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."
This Is Why You Love Me
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
he's gone away
every things ok
hey
i'm going to stay
so dry your eyes
i'll never lie
hey
come out and play
he never did nothing except for drag you down
you can rest your head, cause we'll be laying around.
and i'm here to say
that there's no way
he'll love you like i do
hey
come out and play
he never did nothing except for fuck you around
you can rest your head cause we'll be laying around,
you can rest your head cause will be hanging around.
The song "This Is Why You Love Me" by The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a melancholic and somewhat manipulative love song. The lyrics open with the singer addressing the person he is singing to, who has just gone through a breakup with someone else. He promises to stick around and treat them better than their previous partner did, saying they won't lie to them or bring them down. The chorus repeats the invitation to come out and play and highlights the difference between how the singer will treat the listener versus how their ex treated them.
The second verse takes a bit of a darker turn, with the singer claiming that the previous partner didn't do anything for the listener except drag them down or mess them around. This paints the previous relationship as manipulative and abusive, building on the singer's earlier promise to be different. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus's invitation and promise, with the added detail that the singer will be "laying around" with the listener. This emphasizes the intimacy and closeness that the singer wants to share with them.
Line by Line Meaning
i heard you say
I overheard you utter
he's gone away
He has departed
every things ok
Everything is okay
hey
Hey
i'm going to stay
I intend to remain
so dry your eyes
Therefore wipe your tears
i'll never lie
I won't ever deceive you
or treat you like he did
Nor mistreat you like he did
hey
Hey
come out and play
Go out and have fun with me
he never did nothing except for drag you down
He didn't do anything aside from bringing you down
you can rest your head, cause we'll be laying around.
You can lay your head on me since we'll be lounging
and i'm here to say
Furthermore, I'm here to tell you
that there's no way
That there is no chance
he'll love you like i do
He will never love you the way I do
hey
Hey
come out and play
Come out and have fun with me
he never did nothing except for fuck you around
He didn't do anything besides playing with your emotions
you can rest your head cause we'll be laying around,
You can lay your head on me since we'll be lounging
you can rest your head cause will be hanging around.
You can lay your head on me since we'll be loitering
Contributed by Ava L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.