| Anton Newcombe | |
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Anton Newcombe performing with BJM |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anton Alfred Newcombe |
| Born | August 29, 1967 |
| Origin | Newport Beach, California, United States |
| Genres | Psychedelic, Experimental, Shoegaze, Avant-garde, Folk Rock, Indie Rock |
| Instruments | guitar, bass guitar, upright bass, sitar, tambura, moog synthesizer, mellotron, piano, accordion, organ, drums, cello, koto, samisen, mandolin, lute, hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, harmonica, flute |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | Bomp! Records, TVT Records, Tee Pee Records, A Records, 12 Tonar |
Anton Alfred Newcombe (born August 29, 1967, Newport Beach, California) is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and leader of the music group, The Brian Jonestown Massacre.
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Besides his own group, Newcombe has worked with a number of bands, most notably The Dandy Warhols, The High Dials, The Manvils, Innaway, and The Quarter After. He recorded and produced Dead Meadow's album Got Live if You Want It, and has recorded a cover of Ewan MacColl's song 'Dirty Old Town' with Lorraine Leckie on her 2008 album Four Cold Angels.
Newcombe founded The Brian Jonestown Massacre in San Francisco, California, in 1990. Core members in the early years included Matt Hollywood, Jeffrey Davies, Joel Gion, Travis Threlkel, Patrick Straczek, Ricky Maymi, Brian Glaze, Elise Dye and Dean Taylor, though the line up was subject to frequent changes. Newcombe wrote the majority of songs, with Hollywood collaborating or contributing others on occasion until his departure in 1998, whereupon Newcombe's name became almost synonymous with the BJM. Newcombe is also heavily involved in post-production of his albums, often engineering and mixing them on his own. A prolific artist, he authored over 150 songs in a fifteen year period.[1] The Brian Jonestown Massacre broke up several times since its formation due to differing views and Anton's legendary fights with members of the band/audience. He has been touring the world with a new group of musicians under the same moniker, The Brian Jonestown Massacre.
Newcombe has been broadcasting on USTREAM from his apartment in Berlin, Germany. His project is called DEADTV, which features a live stream of videos and interview with various multi-media artists such as Naut Humon. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/dead-tv-berlin or http://www.dead.is/
Newcombe founded his own record label which has released albums by The Brian Jonestown Massacre (Bravery, Repetition and Noise and the re-release of Spacegirl and Other Favourites), The Lovetones' (Be What You Want), and Dead Meadow's (Got Live if You Want It). According to the official website, the purpose of the label is to "...release BJM music not available through other channels, and to record new bands which we will be producing from time to time, while pursuing the goal of making the world unsafe for rock and roll".[2] Many of the releases on this label are produced or engineered by Rob Campanella.
Newcombe has one child, a son, by the actress Tricia Vessey.[3] Newcombe has battled heroin addiction. His substance abuse problems are featured prominently in the documentary film Dig! which focuses on the tense relationship between The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols as both bands struggle for success.[4] Chris Nashawaty, writing a review of the film for Entertainment Weekly, stated that in the documentary Newcombe came across as "deeply troubled, drug-addicted, often downright scary."[4] He has recently quit drinking alcohol,[5] and is married.[6] He lives in Berlin with his wife Katy.[7]
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