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."
Nothing To Lose
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
she jumped out of your dreams and into your bed
but nobody listens if nothing is said
and no one wants to be in your shoes
if you ain't got nothing but nothing to lose
hey did you listen when i said
that you best wise up or you'll soon be dead
cause no one wants to be in those shoes
you ain't got nothing but nothing to lose
you've got nothing to lose,
you got nothing to lose.
you've got nothing to lose,
you got nothing to lose.
so you sit in your seat there looking dumb
tapping your feet and chewing gum
you can wait until your kingdom comes
but Jesus wouldn't walk in your shoes
because you so fucking stupid got nothing to use
you've got nothing to lose,
you got nothing to lose.
you've got nothing to lose,
you got nothing to lose.
well it pains me so to see you frown
i never meant to bring you down
but i didn't ever ask you to come around
when you ain't got nothing to do
you ain't got nothing but nothing to lose
The lyrics to The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s song “Nothing to Lose” begin by describing a woman who seemed perfect, someone who entered the singer's mind and eventually became a part of his reality. However, the relationship seems to have soured, and the singer is left with nothing. The song warns the listener about being in the same position, offering advice to wise up before it's too late or risk ending up with nothing as well.
The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and disappointment with the current state of affairs, and the lines "you've got nothing to lose, you got nothing to lose, you've got nothing to lose, you got nothing to lose" are a reminder of this fact. The singer seems to imply that nothing can be done to change the current situation, and it's better to accept it and move on. The song ends with the singer feeling bad about things and acknowledging that he didn't ask the person to be there; however, it's still unclear whether he feels any remorse for his actions. Overall, the song is a bleak reminder of the consequences of making bad choices.
Line by Line Meaning
she was a girl that lived in your head
You have an imaginary girl whom you constantly think about
she jumped out of your dreams and into your bed
You fantasize about being intimate with this imaginary girl
but nobody listens if nothing is said
Silent emotions and thoughts are seldom perceived by others
and no one wants to be in your shoes
Nobody desires to be in a situation similar to yours
if you ain't got nothing but nothing to lose
Having absolutely nothing to lose in your situation
hey did you listen when i said
Did you pay attention to my warning earlier?
that you best wise up or you'll soon be dead
You need to be aware of your surroundings or face grave consequences
you better unplug your ears or cover your head
You should start listening to advice given to you
cause no one wants to be in those shoes
Nobody would like to be in a perilous situation similar to yours
you ain't got nothing but nothing to lose
You have nothing to lose due to your precarious circumstance
so you sit in your seat there looking dumb
You appear foolish sitting there doing nothing
tapping your feet and chewing gum
You're doing mindless activities to pass time
you can wait until your kingdom comes
You're doing nothing productive for a long time
but Jesus wouldn't walk in your shoes
Even a revered personality such as Jesus wouldn't want to be in your situation
because you so fucking stupid got nothing to use
You're imprudent and have no skills or resources to improve your condition
well it pains me so to see you frown
It breaks my heart to see you sad
i never meant to bring you down
I didn't intend to make you feel worse
but i didn't ever ask you to come around
I didn't invite you or welcome your presence
when you ain't got nothing to do
When you have no purpose or motivation
you ain't got nothing but nothing to lose
You have nothing substantial to lose in your idle state
Contributed by John L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.