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."
Before I Am Gone
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and who are you trying to save?
everyone of them you dug a grave
you better love me
before I am gone
when I think about the good times and bad
and being so happy and sad
you better love me
before I am gone
so long
well I think about the future and past
because the presnt it goes by so fast
and my money won't last
you better love me
before I am gone
come on
The lyrics of Before I Am Gone by The Brian Jonestown Massacre present a contemplation of the transience of life and the importance of being loved. The song begins with the lines, "when I think about the life that you gave, and who are you trying to save? everyone of them you dug a grave," which may suggest a reflection on the sacrifices made by someone who is no longer alive, and the eventual fate of all living beings. The line "you better love me before I am gone" could be interpreted as a plea to appreciate and cherish the people in our lives before it is too late.
The following verse continues this theme, as the lyrics ponder the fleeting nature of happiness and the inevitability of sadness. The line "quit it now cause' I'm getting mad" may indicate frustration or anger at the passing of time and the impermanence of human emotions. The repeated refrain of "you better love me before I am gone" underscores the urgency of the song's message.
The final verse adds a somewhat pragmatic note to the song's existential musings, referencing the limitations of money and the brevity of life. Overall, Before I Am Gone is a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of existence, the importance of connection, and the inevitability of mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
when I think about the life that you gave
Reflecting on the sacrifices and contributions made by someone in the singer's life
and who are you trying to save?
Questioning the motivation and intention behind the person's actions
everyone of them you dug a grave
Implying that the person's actions have negative consequences for others
you better love me
Asserting the artist's need for love and affection
before I am gone
Highlighting the artist's mortality and the urgency to receive love
when I think about the good times and bad
Recalling the highs and lows of the singer's experience with the person
and being so happy and sad
Describing the range of emotions the singer feels when thinking of the person
quit it now cause' i'm getting mad
Expressing frustration and a desire for the person to stop behaving in a certain way
so long
Suggesting a good-bye or farewell to the person
well I think about the future and past
Contemplating the artist's past experiences with the person and what may come in the future
because the presnt it goes by so fast
Reflecting on the fleeting nature of the present moment
and my money won't last
Acknowledging financial insecurity and instability
come on
Encouraging the person to act or respond in some way
Contributed by Anthony D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.