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."
My Man Syd
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're gonna play at my house
You're going to share
'Cause it's getting very cold out
Although you don't care about you
I know it's unfair to doubt you
Liar
The rules are unfair
It's not the thing that you say
You're friends all swear they doubt you
They don't really care about you
The lyrics to The Brian Jonestown Massacre's My Man Syd seem to be addressing a person who is struggling with addiction or mental health issues. The opening line "You're gonna play at my house, you're going to share" could be interpreted as the singer offering their home as a safe space for Syd to be himself and seek help. The line "Although you don't care about you, I know it's unfair to doubt you" shows that the singer acknowledges Syd's struggles but also recognizes that it's not their place to judge.
The chorus "Liar, in the wicked game that you play, the rules are unfair" seems to be calling out Syd's behavior, potentially referring to them deceiving others or engaging in dangerous habits. The line "It's not the thing that you say, you're friends all swear they doubt you" could be interpreted as the singer acknowledging that Syd's friends are aware of the struggle but are unsure of how to help them.
Overall, the lyrics to My Man Syd convey a sense of empathy for someone who is struggling with mental health and addiction while also recognizing the complexity of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
A greeting or an expression to capture attention.
You're gonna play at my house
You're invited to come and perform music in my home.
You're going to share
You're expected to share your music talent and creativity.
'Cause it's getting very cold out
As the weather gets colder, we need some warmth and entertainment.
Although you don't care about you
Seemingly, you don't value yourself or your potential.
I know it's unfair to doubt you
It's unjustified to question your talent and abilities.
Liar
A blunt remark pointing out the deceiving nature of your behavior.
In the wicked game that you play
Your actions come across as dishonest or immoral.
The rules are unfair
You manipulate or break the established standards of what's acceptable.
It's not the thing that you say
The words you speak don't match your true intentions or motives.
You're friends all swear they doubt you
The people you surround yourself with suspect your trustworthiness.
They don't really care about you
Despite the suspicion, your friends don't really have your best interests in mind.
Contributed by Madison P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.