Hayes
| Matt Hollywood
| Brad Artley
Jussi Tegelman
Adam Hamilton
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Robert Desmond
Miranda Lee Richards
| Joel Gion - Tambourine/Maracas
Robert Desmond - Cello
Raugust - Flute
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1998
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Jeff Davies
Dean Taylor
Christof W. Certik
| Matt Hollywood
| Norm Block
Adam Hamilton
Johnny Haro
Billy Pleasant
Marty Smith
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Miranda Lee Richards
| Joel Gion - Tambourine/Maracas
Miranda Lee Richards - Flute
Christof W. Certik - Organ
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1999
| Anton Newcombe
Jeff Davies
Dean Taylor
Miranda Lee Richards
Jeff Levitz
Lenny Pops
Bobby Hecksher
| Matt Hollywood
| Anton Newcombe
Miranda Lee Richards
| Joel Gion - Tambourine/Maracas
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2000
| Anton Newcombe
Frankie Emerson aka Frankie Teardrop
Jeff Levitz
| Bobby Hecksher
| Hunter Crowley
Greg Epman
| Anton Newcombe
| Mara Keagle - Vocals
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2001
| Anton Newcombe
Jeff Davies
Frankie “Teardrop” Emerson
Rob Campanella
| Dave Koenig
| Hunter Crowley
| Anton Newcombe
| Mara Keagle - Vocals on Bravery, Repetition and Noise
(appears as "Mara")
Joel Gion - Tambourine/Percussion
Jason Anchondo - Tambourine
Raugust - Flute
Rob Campanella - Organ/Mellotron/Mandolin
Christopher Tucker - Wrote “If Love Is The Drug…”
|
2002
| Anton Newcombe
Jeff Davies
Frankie “Teardrop” Emerson
Rob Campanella
Kirpatrick Thomas
| Dave Koenig
| Dan Allaire
| Anton Newcombe
| Rob Campanella - Organ
|
2003
| Anton Newcombe
Frankie “Teardrop” Emerson
Rob Campanella
Ricky Maymi
Matthew J. Tow
Kirpatrick Thomas
Bowerbird
|
Dave Koenig
Tommy Dietrick
| Dan Allaire
| Anton Newcombe
| Rob Campanella - Organ/Dobro/Piano/Mandolin
Ed Harcourt - Vocals on "Here It Comes"
Daniella Meeker - Vocals on "Here It Comes"
Matt Tow - Vocals & wrote on "Starcleaner" (also wrote & sang on "A New Low In Getting High")
Joseph Campanella- whistling on "You Look Great When I'm Fucked Up"
|
2004
| Anton Newcombe
Frankie “Teardrop” Emerson
Rob Campanella
Ricky Maymi
| Collin Hegna
Dave Koenig
| Dan Allaire
Ryan Sumner
Brian Glaze
| Anton Newcombe
| Joel Gion (on and off)- Tambourine/Maracas
Rob Campanella - Organ
Zy Lynn - Violin on If Love Is the Drug...
Single
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2005
| Anton Newcombe
Frankie “Teardrop” Emerson
Rob Campanella
Ricky Maymi
Irina Yalkowsky
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Collin Hegna
| Dan Allaire
| Anton Newcombe
| Joel Gion (on and off)- Tambourine/Maracas
Rob Campanella - Organ
Sarabeth Tucek - Vocals on We Are The Radio
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2006
| Anton Newcombe
Frankie “Teardrop” Emerson
Rob Campanella
Ricky Maymi
Irina Yalkowsky
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Collin Hegna
| Dan Allaire
| Anton Newcombe
| Joel Gion - Tambourine/Maracas
Rob Campanella - Organ/Mellotron
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2007
| Anton Newcombe
Frankie “Teardrop” Emerson
Rob Campanella
Ricky Maymi
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Collin Hegna
| Dan Allaire
| Anton Newcombe
| Joel Gion - Tambourine/Maracas
Rob Campanella - Organ/Mellotron
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2008
| Anton Newcombe
Frankie “Teardrop” Emerson
Ricky Maymi
| Collin Hegna
Will Carruthers
| Dan Allaire
| Anton Newcombe
| Joel Gion - Tambourine/Maracas
Rob Campanella - Organ/Mellotron
|
2009
| Anton Newcombe
Matt Hollywood
Frankie “Teardrop” Emerson
Ricky Maymi
| Collin Hegna
Will Carruthers
| Dan Allaire
| Anton Newcombe
| Joel Gion - Tambourine/Maracas
Rob Campanella - Organ/Mellotron
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Sustained Collaborative Relations
Many former BJM members continue to collaborate musically with Newcombe. Newcombe was briefly a drummer in Bobby Hecksher's
The Warlocks. Rob Campanella produces many of The Committee to Keep Music Evil's releases. Joel Gion is an occasional member of the touring lineup of BJM. Ricky Maymi returned to BJM as a guitarist after a multi-year hiatus from his original role as drummer and is also an occasional member. The Dandy Warhols and Matt Hollywood joined BJM onstage at the 2005 Lollapalooza festival.
Related acts
- The Dandy Warhols
- The Black Angels
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
- Dead Meadow
- The Dilettantes
- The Quarter After
- Miranda Lee Richards
- Spindrift
- The Cold War Direction
- Molecules
- Sky Parade
- The Parties
- The Out Crowd
- The Warlocks
The band has also influenced many other indie bands noted in the Brian Jonestown Massacre Covers Project.
[6]
Discography
See Brian Jonestown Massacre discography
Soundtrack and television
- The BJM and former friends/rivals The Dandy Warhols were the subject of the acclaimed documentary DiG!
. [7]
- "You Look Great When I'm Fucked Up" was featured in the last minutes of Episode 5 of Series 1 of the British comedy/drama television series Skins
, which was shown on E4.
- "Not If You Were the Last Dandy on Earth" appeared in the Jim Jarmusch film Broken Flowers
. [8]
- "Going to Hell" appeared in the 1999 film American Pie
. [9]
- "Going to Hell" appeared in the 1998 film Dead Man's Curve.
- "Going to Hell" appeared in Faith, Hope & Trick
, the third episode from season 3 of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series)
- "Going to Hell" also appeared in Habitat's 2008 skateboard film Inhabitants.
- "Open Heart Surgery" appeared on the soundrack to the TV series Rescue Me.
- "13" appeared on the episode "The Devil's Threesome" of the TV series Californication.
- "One of the first few tracks from Bravery Repition & Noise appeared on J.J. Abram's TV show "Fringe."
- A number of Jonestown songs were used in the improvisational film by Zak Penn entitled "The Grand".
- "The Way It Was" appeared in the 08 Fallen Video "Ride The Sky", in Gilbert Crockets section.
- "Anenome" appeared in "Boss Ballin 3" in Christian Maloufs section
Misc
Newcombe's interest in cults like that of
Jim Jones and
Charles Manson is well known, and made quite plain by songs such as "The Ballad of Jim Jones" and "Arkansas Revisited" (a rework of
Charles Manson's song "Arkansas", which appeared on the album
Lie: The Love & Terror Cult). Similar interests include a fascination with the
Masons.
The band's back catalog is available on Bomp!/ Tangible Records, with most recent releases on TeePee and Cargo.
References
- 1.soundsxp.com 2.caughtinthecrossfire.com
- 1.cduniverse.com 2.amazon.com
- The Brian Jonestown Massacre official website
- Title Unavailable
- bookrags.com
- Brian Jonestown Massacre Covers Project page
- IMDb page
- IMDb soundtrack page
- IMDb soundtrack page