Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Anton Newcombe: ‘I feel like I have to work very hard to redeem myself’

Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Anton Newcombe: ‘I feel like I have to work very hard to redeem myself’

After undergoing double bypass surgery two years ago, the band’s frontman talks about his band’s chaotic reputation, making it up to his fans, and his dream sandwich You and I have something very serious in common – we’ve both had open heart surgery in the last few years. I’m fine, but it changed me, so I was curious to know if it changed you too. Oh, on more than one level. The issue isn’t me dying; it’s having to address mortality. It’s constantly on my mind now. I’m 58, I’m thin as a twig, I grew up on the coast eating fish, I was a vegetarian for 12 years. I did, however, drink – mostly hard alcohol – and I have smoked [Anton periodically drags on a cigarette throughout our hour-long conversation] . I thought I was like a teenager. But my life expectancy, because I smoked, is probably less than five years now. Continue reading...

How did I believe that? A cult survivor looks back at his lost years

How did I believe that? A cult survivor looks back at his lost years

In the new podcast former sect members reflect on end times, warnings of ‘astral larvae’ lurking in nightclubs and being in thrall to charismatic leaders – and the embarrassment and shame they feel now Dave Mullins can’t quite believe he devoted 10 years of his life to a lie. Idealistic and open-minded, he was 19 when he saw an advertisement for a free workshop on out-of-body experiences in Sydney. There he met a captivating, charismatic teacher who was thought to be able to read minds. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...

The moment I knew: I saw her enjoying herself in her perfect little witch’s hat and I was a goner

The moment I knew: I saw her enjoying herself in her perfect little witch’s hat and I was a goner

Comedian Steph Tisdell had a delightful old-fashioned courtship with Jessie – and was struck by her small, everyday acts of kindness Find more stories from The moment I knew series In my early 30s I’d decided I didn’t want to swipe right on another man holding a fish on dating apps and I was taking tentative steps into the world of dating women in my home base of Brisbane. Things hadn’t got off to a great start and as I tried to refine my approach, a friend posed a question that I’d foolishly never really considered: what did I actually want in a partner? Continue reading...