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."
Monkey Puzzle
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
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i know that i need her, i know that i need her
theres nobody sweeter in the whole wide world
im dying to meet her, im dying to meet her
cause when i see her and she looks so fine
i can't give up till i know she's mine, yeah
i know that i need her, i know that i need her
there's nobody sweeter, im dying just to be there
i know that i need her, im dying to greet her
cause when i think about her every night
too live without her well it wouldnt be right
The lyrics to The Brian Jonestown Massacre's "Monkey Puzzle" tell the story of a man who is infatuated with a woman that he has never met, and is asking for help in finding her so that he can make her his. The singer is deeply in love with this woman, describing her as the sweetest person in the world and claiming that he cannot live without her. He is so desperate to find her that he requests divine intervention from the Lord to help him identify her.
The lyrics capture the feeling of being completely consumed by love and desire for someone, to the point where it takes over every aspect of one's life. The driving guitar-based melody adds a sense of urgency to the lyrics, emphasizing the singer's determination to find this woman and his belief that they are meant to be together. The repetition of the phrase "I know that I need her" underscores the singer's desperation to be with this woman and the idea that he cannot imagine his life without her.
Overall, "Monkey Puzzle" is a song that taps into the universal feeling of longing for something that feels out of reach, and the way that love and desire can take hold of a person's entire being.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody help me, help me get that girl cause
I'm looking for assistance to win the affection of the girl I desire
i know that i need her, i know that i need her
I am aware that I have an intense emotional need for her
theres nobody sweeter in the whole wide world
I believe that she is the sweetest and most desirable person in existence
im dying to meet her, im dying to meet her
I have an overwhelming desire and eagerness to finally meet her in person
cause when i see her and she looks so fine
Her appearance is very impressive and makes a lasting impression on me
i can't give up till i know she's mine, yeah
I am determined to continue pursuing her until I have successfully won her over
oh lord could you help me, could you tell me her name cause
I am seeking divine intervention to help me discover the identity of the girl I desire
there's nobody sweeter, im dying just to be there
I believe that being in her presence would be a dream come true and is the most important thing to me right now
cause when i think about her every night
She consumes my thoughts and I think about her constantly, especially at night
too live without her well it wouldnt be right
Living without her would be unacceptable to me and I am willing to do whatever it takes to be with her
Contributed by Makayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.