Anton Newcombe

Anton Alfred Newcombe (born August 29, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and founder of the music group The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

Anton Newcombe
Newcombe performing in 2012
Newcombe performing in 2012
Background information
Birth nameAnton Alfred Newcombe
Born (1967-08-29) August 29, 1967
OriginNewport Beach, California, U.S.
GenresPsychedelic rock, experimental, anti-folk, shoegazing, folk
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass guitar, upright bass, sitar, tambura, keyboards, piano, accordion, drums, cello, koto, samisen, mandolin, lute, hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, harmonica, flute[1]
Years active1990–present
LabelsBomp! Records, TVT Records, Tee Pee Records, A Records, 12 Tónar

Newcombe was the subject of the 2004 documentary film Dig!, along with Portland, Oregon alternative rock band The Dandy Warhols.

Career

Newcombe started in the 1980s recording with a band called Homeland. 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 recorded a cover of Ewan MacColl's song "Dirty Old Town" with Lorraine Leckie on her 2008 album Four Cold Angels.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre

Newcombe founded the musical group The Brian Jonestown Massacre in San Francisco, California, in 1990.[2] Core members in the early years included Matt Hollywood, Jeffrey Davies, Joel Gion, Travis Threlkel, Peter Hayes, Patrick Straczek, Ricky Maymi, Brian Glaze, Elise Dye and Dean Taylor, although the line up was subject to frequent changes. Newcombe wrote most of the group's songs, with Hollywood collaborating or contributing others on occasion. Following Hollywood's departure from the group in 1998, Newcombe's name became almost synonymous with The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Newcombe was also heavily involved in the post-production of his albums, often engineering and mixing them on his own. A prolific artist, he authored over 150 songs in a 15-year period.[3]

In 2016, he composed the soundtrack for British indie film Moon Dogs, directed by Philip John.[4]

During the 2022–23 European Tour with The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Newcombe gave away free tickets to each of his shows in raffles that raised money for Oxfam.[5]

Tess Parks & Anton Newcombe

Newcombe recorded two albums with Toronto singer-songwriter Tess Parks: I Declare Nothing in 2015, and the eponymous Tess Parks & Anton Newcombe in 2018.

L'Épée

In 2019, Newcombe founded the musical group L'Épée [6] along with French film star Emmanuelle Seigner and The Limiñanas.

A Recordings Ltd

Newcombe founded the record label A Recordings Ltd.,[7] where he releases records for The Brian Jonestown Massacre and other artists including Dead Meadow[8] and the Vacant Lots.[9]

Personal life

Part of Newcombe's life is 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. Newcombe has battled drug addiction, alcoholism and depression, however continues to drink alcohol.[10]

References
  1. "17 Great Multi-Instrumentalists". Thecavanproject.com. August 21, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  3. "Neo-Psych Out". EW.com. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  4. "Moon Dogs (2016) – IMDb". IMDb.
  5. "@antonnewcombe". Twitter. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  6. "L'Épée: Emmanuelle Seigner and Anton Newcombe on art, hedonism and #MeToo". TheGuardian.com. August 30, 2019.
  7. "A Recordings LTD. – the Brian Jonestown Massacre". Thebrianjonestownmassacre.com.
  8. "XEMU Records: Dead Meadow". Xemu.com. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  10. "The Quietus – Features – A Quietus Interview – The Brian Jonestown Massacre: An Anton Newcombe Interview". The Quietus. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
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