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."
Yeah
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I leave it to fates
I'm not in a hurry
Already late
The voices of angels
Sing in my head
They tell me to worry
I say yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm saying Hell, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
The voices of (?)
Run in my head
It feels so scary
It's giving me dead
It's so scary
(?)
I'm saying yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm saying Hell, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
The Brian Jonestown Massacre's song Yeah is a meditative reflection on life and death. The lyrics suggest that the singer is unconcerned with fate, since it is already determined, and they are content to move through life at their own pace. The "voices of angels" that "sing in [their] head" might represent the spiritual or subconscious parts of the singer's mind that tell them that worry is unnecessary, given that they are "already dead." It is unclear what this means - whether the singer believes that they have already lived the life they were meant to lead or whether they are simply accepting of the fact that death is an inevitable part of existence.
The repetition of "yeah, yeah" and "hell, yeah" throughout the song suggests a sense of affirmation or agreement with this outlook. By saying "yeah" to the idea of being unconcerned with fate and accepting of death, the singer is perhaps expressing a degree of peace or contentment with these concepts. However, the repeated line "it feels so scary" suggests that there may still be some fear or discomfort associated with this outlook. This tension between acceptance and fear is reflected in the ambiguous nature of the lyrics, which leave room for multiple interpretations.
Line by Line Meaning
I never worry
I have no worries or anxieties about life.
I leave it to fates
I don't try to control or influence the outcome of things and wait to see what will happen.
I'm not in a hurry
I am not in a rush or impatient with the pace of my life.
Already late
I feel like I have missed out on a lot in life and time is running out.
The voices of angels
I hear imaginary or spiritual voices in my head that give me guidance and advice.
Sing in my head
The voices in my head sound like a choir singing.
They tell me to worry
The voices in my head urge me to be anxious and afraid.
I'm already dead
I feel emotionally or spiritually 'dead' inside and unable to feel happiness or joy.
I say yeah, yeah
I express agreement, enthusiasm or approval for something.
Hell, yeah
I express strong approval or agreement for something, or excitement and enthusiasm about something.
The voices of (?)
The meaning of this line is unclear or difficult to interpret.
Run in my head
The voices in my head are fast and urgent, like they are running.
It feels so scary
I have a strong feeling of fear or anxiety about something.
It's giving me dead
It is making me feel emotionally numb or 'dead' inside.
I'm saying yeah, yeah
I express agreement, enthusiasm or approval for something.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
An expression of strong agreement or enthusiastic approval for something.
Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
persona non grata
This entire show is phenomenal and i feel that isnt giving it props enough...
i was going to post how this was my fave of the show, but fuck it man - they are all just ridiculously fantabulously BJM! Anton and crew were running on all cylinders FO SHO!
I know zip it fanboy, but to that i just say YEAH-YEAH. 😉
Thank you #cardinalsessions #thebrianjonestownmassacre #antonnewcombe ALL THE LOVE AND GOOD JUJU!
🙏📿🙏📿🙏
📿🕉📿🕉📿
#keepmusicevil
tastemaker_87
I saw BJM at the Glasgow Barrowland on this tour. The set list was similar to the London gig and "yeah yeah" especially was a highlight. So happy it's been captured so professionally by Cardinal. Huge thanks!
Emily and James' YouTube Channel
Amazing videography on this concert well done to the people behind the cameras and organisation. The BJM don't miss a note. Thanks to Anton, Forgiveness and patience from the band for these amazing songs!
wonderjesus
I need to see this incredible band play live ❤️♥️🙏🏻
tastemaker_87
Please do. It will be a top 5 show guaranteed
piero K
Yes, it's really incredible sound, all this guitars are fantastic, one of my best show ever ( in Montreal).
Scott Ross
... and live to tell the tale.
Gus Stewart
Awesome sustained sound- must have been a truly memorable gig. Love everything about this band.
Rui Marques
Absolute masterpiece
flipdog74
Such a great wall of sound at the close of the song... Those are the moments I live for ❤
Ed Ramsay
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PERFORMANCE!