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."
Open Heart Surgery
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
how much i love you today
i feel like letting it show
showing you rightly now
and never going away
i know you're feeling real low
calling on all my
i want to show you i know
and it will be all fine
i want to take it away
take it away
i thought i'ld write you this song
maybe i'd make you smile
and take your sadness away
hey
i want to show you i love
love love you a long time girl
i'm never going away
hey,
hey
hey
hey
The Brian Jonestown Massacre's song Open Heart Surgery is a love song with heartfelt lyrics. The lyrics express the singer's desire to let their loved one know how much they love them and their willingness to show it. The lyrics are also reflective of the singer's understanding of the struggles their loved one is going through as the singer attempts to make things okay and to take away their sadness. The singer uses the song as a medium to console and comfort their loved one. The chorus repeats the desire to love their partner for a long time and never go away. It is a poignant and passionate song that encapsulates the depth of emotion and love that the singer has for their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
i feel like letting you know
I have an urge to express my love for you
how much i love you today
My love for you is intense and overflowing at this moment
i feel like letting it show
I want to openly exhibit my affection towards you
showing you rightly now
I want you to know that I am showing you my love in the right way
and never going away
My love for you will never fade or diminish
i know you're feeling real low
I understand that you are going through a tough time
calling on all my
You can count on me for support and assistance
i want to make it ok
I want to fix the situation and make it better for you
i want to show you i know
I want to demonstrate that I understand your situation
and it will be all fine
Everything will eventually work out and be okay
i want to take it away
I want to remove the cause of your pain and suffering
take it away
I truly desire to make things better for you
i thought i'ld write you this song
I expressed my love and care for you through this song
maybe i'd make you smile
I hope my song put a smile on your face and made you feel better
and take your sadness away
I hope my song removed your sorrow and heartache
hey
A word used to catch your attention or emphasize a point
i want to show you i love
My intention is to exhibit my deep love for you
love love you a long time girl
I have a strong and lasting love for you
i'm never going away
I have no intention of ever leaving you
hey
A word used to attract attention or express enthusiasm
hey
A word used to indicate emotion or excitement
hey
A word used to exclaim or emphasize a point
hey
A word used to get your attention or convey a message
Contributed by Lincoln P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
anton newcombe
this is the first time i listened to this in about 5 years.makes me cry like the day i wrote it.wow.i wonder if this happens to la roux?
HowEYEwoN
First time ive ever listened to it. And I understand what you mean.
Planetzoot
Corey Dopp lol please be trolling
Terry Gordon
I adore this song. its like an old friend to me
cannedpixels
Thank you for writing it. Hope all is well.
Valentina Kniess
Oh my Gods - what a fantastically painful love song! It's perfect - echoes the sorrow that is bonded to love. This is an outstanding band - can't believe I'm only finding them now.
Anaheim*lofi Anaheim
Right tell me about it heard of them long ago but was to oblivious to take notice
Lazyeyeforest
Every instrument, every word, every progression blends together so well on this song. BJM is a drug in itself.
Mark Williams
This song is what music is really all about. Mellow magic. Anton's vocal is sublime, and the drumming...
Jonestown Dandy
The timing on the drums is amazing still gets me every time