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 Devil May Care
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The two best friends i never had
To be knowing where i′m going,
How about you?
Give them all my love so much
I promise that i'll stay in touch
If i know where i am going
So will you
I′ve thought about so many things
It only complicates my dreams
It's keeping me from knowing what to do
Got to go i'm loosing touch
I think about you way too much
It′s keeping me from knowing me or you
(Or you)
The Brian Jonestown Massacre's song "The Devil May Care" is a melancholic yet hopeful journey about leaving behind the familiar to explore the unknown. The singer bids farewell to their parents and best friends, promising to keep in touch as they venture towards an uncertain destination. The chorus of the song invites the listener to ponder if they too know where they are going.
The first verse establishes a wistful tone, describing the singer's departure from their loved ones. They are keenly aware of their sense of dislocation but still strive to maintain connections despite the distance. The later half of the verse is filled with a sense of uncertainty, reflecting on the journey ahead. The second verse conveys confusion and anxiety around the singer's future, resulting in a loss of connection with their loved ones. The singer seems to be in a constant state of self-reflection, grappling with the intricacies of their dreams and desires.
"The Devil May Care" is a reflection of the human desire to seek adventure and experience new things, juxtaposed with the fear of change and loss. It's a song about the internal conflict we face when making life-altering decisions. The song's open-ended nature invites the listener to fill in the blanks, creating their interpretation of the narrative, making it a deeply personal experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Say goodbye to mom and dad
Bid farewell to parental figures
The two best friends i never had
Parents were more like friends to me
To be knowing where i'm going
To have knowledge of my destination
How about you?
Do you also know where you're going?
Give them all my love so much
Send them my sincere affection
I promise that i'll stay in touch
I will maintain communication with them
If i know where i am going
I can keep them informed if I know my destination
So will you
Will you also let them know?
(And you too)
I'm also referring to you
I've thought about so many things
Contemplated deeply on numerous topics
It only complicates my dreams
The thoughts make my aspirations more complex
It's keeping me from knowing what to do
The overthinking paralyzes me from deciding a course of action
Got to go i'm loosing touch
I need to leave as I'm feeling disconnected
I think about you way too much
You often fill my thoughts excessively
It's keeping me from knowing me or you
The constant thinking causes a barrier between us and prevents self-discovery
(Or you)
This applies to both of us
Writer(s): Anton A Newcombe
Contributed by Nicholas E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.