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."
Prozac vs. Heroin
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come out of the sky
You shine like the summer's sun
And
I might even die
Whatever thy will be done
Smile
Or maybe just kingdom come
And I will be done
And I will be done
So
Talking ?
Whatever their words must say
If
Heaven could fall
It's not gonna make him stay
Try
To keep it together
Or make it to kingdom come
And you will be done
And you will be done
Smile
You open the sky
You star like the sunken sun
I
Might even die
Whatever, I will be done
Just try
To make it together
Or maybe to kingdom come
Add you will be done
Yes you will be done
And you will become
But you will
Become
The song Prozac vs. Heroin by The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a meditation on life and death, addiction and freedom, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world of confusion and pain. At its core, the song is about the eternal struggle between the forces of light and darkness, hope and despair, and the choices we make in the face of adversity.
The opening lines, "Stars come out of the sky, you shine like the summer's sun," sets the tone for the song's lyrical intensity and poetic beauty. The song's narrator professes his willingness to accept whatever fate has in store for him, even if it means risking his life for a cause he believes is worth fighting for. The lines "I might even die, whatever thy will be done" show a sense of surrender to a greater power and acceptance of the unknown.
The song urges its listener to keep fighting through life's hardships and to keep pushing for a better tomorrow. It encourages people to stay hopeful and try to keep themselves together in the face of adversity. This message is reinforced in the lines "Try to keep it together or make it to kingdom come, and you will be done."
Overall, Prozac vs. Heroin is a song that delivers a powerful message of hope and redemption. It encourages the listener to keep on fighting for what they believe in, not to give in to despair or addiction, and to strive towards something greater.
Line by Line Meaning
Stars
The beauty and wonder of the stars in the sky above inspire feelings of awe and insignificance.
Come out of the sky
The stars emerge from the vast, unknowable universe to shine down upon humanity.
You shine like the summer's sun
The brilliance of the stars is comparable to the warmth and brightness of the summer sun.
And I might even die
The intense emotion evoked by the beauty of the stars is such that it could potentially be overwhelming and incapacitating.
Whatever thy will be done
Acknowledging the power and mystery of the universe, and accepting whatever fate may come.
Smile
Putting on a brave face in the face of adversity or uncertainty.
Try for the heaven
Striving towards a better, holier, or more transcendent existence.
Or maybe just kingdom come
Alternatively, seeking a world where justice and goodness thrive, or simply a state of peace and stability.
And I will be done
Accepting that one's fate is ultimately out of their control, and merely seeking to make the most of what time remains.
So
In light of all this, in spite of everything, what should one do?
Talking ?
Regardless of what other people might say or advise.
Whatever their words must say
Acknowledging that others may have different opinions, experiences, or goals.
If heaven could fall
Even the most unshakable, fundamental aspects of existence are not entirely immune to change or loss.
It's not gonna make him stay
Despite the temptation to hope for miracles or intervention, ultimately one must accept the inevitability of death or separation.
Try
Persisting in the face of hardship, regardless of the odds or the outcome.
To keep it together
Maintaining one's sanity, composure, and sense of purpose even when everything seems to be falling apart.
Or make it to kingdom come
Striving for a world or an afterlife where everything is better, fairer, or more fulfilling than it is in the present.
And you will be done
No matter what happens, no matter what one decides, one's time on earth is finite and ultimately insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
You open the sky
The singer imagines themselves as having the power to affect the universe, such as by tearing open the sky to reveal new possibilities.
You star like the sunken sun
The artist is filled with a sense of their own potential, or reflecting on a time when they felt they were at the height of their powers.
Just try
Advice to simply give it one's best effort, regardless of whether it ultimately succeeds or fails.
To make it together
Investing in relationships, whether with other people or with the universe as a whole, even when it's difficult or painful.
Or maybe to kingdom come
Alternatively, dedicating oneself to a greater purpose or mission, even if it requires sacrifice or struggle.
Add you will be done
The outcome is not the only important thing - what matters is that one tried their hardest and remained true to their values.
Yes you will be done
Reiterating that the singer's fate is ultimately out of their hands, and that they must accept whatever comes with grace and dignity.
And you will become But you will
Even if one's life seems to have been insignificant or unremarkable, there is still value in having existed, and one's impact may be felt in ways they cannot anticipate.
Contributed by Ian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@inoculatemedia
I was in the room when this song materialized. Anton and I were fucking around on a couple guitars and a minimoog. Anton was in a dark place, had broken up with his girl and was despodant, suicidal, screaming out for attention yet extremely focused on music. I just happened to be there, came up with the melody together and is probably one few nice memories about those days. I left shortly after to join Psychic TV,.
@susie_3
wow you guys are genius
@MarwanAbdElghany
This my best BJM song extremely underrated and chilling shame that it's not famous song
@inoculatemedia
Awesome, mine too, see my comment above yours for some history about it.
@whoareyou4346
Heroin,aaaaah, inside my heart you touch me, I dont need anyone, not even me
@robertodonoghue8131
Fuck it! Never can get enough of BJM
@malegrissusran8847
gets deeper every year ...... every time....... here it comes
@shadwilliams1502
Anton was writing about life functions, and what we need each day to keep going, the religion of man. Is within, not a church down the road. Well that's what he said in a recent interview 20 years after penning it. Amazing gifted artist leaving everyone else in the dark for output and creativity.
@lulugraphics
He’s kind of like Ray Davies as a composer and lyricist, Ray is a bit under rated for his time period, yet his stuff is more genius than his contemporaries. And I mean that about both. Plus remember Ray and his brother had altercations on stage too…
@WGRZCWP
To the bodhisattva who posted all these videos, thank you.