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."
The Be Song
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that's okay, that's what you do,
You take the best I gave to you,
You take so long, what's going on here?
I hate to wait, I wait for you.
You take so long, have I been wrong here?
It's not the things you say or do,
It's the strange way, you're cruel
You don't belong, am I wrong here?
(Oh yeah)
The lyrics of The Be Song by The Brian Jonestown Massacre are a reflection on a relationship that has ended, leaving the singer feeling hurt and confused. The first verse acknowledges that the other person has hurt them, but somehow that's acceptable, as it seems to be part of their nature. The singer feels that they gave their best to this person, but the other person took a very long time to reciprocate. There is a sense of bewilderment and frustration with the situation.
The second verse expresses impatience and unease with the waiting that is required in a relationship. The singer is unsure if they have been wrong to feel this way, or if the other person is taking advantage of their patience. The third verse suggests that it's not what the other person is saying or doing that is causing the confusion, but rather a strange or unusual behaviour that is causing pain. There is a sense of disconnection and questioning of whether the singer belongs in this relationship.
Overall, The Be Song is a melancholy reflection on the difficulties of relationships and the confusion and hurt that can arise in them.
Line by Line Meaning
You tried to break my heart in two,
You attempted to damage my emotional wellbeing and cause me pain,
But that's okay, that's what you do,
However, I accept that this is your habit or tendency,
You take the best I gave to you,
You exploit or use the finest aspects of my character that I offer you,
You take so long, what's going on here?
You are taking a significant amount of time to reveal your intentions or actions, leading me to question your motives.
I hate to wait, I wait for you.
I dislike the experience of waiting for you, yet I continue to remain patient,
You take so long, have I been wrong here?
The length of time it's taking you to act is causing me to doubt my previous actions or decisions,
It's not the things you say or do,
The specific words or actions you employ are not the issue,
But still I'm wrong. Do I belong and
Despite this fact, I still feel incorrect or out of place in this situation,
It's the strange way, you're cruel
What makes me feel this way is the peculiar or unusual manner in which you are being unkind,
You don't belong, am I wrong here?
Your behavior seems inappropriate or disconnected from the situation. Am I the one who is mistaken?
Contributed by Savannah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.