Anton Newcombe Interview, NYC Rooftop

Bonus content from the award winning documentary, 'Dig!' double-disc DVD release, featuring a pre-9/11 interview with Anton Newcombe on a New York City rooftop.

[@brendanf.m.748]

hearing him talk about impending doom with the twin towers in the background really is eerie

[@ivan00001983]

Nothing mystical about that, twin towers attack was just violent extremist politics of jihadists caused by violent extremist imperial politics of USA.

[@dathorndike4908]

Oh shit. You're right.

[@spicyMcHAGGIS9green]

This dude is a total fucking inspiration.

[@carlkligerman1981]

this has to be the last word about the whole DIG thing, largely cut out of the theatrical version, no doubt, for mythological effect: I mean the whole thing is smugly narrated by Courtney Taylor, no doubt for its own exposure. its pretty telling to read most of these comments that ensue below: "oh yeah, a musical genius, but what he has to say about his process makes me uncomfortable so I will label him nuts". its pretty funny really, so many labels haunt an original, and especially his output, which defies all genres because its simply the musings of an actual musician, poet and arranger: somebody who listens, to himself, to the myriad airwaves, to all of us and to the entire history of his chosen form. the fuckwit below who calls him narcissus should go look in a mirror: this is an all but lost document of an artist who has the balls to be honest. as for the whole success thing let's hope there is always a BIG difference between 'making it' and 'making it'. the body of work speaks for itself, and in volumes, and has already vastly transcended those that cashed in on that so-called moment. it is a monument to a talent who I am sure will continue to intelligently eschew any but his own labels, in every sense of that word. more than enough said...

[@internetz1]

+Carl Kligerman, god, I'm so glad you took the pains to articulate this. Anton is truly a magical unicorn, but it takes a certain type of person to see that. Not all magical unicorns vomit rainbows, and thank god, because the human community also needs the ones who aren't afraid to be confrontational and make a huge fuss and take a stand. Granted, he's not perfect (hey, some people have anger issues), but that doesn't make him any less magical or any less of a unicorn. He knows what's important in life and is pure-hearted. Sometimes he communicates well and other times not so much, but his vision (the message itself, independently of execution) has always been clear, consistent, and characterized by absolutely remarkable foresight.

[@SeaHorseGypsy]

Damn Carl

[@naderroheny5563]

This guy is totally on choccy milk in this interview. I love him and look up to him. I wish he would talk more about love in interviews these days. It’s really what it’s all about.

[@saraparks7040]

choccy milk?

[@A.Vagrant]

I hear you, Anton. We chose the worst time to be spreading THE message. But I'm there with you, always.

[@saraparks7040]

"I'm a psychic earth worm"- Anton Newcombe

[@SerinaArlene]

This is one of my favorite interviews ever.

[@troutmasked]

awesome. whilst he might seem a bit of a narcisist, the things he talks about; using music as an expressive language to communicate universal ideas of human experience and spirituality; well thats basically what any self respecting genuine artist of any medium wants to try and achieve.

[@TheStefanko22]

"the more extreme that you are, the more that you can feel"

[@3243_]

He did this interview back in the '90s. Thankfully, he's still alive and making music.

[@jonterhaar2573]

Is he, really, though?

[@WhiteNacho]

I respect and admire this man as much as the man I grew up admiring. Jimi Hendrix. There are people out there that will never get it and there are people out there that will.

[@jphedley]

This should've been the whole movie.

[@meshhat2]

The results are overpowering and I feel like at times I can totally relate and understand everything he is saying. It is really a trip to sit down and converse with these types of people and I have done so with Anton once. I love it, that is what makes him so interesting. That he is a genius yet has no idea how to channel his genius so that the everyday person can even come close to understanding point on the difference between so so music and real good music. A+

[@Yanonion]

Legend!.

[@Unpaidintern007]

BJM is just a better band than the Dandys...

[@thefreeways]

"a roman lifespan (1:04)," I love this.

[@punkandblanket]

psychic earthworm - i love you

[@romeosdistress]

HEY GUYS I'VE GOT THIS REALLY FUN IDEA FOR A GAME: it's called "let's try not speculating about the life and lifestyle of someone we've never met, let alone an incredible artist, which would be rude enough, even disregarding the fact that he is ON KZbin"

[@christy7698]

Wow, Anton looked even hotter with a mustache!🥰

[@Souplesse000]

Joel called it “the mustache that ate his mind.” lol

[@babiebungle]

psychic earthworms and impending doom ~anton is a constant consumer of pure emotion

[@CasperIskov]

those towers man.... sad

[@davidgordonkoch5606]

The interviewer makes it sound like Lou Reed was already dead but he definitely outlined the Twin Towers.

[@meshhat2]

This may seem like gibberish bullshit but when someone starts talking like this , in their mind they are in a entirely different physiological level then everyone else. Anton is famous for these type of rants but what you are really witnessing is a genius without any kind of reality. He has no other way to express himself to the laymen .

[@Betteroffwet]

The exact quote is "People that have done amazingly great things have also carried swords and shit." Great to call out that quote -- it sums up the interview.

[@smallinson]

psychic earthworm

[@kamaboko1]

looks like he walked off the set of midnight cowboy

[@fins0ut]

"it's gonna be a bomb"

[@6thandpowell]

Add More DiG! special features!

[@doogiedog1234]

He is an intelligent being

[@djashtrey]

3:15 so far ahead of his time...

[@matthewortiz7977]

yeah!

