January 2002
Interview with Anton Newcombe and Frankie Emerson
By: Tim Connolly
www.longislandmusicscene.com
Longislandmusicscene.com [LIMS]: When did you first begin rocking out, and what was the scene like in those days?
[Anton]: We started our band in 1990 in San Francisco, California, if my memory serves me right. Guns and Roses were just petering out along with most metal. People were just getting into the Seattle scene. On the local front there were very few garage bands in the bay area. One that comes to mind was The Loved Ones starring Bart and Xan (he plays guitar in Cake now). Jeff Davies had a band called Planet Of The Hairdoo Apes, but there was nothing that I could join, so I started my own band.
[Frankie]: I began with the "shannannagins" at the age of 15 years old, stubbling (sic) through the difference of punk rock and 4AD label music. A very lovely & enjoyable time of my life.
[LIMS]: Who were some of your early influences, and who are some contemporary artists that you admire?
[Anton]: I like psychedelic music and folk-rock
stuff from early on. Mind you, I still listen to the same music I have always
liked: The Zombies, Bob Dylan, The sixties Stones, The Small Faces, Simon and
Garfunkel, The Who, The Beatles, Donovan, The Doors, Love, The Beach Boys, Earl,
Pink Floyd, Leonard Cohen, The Byrds, The Yardbirds, Echo and the Bunnymen, The
Smiths, PiL, The Chameleons UK, Joy Division, Jesus and Marychain, My Bloody
Valentine, Spaceman 3, The Charlatans UK, The Telescopes, and stuff like that.
Bands we like now: Belle and Sebastian, Elliot Smith, The Dandy Warhols, The
Charlatans, Rick Bain and the Genius Position, The White Stripes, The Strokes,
B.R.M.C., The Tyde, Beachwood Sparks, The Warlocks and stuff like that.
[Frankie]: I was spawned from a biker/hippie family, my father being an original member of the Hells Angels (San Bernadino chapter) .....anyway....so it was Led Zepplin/The Doors etc.....
[LIMS]: You were an integral part of the Long Island music scene, for a few brief shining moments. What are some of your favorite memories from rocking out in New York?
[Anton]: Well, I was lucky because my first experience with NYC was with the band. I loved Coney Island High (and it's sad that it's gone). The first time we played Brownies, it was so packed and we just tore it up. People were in shock because bands like us don't pop up in your local scene. Playing at the Knitting Factory, live on WFMU, headlining the Bowery Ballroom during CMJ, and just meeting so many great people.
[Frankie]: CMJ all the way!!! Besides pissing all over my self and leaving all my belongings on the subway, fuck, I'm still pissed about that.
[LIMS]: What's coming up for The Brian Jonestown Massacre soon that we should all be watching out for?
[Frankie]: Extremely old material & very new.
[Anton]: Well, we have a new drummer, and he is
great, I mean really. His name is Dan and he is allowing us to play live music
on a top notch level. We are looking forward to being the best live psychedelic
band in a long time. Hopefully we'll tour the mainland of Europe for the first
time, and secure a label there. We just released our tenth album "Bravery,
Repetition and Noise", and we plan to release two more records this year. In
short we
want to take our music to the people.
[LIMS]: What gear do you like to use?
[Frankie]: Vox guitars, & no pedal effects (but a distortion now and again).
[Anton]: We use old stuff. Harmony and Guild acoustic guitars, Vox and Rickenbocker 12-string electric's, Vox Cheatah, and Gibson 335's for the six strings, Fender amps, Ludwig and Gretsch drums, Hammond organs.
[LIMS]: What is the one thing that you like the most about the Long Island music scene?
[Anton]: It has to be the people. I like the fact that because it is so competitive, so hard to live there and do music, it brings out that classic "if were going to do this" mindset that is rare in other places. I like the do-it-yourself vibe in NYC.
[Frankie]: The accents.
[LIMS]: If you would like to see one thing change about the local scene here, what would be it be?
[Frankie]: The accents.
[Anton]: Well, I don't care if your talking hip-hop, house, punk rock, DJ, or Chinese people playing on the subway, I would like to see local governments embrace music as an art form, and if it comes from the street all the better. Sadly they tend to look at a lot of music as a source of rebellion (and P.Diddy getting busted with guns doesn't help) instead of the international treasure that it is.
[LIMS]: Give us a few pearls of wisdom for any up-and-coming local musicians who are trying to make a splash. What are some do's and dont's?
[Anton]: Do give it all of your heart and soul. Don't ever give up. Do keep the tradition that you believe in alive. Don't think it can't be done. Don't believe the hype (not the record companies, not the press). Do what you can to make people happy. Don't forget where you came from. Don't rape girls. Don't get hooked on crack or smack.
[Frankie]: Don't do anything that's uncomfortable unless you're intoxicated.
[LIMS]: What is the wildest and most unexpected thing that has ever happened at a Brian Jonestown Massacre show?
[Frankie]: OOOHHHH BOY.......I don't feel like going there,sorry.
[Anton]: Riots! When people just lose their shit because they are so moved by the music, it has happened a lot. We are careful now about how we play our set because we don't want anybody to get hurt. It is really amazing. It has happened in Japan, England, Canada, West Coast USA, and on the East Coast USA. The other thing that comes to mind is our young fans, 15 through 21 year-olds, it speaks of the timeless nature of the tunes and gives us the strength to carry on, like what we are doing means something.
[LIMS]: "Groovy Ghoulies" or "Scooby Doo"?
[Anton]: Groovy Ghoulies all the way, they're grooovy!!! Their van is better, they live in a castle, they are psychedelic...need I say more?
[Frankie]: Scooby Doo, I've always wanted a ride like the "Mystery Machine" …Daphne included PLEASE!
[LIMS]: Why should I listen to the Brian Jonestown Massacre?
[Anton]: Listen because we are great at what we do. We produce our own recordings, run our own label, pay for our own tours, never give up, are real, unlike so much of the music today, and we are a part of history, a tradition, and we are doing it for the right reasons, and because you will enjoy our band.