Monday, January 3, 2011

BRIAN JONESTOWN MASACRE: The 1990 Demo Tape

Living in the Lower Haight of San Francisco in the back of a record store specializing in experimental music in the early 90's came with its own set of odd occurrences, events and individuals. We had quite a few neighborhood regulars who would come in, share a cup of coffee and listen to a few minutes of music to escape the city outside and share their art, ideas, grievances and sometimes just wait for their laundry to finish drying up the block.

One of my very regular visitors during that time period was Anton, my neighbor from across the road. I was never sure if he really lived across the road, above the cafe or was one of the many artists and musicians who hung out across the street, either way it was a regular location for one of the regular people in our not-so-regular neighborhood. I liked Anton, he was clever and quick, well versed in his music and always in an impish mood even when disappointed or angry. I also enjoyed talking to Anton because he had wild ideas, was rather ambitious and was not going to be stopped - he was also quite high, quite often but was harmless.

Anton hung out with musicians and artists- he was a musician and artist and spoke often about "the best band he could ever put together. It would be waaaay out there , bigger than anything - not the manufactured slick British 'babyfood' but something supremely psychedelic and broad but accessible and dangerous". I didn't doubt Anton or his ability to do this. He had already produced one of my favorite cassette releases at the time entitled "Psalm 93 - Child of 60 Bitches".

For a homespun release, Psalm 93 had a production value that very few DIY cassettes had at the time...and a vision. Anton understood ambient drone music and had taken it to a level very few people had at the time. He abandoned that project and idea though. He had bigger aspirations I guess and really really liked swirling psychedelic rock.

One afternoon I sat on my stool behind the counter of the record store and Anton came in - a flurry - a serious flurry...dark circles under his eyes, arms moving about like windmills, a single cassette tape in his hand. "This is it - it's big. We have it now and I have the name. All of it came all at once....check it out...Brian Jonestown Masacre". I smile and laugh - it is a beautiful name, so perfect for where we are at the time, in the world, with music, for everything. He grabs a pen off the counter and scribbles "THE BRIANJONESTOWNE MASACRE ANTON 861-8683" on the front and back label of the cassette and hands it to me to put on the stereo. As the first track starts up he says , "That's it - I am sooooo down with this now and I need to sleep soon". He disappears out the door. The first Brian Jonestown Masacre demo tape - with no other information accompanying it, other than Anton's phone number - plays itself out and joins the collection of demo tapes on the shelf. It is 1990, three years before any Brian Jonestown Masacre album is released and quite possibly one of the only, or few, recordings of the original lineup.

Anton are you out there? How have you been?

Enjoy: Brian Jonestown Masacre - Demo - Track 2

15 comments:

Mr. Ricky said...

hi alan!
this is rick from brian jonestown massacre
still going with the band.
anton in berlin these days.
i sure miss your shop!
i use to love it.
my aunt and uncle use to have true legends across the street.
would love a copy of that tape, if possible!!!
Thanks a lot!
I hope you are well!
drop me a line
imajinaryfiend@yahoo.com
Ricky,
BJM

unity said...

That Cassette and those songs were among my favourites of the early 90's... Can't wait to hear them again!
1000 tears and 8 toes were the best!

brant said...

great post! hope to hear the rest.

tim h. said...

wow, thank you for sharing. i would love to hear the rest.

said...

Ice

Dropshipper said...

Interesting and important information. It is really beneficial for us. Thanks

Anonymous said...

ive been waiting for something like this to pop up online for a long long time, is there somewhere we can download it?

Bryan Daly said...

this story is a graceful combination of a rock 'n roll myth being inflated to something recognizable but at the same time being a harmoniously untouchable myth. 1990. That must have been more than twenty years ago now.

Michael said...

Hi Alan,

I'm wondering if I can get a copy of this tape at all if possible?
let me know saunders039[at]gmail[dot]com

cheers

Michael

Beau Tillman said...

What a gem, man; sound and story.

If possible, I would love to know more.

beautillman@hotmail.com

KC said...

Hi. I really enjoyed my brief visit on your site and I’ll be sure to be back for more.
Can I contact your through your email?

Please email me back.

Thanks!
Kevin
kevincollins1012 gmail.com

Anonymous said...

