Over 20 years ago, Anton Newcombe formed the band that came to be known as The Brian Jonestown Massacre. For 2 decades Anton has lead this musical force through almost every Rock'n'Roll cliche imagineable. From break ups to bust ups, onstage fights and drug addiction, cancelled shows and walk offs - The BJM have been there, done it, survived it and then done it again.
There reputation as "bad guys of rock" was cemented when the 2004 documentary Dig! was released which chronicled the bands progress throuh 6-7 years. We saw the band at there very worst, but in a strange way this was seeing a band at there best. The band were laid bare for all to see. We could enjoy the madness and appreciate the genius.
Bands like this dont come along to often.
Sure, other bands and artists have gained much more in terms of critical acclaim/album sales etc, and other bands have matched the BJM in terms of outlandish rock'n'roll behaviour, but what The BJM, but Anton in particular, have over these other acts is a vision and motivation to move things forward.
The BJM are a throwback, there is no denying that. There most popular songs are Rolling Stones influenced blues rock featuring catchy hooks and memorable melodies. The 60's is everywhere in there music. The progressive, other worldly sound, The 2 minute pop songs, The use of 60's song titles reworked. Fuck, there last album was called who killed sgt pepper!
But this works.
The 60's was a time when nothing was impossible. It was a time when people could dream and those dreams could come true. Music progressed at a light speed and peoples attitude to politics, race, religion, peoples rights, sex, drugs and science seemed to develop and move forward at a rapid rate.
We went to the moon in the 60's using technology that today would be used to power a bog standard calculator school children deface every day in class. Thats what can happen when someone has an idea and makes it happen.
So it makes sense that Anton and The BJM are influenced by this period of time.
We are talking here about a band that was at the forefront of the shoegaze scene in the early 90's and one of the first to use the internet in the ways its used today.
Before Napster became a big deal and before it was closed down, Anton was sharing his music with anyone who "got it". Anton posted his entire discography on his website way back in the late 90's making all his music available to download and share for free.
He has never and probably will never "play the game" the way that "they" expect you to. Its one of the reasons his music will never get played on mainstream TV/radio, but its one of his main strengths to. By not towing the company line his record labels expected him to do (anoton now has his own indie label "a" records) has given him the freedom to do things his way.
Anton and the BJM were one of the first bands to be on MySpace, other bands were on it but Anton actually put his music on there free for everyone.
By doing this and allowing people to hear his music, Anton has opened up an entire new world of music for people that may not of known existed. Anton has created a scene that has now spread accross the globe; from bands like BRMC and The Warlocks from America, Anton has moved to GErmany & Iceland to help develop bands such as The Blue Angel Lounge & Dead Skeletons.
At the forefront of his scene is the message "Keep Music Evil" - the moniker from which i guess Anton lives his life. Keep Music Evil is a community of bands, artists, fans, writers and everyone inbetween who buys into Anton and The BJMS outlook on what music and art should be, a true expression of ones self.
Its the polar opposite of todays music scene. Its an escape from the mainstream that has become so terrifyingly polished and media driven that has seen the artistic vision disapear without trace.
i could be angry that radio,television and cinema are not only shallow and perhaps even toxic in their banality,maybe even feel pains of sadness for young people knowing that they will never have a chance to grow in an open minded stimulating enviroment full of exploration,and examples personal freedom...but you know what? the way it is is the way it is wanted...it's not like 10 year olds are demanding lady gaga and justin beiber...no,this is by design.you can not want for other what they do not want for themselves.
In 3 weeks time Anton & The BJM will release there 12th studio album; Aufheben.
An album which has been shared with the watching public over the last 18-24 months via Antons online live TV station - DeadTV. Yeah, he has his own TV show. Bono doesnt have one of those.
We have watched Anton in the studio recording, writing and producing this album from day 1. He has taken us on a journey with these songs, sharing his vision and how he gets there with everyone who is bothered to watch.
Every demo, every idea has been posted online publicly for everyone to comment on and get involved with. This has been another step forward as far as creating and recording music.
He isnt going to ask his fans to "pay what they want" - he was giving it away for free 15 years ago. He isnt going to ask his fans to pick the tracklist, people have been making mix tapes for 30 years. Hes going to do something new, and hes going to move things forward by inviting us into the process. We wont have a say on the final product, but we will of been a part of it.
What that final product is is yet to be heard, but the mixture of the old and new was there to be heard on the youtube demos.
We have a perfect blend of the electronic beats from the last album, the bluesy guitar from the early 90's, the experimental eastern/european vocals of the early naughties EP's and a menacing yet beautiful vibe that could be heard on the debut, Methodrone (yeah thats right, that drug that became trendy last year was the name of Antons debut in 1992)
Hes ahead of the game and its up to everyone else to catch up.
Chances are he will be too far ahead by the time people begin to realise, I just hope that the next generation can see through the glossy mess of The Xfactor and everything that goes with that, so bands like The BJM can influence a better musical future.
Either that - or use the technology we have at our disposal to actually DO something, rather than spying on each other or blowing the shit out of our planet. Just an idea.
Aufheben is released on May 1st
The BJM will be playing live this summer
07/07/2012 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
08/07/2012 The Ritz, Manchester
09/07/1012 o2 Academy, Birmingham
