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."
Malela
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Evil deeds are rotten seeds, the kind that never grow
You put them in the ground you know
What you will become? Mmm-mmm, I'll tell you son
She traded life for happiness with no regrets at all
It left a rotten emptiness, it left her feeling small
It left her nothing left at all
Except something she despised, mmm-mmm, you see it in her eyes
She traded love for liberty, a bold pursuit of fun
She gave away her sanity and found that she had none
Watch quickly now as she becomes
Something that she despised, mmm-mm, feels it in her
She's living in a lie, mmm-mmm, and she's the center
She gave away her life, mmm-mmm, she's not a sinner
The Brian Jonestown Massacre's song "Malela" presents a cautionary tale about the consequences of trading life, love, and sanity for fleeting pleasures. The lyrics suggest that silver rings and magic things, which represent material possessions and superficial desires, are not worth sacrificing one's values and morals for, especially when they involve evil deeds that are like rotten seeds that never grow. The singer of the song, a woman who traded life for happiness with no regrets at all, discovers the emptiness and smallness of her existence, and something she despises reflected in her eyes. She now lives a lie, devoid of love, sanity, or morality, becoming something that she despised in the first place.
The song's lyrics may be interpreted as a critique of consumer culture and the pursuit of hedonistic pleasures at the cost of human connections and values. The song's title "Malela" is derived from the name of a village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which adds a layer of cultural and historical significance to the lyrics' themes. The song uses haunting minor chords and dissonant guitar riffs to create a dark and unsettling atmosphere that enhances the lyrics' ominous message.
Line by Line Meaning
Silver rings and magic things, your children should not know
Materialistic possessions and illusions should not be introduced to children, as they can lead to negative consequences.
Evil deeds are rotten seeds, the kind that never grow
Committing immoral actions only leads to a corrupt and unfulfilling life.
You put them in the ground you know
Continuing on this path will only result in one's demise.
What you will become? Mmm-mmm, I'll tell you son
The consequences of one's actions will ultimately shape who they become.
She traded life for happiness with no regrets at all
She sacrificed her well-being for temporary pleasure and does not regret it.
It left a rotten emptiness, it left her feeling small
In reality, it left her with nothing but a hollow, meaningless existence.
It left her nothing left at all
She has lost everything, including herself.
Except something she despised, mmm-mmm, you see it in her eyes
The only thing she has left is something she hates, which is evident in her demeanor.
She gave away her life, mmm-mmm, she's not a sinner
She may have made poor choices, but she does not deserve condemnation.
She traded love for liberty, a bold pursuit of fun
She chose to prioritize personal freedom and enjoyment over meaningful relationships.
She gave away her sanity and found that she had none
Her carefree lifestyle has resulted in her losing her mental stability and becoming lost.
Watch quickly now as she becomes
Observe as she transforms.
Something that she despised, mmm-mm, feels it in her
She is becoming the very thing she despised, and she is aware of it.
She's living in a lie, mmm-mmm, and she's the center
Her life is based on falsehoods, and she is the source of it all.
She gave away her life, mmm-mmm, she's not a sinner
Even though she has destroyed her own life, she does not deserve judgment or punishment.
Contributed by Gabriella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Lolitah03
Silver rings and magic things
Your children should not know
Evil deeds are rotten seeds
The kind that never grow
You put them in the ground you know
What you will become
Mmm-mmm, I'll tell you son
She traded life for happiness
With no regrets at all
It left a rotten emptiness
It left her feeling small
It left her nothing there at all
Except something she despised
Mmm-mmm, you see it in her eyes
She fell in love with lies
Mmm-mmm, she's not a sinner
She traded love for liberty
A bold pursuit of fun
She gave away her sanity
And found that she had none
Watch quickly now as she becomes
The thing that she despised
Mmm-mm, feel it in her
She's living in the lie, mmm-mmm
And she's the center
She gave away her life
Mmm-mmm, she's not a sinner
@ourozthehorseman
One of my best songs all-time.
@lindab30
Definitely a sitar. Anton plays 80 something instruments - pretty much can be classified as a musical genius- fine line between insanity and genius!!!
@darion8476
Best "driving alone in a desert" music.
@dirtmerchant4846
Darion847 or cruising around on your skrateboard
@ClassicCOD
@@dirtmerchant4846 i love skratingboarding to big bryan
@uranderson
One of their best tracks, just wish it was a little longer.
@martinezmatthew
the people who disliked this song were listening to it for the first time and later realized they made a huge mistake....
@josephobrien6355
To hear this live, oh, what sweet bliss it would be!
@jemen1709
You are able to hear it at the current tour.
@xavierdore9677
@@jemen1709 you were there in Montreal right? totally insane, this song kicked ass. Not sure they will play it elsewhere though, I think they played it because Rishi from Elephant Stone (mtl band) was there to fill in for Mercury Rev who got arrested at the border, otherwise I'm not sure who could play the sitar. I certainly hope i'm wrong though, because it was sick and I'm sure fans would love to hear it.