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."
Wasted
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
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And I search in vain
I've tried to be like someone else
But remain the same, wasted life
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
When I'm sitting deep inside myself
And it causes pain
Think about the endless times I've tried
But I've failed in vain, I laugh sometimes
Between the lines, and I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
The lyrics to “Wasted” by The Brian Jonestown Massacre are a reflection on the struggles of self-discovery and the feeling of stagnation. The opening lines express the frustration of looking inward and not finding the answers desired. The phrase “I've tried to be like someone else, but remain the same” suggests a sense of conformity but also the realization that merely mimicking others has not led to personal growth. The phrase "wasted life" further emphasizes this idea of not utilizing one's potential and perhaps a feeling of lost time.
The repeated phrase "I want to know" could represent a desire for a deeper understanding of oneself and the world around them. The following lines about causing oneself pain could suggest that self-reflection can be difficult and even painful, but the singer still feels a need to continue this pursuit. The lyrics seem to imply that personal growth and self-discovery are ongoing processes that may not have a clear end, but the desire to keep searching remains.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a contemplative piece on the difficulty of finding oneself and the importance of continuing to search, regardless of how elusive the answers may be.
Line by Line Meaning
When I look in deep inside myself
Reflecting on my innermost thoughts and feelings
And I search in vain
But I cannot find what I am looking for
I've tried to be like someone else
I attempted to imitate the ways of others
But remain the same, wasted life
Although nothing has changed, I feel like I have wasted my life
When I'm sitting deep inside myself
When I am lost in introspection
And it causes pain
And it causes me discomfort and sorrow
Think about the endless times I've tried
Contemplating the numerous attempts I have made
But I've failed in vain, I laugh sometimes
But my efforts have only led to futile results, and I find myself laughing at my own mistakes
Between the lines, and I want to know
Beyond the surface level, there is something I am curious about
I want to know
I desire to understand
I want to know
I crave knowledge
I want to know
I yearn for answers
I want to know
I am desperately seeking clarity
I want to know
I am searching for meaning
I want to know
I am seeking enlightenment
I want to know
I am inquisitive
I want to know
I am curious
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benji Madden, John Feldmann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind