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."
Unknown
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's crazy but I can't let you go cause I'm certain you know that I love you
There's that look in your eyes, you
And that look in your lies, yes it's true
Baby, I'll not let you go without letting you know that I love you
It's crazy cause I'm certain I've shown that I know that you know how I love you
You are starting to cry
Don't you do what you do, yes you do
Baby, I can't let you go till I'm certain you know that I love you
It's crazy cause I'm certain I know that I've probably shown that my love's true
The Brian Jonestown Massacre's song "Unknown" is a love song that comes from a place of desperation and fear of losing the love of someone. This message is repeated throughout the song with lyrics such as "Baby, I'll not let you go without letting you know that I love you," and "It's crazy but I can't let you go cause I'm certain you know that I love you." The singer of the song is trying to hold on to the love they have with this person, but there seems to be some doubt present in the relationship as well. The lyrics declare that this love is true and the singer will not let go until the other person knows just how much they are loved.
The lyrics also have a contrast element present with the lines "There's that look in your eyes, you, and that look in your lies, yes it's true." This contrast suggests that there may be some deception or misunderstandings in the relationship that the singer is trying to work through. The line "You are starting to cry, don't you do what you do, yes you do" suggests that the singer is trying to prevent the other person from ending the relationship while also acknowledging that the other person has done something in the past to cause hurt. Overall, "Unknown" is a song that explores the complexities of love and the fear of losing it.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, I'll not let you go without letting you know that I love you
I can't stand the thought of losing you without letting you know how much I love you
It's crazy but I can't let you go cause I'm certain you know that I love you
I feel insane for not being able to let you go, but I know deep down that you're aware of my love for you
There's that look in your eyes, you
I can see the emotions in your eyes, you're struggling with something
And that look in your lies, yes it's true
I can also see through the lies you're telling me, and it hurts
Baby, I'll not let you go without letting you know that I love you
I won't let you leave until I've fully expressed my love for you
It's crazy cause I'm certain I've shown that I know that you know how I love you
It may seem insane, but I'm positive that I've shown you how much I love you and that you're aware of it
You are starting to cry
I can see tears forming in your eyes
Don't you do what you do, yes you do
Please don't try to hide your emotions, I know that you do that
Baby, I can't let you go till I'm certain you know that I love you
I won't let you leave until I'm sure that you understand how deep my love for you is
It's crazy cause I'm certain I know that I've probably shown that my love's true
It may seem irrational, but I'm positive that I've proven to you that my love is genuine and true
Contributed by Eliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.