Percussionist’s zany tales of the shambles that is The Brian Jonestown Massacre

Memoir

Tambourine player Joel Gion is an endearing raconteur. Photo: Getty

Hilary White

It’s early November of last year and you’ve bought a ticket to see cult ­Nineties indie rockers The Brian Jonestown Massacre play in Melbourne, Australia. From the stage, songwriter and band linchpin Anton Newcombe liberally jabs the audience with verbal abuse, before starting a violent brawl with guitarist Ryan Van Kriedt a few songs into the set.

House lights go up, curtains come down, and yet, in a bizarre way, you feel like you’ve just got your money’s worth.