Over its decade-long history, the band has undergone a large number of personnel changes. Multi-instrumentalist and main songwriter Anton Newcombe is the only member who has stayed with the Brian Jonestown Massacre since its beginning, when it was founded by Newcombe, tambourine player Joel Gion (who stayed with him the longest), and guitarist/bassist/vocalist Matt Hollywood. There are at least two dozen musicians who have been in the BJM at one point or another.
Ex-members include: guitarist Jeff Davies; Matt Hollywood, a founding member of Portland band The Out Crowd; Peter Hayes, founding member of San Francisco rock trio Black Rebel Motorcycle Club; Joel Gion, a founding member of San Francisco band, The Dilettantes; Rob Campanella, a Los Angeles producer and engineer who has worked with The Tyde, Beachwood Sparks, Dead Meadow, Mia Doi Todd, Frausdots, Scarling., and his band The Quarter After; Bobby Hecksher, founding member of Los Angeles band The Warlocks; solo recording artist Miranda Lee Richards; Matt Tow, founding member of the Australian band The Lovetones.
Current long-term members include Collin Hegna (bass), Frankie Teardrop (guitar,noise,etc), and Dan Allaire (percussion). Long-time guitarist Ricky Rene Maymi was recently replaced by Irina Yaikowsky for a short tour, who was in turn, replaced by Ricky Rene Maymi.
Much has been made of the fact that Newcombe is head strong and has just one vision in mind: his own. However, many of the musicians who quit his band have stayed in his orbit and continue working with him in some capacity. Newcombe was, at one point, a drummer in Hecksher's Warlocks. Campanella produces or engineers many of the records on Newcombe's record label, the Committee to Keep Music Evil and has also been on the last 2 highly successful European tours, playing keyboards and on occasion, guitar. Gion is forever showing back up shaking the tambourine at BJM shows. Even the Dandy Warhols appear to have buried the hatchet with Newcombe, as he joined them onstage at Lollapalooza in July of 2005.
In 2005 the band released the EP We Are the Radio, on Newcombe's record label The Committee to Keep Music Evil.
The band announced the release of a new studio album, tentatively titled My Bloody Underground, which was released in 2008. On September 3, 2007, the band released rough recordings from the album for download from their website. Music videos of the songs on the album have also been released, including a music video compilation DVD entitled 'Book of Days'. Songs from Brian Jonestown Massacre were specially adapted for use in the score to the critically acclaimed independent film, "Four Eyed Monsters."
Anemone
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I, I only play it for real
You should be picking me up instead you're dragging me down
You're flying over my head, you're landing all over town
You, you know that I try
Try to tell you the truth, oh, baby don't make me cry
You should be picking me up instead you're dragging me down
Now I'm missing you more 'cause baby you're not around
Now that you're not around
I, I want to know how it feels
'Cause I, I only play it for real
You should be picking me up instead you're dragging me down
I could be giving you love but you're not around, now that you're not around
Now that you're not around, glad that you're not around
The Brian Jonestown Massacre's song "Anemone" is a melancholic anthem about a relationship that is not fulfilling. The song is about feeling unloved and underappreciated. The singer states that they know how they feel and they only play for real. They're looking for something genuine but the other person is bringing them down. The song has a wistful tone as if the singer is resigned to the fact that they can't change the other person. The singer tries to tell the truth to the other person but they won't listen, leaving the singer crying.
The repeated line "you should be picking me up instead you're dragging me down" indicates the singer's desire for the other person to be supportive and lift them up. Instead, the other person is causing them pain by neglecting them. The singer misses the other person, despite feeling unloved, showing that the relationship is complicated. The song ends with the singer being glad that the other person is not around, possibly indicating that they are better off alone.
Overall, "Anemone" is a powerful song about the struggles of relationships and how they can be draining and unfulfilling. The Brian Jonestown Massacre delivers a poignant message through their music that many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
I, I think I know how I feel
I am confident in my feelings
'Cause I, I only play it for real
I am truthful in my actions
You should be picking me up instead you're dragging me down
You are being a negative influence on me
You're flying over my head, you're landing all over town
You are too flighty and unreliable
You, you know that I try
You are aware of my efforts
Try to tell you the truth, oh, baby don't make me cry
I am attempting to be honest with you, please don't upset me
Now I'm missing you more 'cause baby you're not around
Your absence is making me long for you
Now that you're not around
Since you are no longer here
I, I want to know how it feels
I am curious about the feeling
'Cause I, I only play it for real
I am truthful in my actions
I could be giving you love but you're not around, now that you're not around
I am capable of loving you, but you are absent
Now that you're not around, glad that you're not around
I am happy you are gone
Contributed by Aaron R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.