This story is every bit as remarkable as it is inaccurate. For one: I was with Anton when the name Brian Jonestown Massacre was formulated in early 91 outside the Horseshoe cafe on Lower Haight. Secondly I lived with him for a few weeks on Buchanan st. during this time playing music with him and recording his music while I was there. ( dangerous in the early 90s but more importantly affordable ) I still have In my possession a mind-blowing collection of early pre bjm anton newcombe home cassette recordings and actual 1st recordings of BJM ( mostly anton circa 91/93. I have letters and postcards he sent me as well as photographs I took of him playing vintage guitars exactly at this same time-line to prove when BJM actually formed. More importantly the actual 1st recordings which I recorded up there on my Tascam 688 8 track cassette home studio of Anton doing feedback guitar, vocals, harmonies and loops, synthesizer + bass and drums / drum machines etc. There are also a minimum of a half dozen home recordings of him and I ( but mostly just him ) which predate his move to San Francisco. Here he is recording everything from dystopian analog synth classical quartet compositions to funk based hip hop... Also punk and of course neo-psychedelic as well as stripped down manson style folk. But forget all this for a moment. WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TELL YOU IS THIS >>> Late last night (1-25-2019) I rediscovered after more than a quarter century quite possibly the holy grail of all his pre BJM recordings ( Psalm 93 #2 ) At this hour of the day I can't yet verify that it has ever been transferred to digital audio. Nor can I verify if there are any other copies of it out there in existence. Bear in mind this was recorded via 4-track cassette recordings up until October 1990. The "child of 60 bitches" Tangible records 01 was recorded up until August 1990. The Psalm 93 #2 includes 3 songs from the 1st release 1000 tears ( which became the song stars from the "thank god for mental illness" record ) Teleflow and Eight toes. ( a song about a lovely San Francisco girl with 8 toes he actually met ) In addition to these 3 songs there are another 10 original Anton Newcombe songs that are every bit as fantastic as the first release. Lots of loops and eternal hall reverb with subtle feedback. Acoustic guitars and some electric... Recorded "live" with overdub harmony and vocals and then bounced into 1 track to make room for more tracks. He never had enough tracks with only 4 so would always deploy this home recording tactic even when i brought in the big gun guns with my 688 he continued to bounce and then flip tape to record on track 1 which became track 8 with backwards vocals or guitar and ambient sounds. ( clever lad ) Anyway... Back to this recent discovery. Since this Psalm 93 #2 ( "as he lays on them the curse" ) 13-14 tracks total came out just prior to the 1st Brian Jonestown Massacre Era. Naming of, then actual BAND with young Travis, Matt, Ricky, then Joel then Jeff Davies then Dean and then the rest of them. Circa 92/93/94/95 and onward.

Unknown said...

...... Actually I thought I had lost a great number of these cassettes he either mailed or gave to me in storage when I moved to Seattle in June of 94. But as fate would have it I had the wherewithal to give them to my ex-girlfriend who also is still a very good friend of Anton from 1986 to the present. ( back home now in Newport Beach for another 10 days then back to lousy Portland, oregon ) She also has her own trophies of time as well thanks to Anton sending her his music and sharing his story of what was happening in SF during this very fruitful and amazing period of his life. Anyway, YES that is ANTONS handwriting on your cassette.No doubt about it. And your story is very relevant and exact to a certain point. He was often incredibly excited about his music and glowing with confidence and untameable energy. You simply got the dates mixed up by 4-6 months and the story + timeline wrong. 1st BJM was indeed Psalm 93 colliding into Anton solo looking for new musicians to form his new band. Matt Hollywood was nowhere to be seen or found at this time. Anton later picked him to join along with Travis and Dean and Jeff and Joel and whoever else I cant recall. TRUTH BE KNOWN. They were still almost a full year away... Psalm 93 consisted primarily of Anton Newcombe and these folks listed in the credits DAWN ( anton's girlfriend ) ANTON CHRISTINE ( i love youuuuu, i never want to see you again ) ERIK and finally KAREN.... THIS WAS THE OFFICIAL LINE UP ACCORDING TO ANTON HIMSELF ON BOTH PSALM 93 RELEASES >>>> "As he lays on them the curse" Psalm 93 #2 ( tangible records 003 ) And "Child of 60 bitches" Psalm 93 #1 ( tangible records 001 )
Lastly: I also discovered last night ANTON recorded two versions of my song Popsicle Lady. Which he re-worked and added lyrics to make it his own song minus the chorus.. VERY BRITISH!! Much, much more to discover! Thank you BJM /ANTON NEWCOMBE!!!

Unknown said...

dbx266xl@gmail.com

would love any info or just to chat whenever

thank god for music

Anonymous said...

Increible