No Holding Back With Anton Newcombe
Photo by Marie Monteriro
There’s music you put on to get ready for a night out, music you put on when someone just broke up with you and then music you put on to go surfing.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre is that kind of music. As a long time fan of the band, word of an Australian tour got me about as excited as offshore three foot forecasts. As about as iconic as they come, here following is a heated, and somewhat sporadic chat with frontman Anton Newcombe.
How the hell do you release twenty albums? And all on your own record company. That’s impressive. Do you ever reflect back on that?
No I’m a very forward thinker. I like to just work and do things. I think it’s too early to take stock in my life besides being thankful. I’m trying to do better and spout some kind of growth I guess. Learning. That’s the biggest part of it. You know what you know. You don’t need to know everything, just what you need.
You grew up in California right? Do you surf?
Of course. I grew up in Newport Beach California on the beach.
Were you an avid surfer?
It’s not the same thing as it once was in many places. It can be absolutely ridiculous. I used to love the idea that this wave travelled halfway across the earth and just crashed on the shore and you get to see the end of it. Now I don’t give a hoot about it.
Fair enough, that happens.
I used to work for Quiksilver. I was the graphic designer as a teenager when they had 500 employees. I did all the rudimental foam core designs and trad displays for the store.
No way. I didn’t know that. Would you say that surfing influenced your sound when you first started?
Yeah surfing was a big element of it. The North African and Spanish influence that exists in good surf music - that’s apart of my sound.
Continuing on with influence, I take it The Rolling Stones were an influence?
Well not so much because we’re not really a rhythmic blues group. But what appealed to me was how Brian Jones could play any instrument. That’s what his position was in the band I always thought that was an interesting way to approach life. Where the studio is your instrument and everything is in service to the song instead of being some virtuoso demigod or something. Those Eddie Van Halen types of amazing people I always thought were more interesting. A little more open. Wait do you surf?
Yeah.
In Australia?
Photo by Mehdi Benkler
Yeah. Well all over but yeah.
Where are you calling from?
Sydney.
Oh.
Yeah it’s pretty chaotic here.
I went to a beach in Perth and the sand was so hot you couldn’t even walk to the water and if you did you would’ve got eaten by a shark. Doesn’t seem fun at all.
We get used to it.
I live in Berlin now so the ocean isn’t there.
How long have you lived there for?
Sixteen years.
I was in Berlin last year but it was right after a two-week stint at Octoberfest so the last thing I wanted to do was party even though that’s kinda the thing everyone goes there to do.
Well beer isn’t the thing they’re doing to party in Berlin. The clubs there go from Thursday to Tuesday morning. And those people are certainly not drinking beer.
Yeah, no they’re not. They’re having the good stuff.
Burning the candle at both ends.
Do you ever dabble in the Berlin club scene?
No.
Did you ever used to?
No because I was a part of the underground culture in California and my appreciation for music is a lot deeper, techno doesn’t do it for me. I need a full spectrum human emotion. There’s not enough drugs in the world that will make me impressed by that stuff.
Photo by Mehdi Benkler
Yeah it’s not really my music either.
It’s fun dancing and getting lost in it. I understand the appeal to that.
I know you said you’re more of a forward thinker, but is there anything you would change if you could considering the drama that seems to have shrouded the band?
No. Because it’s not really a selling point, it’s more just people’s lack of insight into what’s happening or not happening. Not you. But over the years. If anyone thinks we’re some dysfunctional thing then they’re fucking idiots because I’m more successful than all those people talking shit. They missed that part.
For sure. Trying to jump on the bandwagon to get some clicks or whatever.
Exactly. They can get something out of what it is that I have accomplished. Or what I’m doing with my life. I have very little time.
Do you think it’s coming from jealousy?
I don’t know. It’s not going to stop me or what I’m focused on.
How split is the crowd in terms of age demographics in live shows these days? I feel as though you have quite a strong younger crowd devotion. I know most of my mates are keen to watch you play when you come out later in the year but you would know best what the diversity of the crowd looks like looking out from the stage.
Yeah the most diverse crowds ever. There are all kinds of people. From ten years old to 76 year old’s. A very healthy mix. The only exception was coming out of Covid where it was only really people in their forties, but I soon figured out that was an economic thing because they were the only people with money to pay for shows and drinks. But other than that we play to everyone in the world. We’re really fortunate and grateful for that. Most people are super receptive to what we’re doing with our music now. I mean sometimes I still have the odd person yelling shit at me to get a reaction but I just want to get back to singing and not talking. But that’s in everything.
Do you expect to be one of those bands that plays when you’re eighty?
It’s my music I can do whatever I want. People like the experience. It’s why people buy Taylor Swift tickets where they’re standing behind a pole but they’re there with 35,000 people so that’s what it’s about. To be like ‘I was there. I can tell my friends I was there.’ That element of music, the business side, has nothing to do with what I want to do. I’m creating culture.
Photo by Marie Monteriro
What do you think of being considered cult band?
What the fuck does a cult even mean? I’m not a cult. The president of the United States is a cult. What because I didn’t sell my soul or my music rights and did everything on my own. I’ve sold more records than any of my peers. How does that make me a cult? I’ve surpassed everyone. All those bands in the 70s’ whatever. I’ve sold millions.
I didn’t mean it in a negative way, just more so a cult following.
That’s just a negative description of someone doing their own thing though no? I can name a hell of a lot more things that are more like a cult than someone playing good music.
I agree. I’m not out here naming you a cult. Just that you have a dedicated following.
Can you excuse me a second.
Sure whatever you need.
*Goes to get a cigarette.* Alright I’m back sorry I just had a quick cult meeting.
Alright, to end this on a positive note. What is a band that you’re into at the moment that might not be known to everyone that I should listen to?
The Soundcarriers from the UK. They’re great.
If you could give advice to your eighteen year old self, what would it be?
Remember to remember. Don’t change a thing. To everyone else? Try to be better every single day.
Photo by Marie Monteriro