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."
Xibalba
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There’s nothing left here but fear, I guess that I knew you’re mine
You say that you’d rather run to take to another world
We’re not going to wait and see and I’d rather run than die, so run
I think that it’s time to leave, I’m sitting here wasting time
There’s nothing left here but fear, I guess that I knew you’re mine
You say that you’d rather run to take to another world
The lyrics of "Xibalba" by The Brian Jonestown Massacre are open to interpretation, but at its core, it seems to be a song about the end of a relationship. The singer is undecided about whether to stay or leave, noting that there is nothing left but fear. They acknowledge that their partner belongs to them, but also imply that they are unhappy in the relationship. The singer seems to have accepted that the relationship is over, and suggests that they would rather run than die, urging their partner to do the same.
The song's title, "Xibalba," is derived from Maya mythology and refers to the underworld of the dead. This gives the lyrics a sense of finality and echoes the idea of the relationship coming to an end. The song has a dream-like quality, with haunting vocals and instrumentation that create an eerie atmosphere. It leaves the listener with a feeling of uncertainty and foreboding.
Line by Line Meaning
I think that it’s time to leave, I’m sitting here wasting time
I believe it is time to depart because I am idling away my time
There’s nothing left here but fear, I guess that I knew you’re mine
I have come to realize that my sole companion is my anxiety, which I should have anticipated
You say that you’d rather run to take to another world
You confess your desire to escape to another place
We’re not going to wait and see and I’d rather run than die, so run
We have no intention to wait for impending doom, so the best option is to flee and stay alive
Contributed by Aubrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
william hunter
One of those amazing pieces of music which could only come from BJM, but seriously that animation just takes things to a whole new level. 3'33" of just pure bliss. A psychedelic trip without the need for drugs!
Jakers88
I love this song. Had NO idea that there was a video for it...and it's PERFECT!
majd shami
a perfect song for a perfect state of mind .. reminds of long gone happy memory of love ..
Matty Happy friend
this is so perfect song..... so cool.... so hippie cool.... this must be listening on the radio!!!!!!!!! bravo!!!!!! you got me .... i danced it a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!
OzzieDaMusica
One of Anton’s finest 🌈🦄❤️
Candi Brown
This is brilliant!
Eden Donnelly
this is fantastic...why only 712 views? more people need to see/hear this art...
Broken Down Golf Cart
Ahh I love this in so many ways
Mike Green
What a Beautiful video to go with an equally beautiful song!
Christopher E
cant stop watching this.. amazing...