Bako-British Invasion

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Bako-British Invasion
A decade later, local band ‘Brian Jones Was Murdered’ may have been onto something

Above: Chris O'Brien, Charles McNeil, David Pearson, and Aaron Lehman of BJWM in an early '90s promo shot.

By NL Belardes, Bakotopia.com contributor

Anyone traveling through Bakersfield in the mid-1990s wouldn’t see much of a British influence except for the old pub Britannia on Ming Avenue and New Stine Road.

But in Bakersfield’s music underground during that era, a swaggering form of pop-punk Beatlemania and mod-ska swept the scene and made waves in college news, music magazines and even the LA Weekly.

Crawdaddy and Mento Buru’s early horn-blowing, elbow swinging, mod-ska days were part of the local British-influenced revolution. They could be seen at Chaos Coffee in the Wall Street Alley performing to a host of tea drinkers and suspender-wearing British culture lovers. Another of the bands was Brian Jones Was Murdered.

Formed by Charles McNeil, Brian Jones Was Murdered was not meant to be anything but the best band in the world, though their MySpace site says some nights they were possibly the worst. “Not that we ever made it out,” McNeil writes about the band not making it bigger in Bakersfield and L.A.

Yet his band, which was part of a special Bakersfield phenomenon in British-invasion tunes, also reflected a popular culture music conspiracy theory that the founder of the Rolling Stones didn’t die an accidental death, or suicide, but may have been murdered.

There have been countless articles and discussion forums on the topic. The latest article is from the U.K.’s Daily Mail, who on Nov. 29 reported that Brian Jones may have been murdered after all. Not new news, but the Daily Mail’s report is the first time a supposed witness has used a real name and gone on record suggesting a possible murderer in the death of the rock star.


Above: Brian Jones

When Brian Jones was discovered at the bottom of his swimming pool on July 2, 1969, all official reports indicated there was no foul play. The assumption and official word was that Jones’ drinking and drug binges somehow became the grim reaper that tugged him to a watery grave in his pool outside Cotchford Farm, in East Sussex, a county in Southeast, England.

Janet Lawson, one of three people last seen with Jones, has spoken out, claiming that Jones may have been murdered by a disgruntled builder at Cotchford Farm, Frank Thorogood, fired earlier on the day of Jones’ death.



Lawson, who found Jones body the morning of July 2, 1969, had kept the true version of her story and her identity hidden for 40 years, the newspaper report stated. Before her death from cancer earlier this year, Lawson confessed to giving police a different story regarding the Brian Jones case to Daily Mail reporter Scott Jones (no relation to the deceased rocker).

During the 40 years of Lawson’s silence, the media world hasn’t been quiet. The Daily Mail claims there are conspiracy theorists, and some even point blame at members of the Rolling Stones for Jones’ demise. But Lawson has come out and accused Thorogood, offering new testimony, suggesting Thorogood not only had a motive, but may have been seen doing something to Jones in the pool that led to his death. She also said she hid from Thorogood and changed her identity, fearing he mutilated one of her friends.


Above: BJWM live in the '90s

Daily Mail reporter Jones also claims to have unearthed several revealing documents in the case.

And while Lawson’s testimony may finally be the information needed to launch a new investigation into the death of Jones, one cannot help but think of a Bakersfield band still tied to what is considered, conspiracy thinking regarding Jones’ death.

Kenny Mount Jr. of local band The Filthies, was a member of Brian Jones Was Murdered from ‘92-’94. When asked why band founder Charles McNeil named the band “Brian Jones Was Murdered,” Mount said, “Because he honestly believed Jones was murdered. He was passionate about it. He also liked that whole, early mod bands coming out of England doing the rock ‘n’ roll. Not just the sound of the ‘60s, but British bands covering early ‘50s rock tunes. He was just obsessed with it.”



During the ‘90s, Mount said not everyone in the band shared McNeil’s views.

“When Charles would talk about it, all I could picture was Mick Jagger holding Jones underwater,” Mount said.

Mount also said McNeil was highly influenced by British rock culture that included a deep influence of the Rolling Stones and Brian Jones.

“He really liked the early leather-clad Stones,” said Mount, adding that McNeil would create posters, Photo-Shopping himself standing next to the pool where Brian Jones drowned.

Mount then points to a trip McNeil took to England which led to much influence on the band.


Above: Charles McNeil fo BJWM

“He went to locations the Beatles and the Stones played. He went to where the ‘British rock’ phenomenon started. He should have called the band, Brian Jones Obsession,” Mount laughed.

Mount, who played drums in the band, admitted he was a sort of a black sheep.

“I was into ‘50s hillbilly rock. I looked more like I would fit into the local band The Mutilators (an early, local psychobilly band), that whole ‘50s thing. Brian Jones Was Murdered was into the 60s. After I left, The Candyskins and Oasis were coming and getting big. Charles was way into that international pop sound. Charles was like a year-and-a-half ahead of himself. But he was way too into the Beatles-ish side.”

The band sported long bowl cuts, wore matching black suits and white shirts - more Monty Python “The Rutles,” than The Beatles, but still cool.

In a review of Brian Jones Was Murdered’s only album, “Death of a Popstar!” the LA Weekly said the album on the outside appeared as overblown Beatlemania. “But don’t hit eject yet, sweetie; between its inauspicious beginning and the sweaty-but-unnecessary closing cover of the Stones, ‘The Last Time,’ Death of a Popstar! Is one hell of a pop-punk album.”

On the band’s MySpace, McNeil also states that the best formation of the group included himself on guitar and lead vocals; bassist David Pearson; guitarist Chris O'Brien; and drummer Aaron Lehman. That was after Mount left the band. “I always thought Charles was onto something - the sound he was into. He was writing really nice tunes and was really ahead of himself.”

But why did the band, which ran from 1992-1998 come to an end? Mount said the band should have stayed with an original format of real upbeat British-styled rock music.

“I think people were overwhelmed with the Beatles-ish look and mistook Brian Jones Was Murdered as a tribute band,” he said.

McNeil is a bit more ethereal than Mount and also writes on the band’s MySpace, “To this day, I haven’t heard a band that sounds like us. Perhaps that too may have been our problem; too pop for the punks, too punk for the pop scene, too power pop for the indies, too rock ‘n’ roll for the mods, but not rock enough for the alternative scene.”

If ever proved that Thorogood murdered Brian Jones, Mount said, “For me, it would make me feel happy for Charles, because he would always say (Brian) Jones was murdered.”

Editor’s Note: Although un-reachable for comment prior to this story’s release, McNeil did send the author an e-mail on Dec. 9, writing:
“The timing could not have funnier, three original members of BJWM may be recording new material in the future, and ‘Death of A Pop Star’ is going to be re-mastered for release in iTunes.”

www.myspace.com/brianjoneswasmurdered

*Original version also available at: www.facebakersfield.com

Printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 44, 12-25-08