[@volfan911]

2:50...reminiscent of Dirk Diggler's segment in the doc his chick made for him in Boogie Nights JMHO

[@charbala]

shit look at the towers

[@LuaBloe]

Just listen to the music, man. It speaks for the guy much more than anything... Interviews can suck if you don't like the guy talking; & he's kinda bullshitting here :), but the thing is, his music is THE absolute shit. He's a pretty 'disturbed' person (that's a fact you watch Dig), but when you hear what comes out of him, fuck, it's so brilliant and out of this world, that you really stop being judgmental. I think he's the most brilliant artist ever. Just because of music, period.

[@sarasparks1992]

"i'm a psychic earth worm"

[@tunnelvision543]

It don't take money. Don't take fame. Don't need no credit card to ride this train.

[@spicyMcHAGGIS9green]

@SethHesio He's not doin' drugs anymore.

[@JCatJake]

3:34 Anton predicted it

[@drieaz]

at 3:59 reminds me of Tom Cruise Scientology video when he does that half a dozen times!

[@cloudcity2012]

his hats on backwards!

[@SethHesio]

@darthDew22 I think he would have greater exposure and he would be respected by more people if he quit heavy drugs. It annoys me that the Dandy Warhols are more famous than the BJM, because BJM are far more important in terms of art and musical progression. Let me put it this way, Scorsese got over his addictions and managed to make very good but also veryh commercially successful films. I just think that given Anton Newcombe's personality if he left drugs behind he could do so much more. Y'kno?

[@suncat5160]

Nah, twelve years later, it proved to be that the lack of exposure and the drug influence were vital parts. He's still alive, still making awesome music. The dude won gold. Paid a hectic price for it though.

[@SethHesio]

@spicyMcHAGGIS9green That's good to hear. Although I've seen recent interviews and he seems like they took a lot out of him. Still think he's a genius though.

[@superjumpman92]

talking about impending doom with the twin towers in the distance

[@muttilo]

Twin Towers on Anton's shoulder..

[@jakewilson5745]

i bet you would call the cops on him

[@kckevinify]

that's why roses have thorns and babies die It's amusing though unlike video game emulation you dont see to many kids starting bands and getting violent with each other on stage

[@BearWindAppleyard]

is he claiming to be the Buddha ?

[@arricammarques1955]

Anton was very not featured fairly, in the DIG documentary. No human being is imperfect or perfect. Lets not cast stones, or pass judgement. But share and enjoy the spirit of the music! :)

[@LizzieStardust]

i got the same dress ;) you are enormous

[@mtanyc]

RIP the Twin Towers....Should have been rebuilt instead of this freedom tower bullshit...

[@titnut4]

@mwadevilg you guys want more of him? w w w . d e a d . i s - He has an online radio show! Join the dead!

[@johnwickedwings]

AUSTRALIA RULES

[@luisnavarrette]

he blew many great deals....

[@SuperFreedomRock1]

?

[@manueldelsol31270]

HickoryHippie They don't have to be bigger than anyone. Look, they're still doing their thing, putting out cool albums. Ex-members from the BJM started cool bands, Joel Gion's "Apple Bonkers" is a great album... So what ? Fuck success.

[@manueldelsol31270]

Oh, okay, sorry dude.

[@antonfjordson]

rus says i blew a great many deals...haha - the record industry is over and i own all my music,got paid and get paid - have my own studio and label in europe with 70 bands on it haha rusa you are an idiot.

[@antonfjordson]

Paisley Plays What M8? actually you are wrong

[@joel5090]

That first sentence is a complete contradiction. Rebuke this Anton!

[@SerinaArlene]

Sam O'd his whole thing is about paradox. pay attention. all is paradox.

[@glory777]

I like Anton, I love his music, I really like DIG!, but in this vid he looks like a cross-dressing Burt Reynolds.

[@juulpod9718]

Bro dandy Warhol’s kinda blow

[@tobiascdngustaf]

Is he a vegetarian or vegan? I just wondered from the "eating vegetables" part. i think it's odd though if he IS vegetarian/vegan and it's for health reasons that he's smoking cigs. this coming from an ex-vegan/veg (8yrs, 4 of it vegan) at times i smoked cigs, i wouldn't have said "i'm doing this for health". it's hypocritical. If he's vegan that could explain why he's so skinny--again i say this from experience--i respect veggie lifestyles but you need xtra fats (oil, nuts, etc) when vegan

[@sirmelancholia]

This might be the most pretentious interview I’ve ever seen. That’s actually pretty impressive.

[@maozedong6699]

give the guy a break, he's a smacked out narcissist. Just because he's a phenomenal musician doesn't mean he has to have anything interesting to say...unfortunately.

[@thelivingmanpart2]

hahahah he has nothing interesting to say?? that was pretty fucking interesting.

[@internetz1]

It doesn't matter whether you think he's a narcissist - he's still right. If you can't see that, perhaps you are blind to the general direction of history and are just moving through the world without paying any attention to what's going on in it.

[@BearWindAppleyard]

He is kind of comparing himself with the Buddha, saying the job is harder to do now in this age, or at least that's what I'm hearing. Not saying it would be the most impropable thing that the Buddha of this age would be Anton. Well I don't think he's in balance with himself at all, but there is definitely a lot of creativity and wisdom inside of him that seems kind of spiritual and pure in its nature.

[@fugepoo]

This is amazing.

[@ALXR_Radio_Mix]

I can see this was done before 911.

[@DarlingPhenylethylamine]

Great interviewer. Great talk. Great walk too.

[@lvkdzh]

rip twin towers

[@tobiascdngustaf]

you can be his "apprentice" by living YOUR life truthfully according to your morals/ethics, loving others, being in the now, breathing. if it is the spirituality/creativity you are loking for, anyway. just speak your trugh--and BE your truth--that's all anyone claiming to "know more" is doing. any guru, prophet, etc--there are MANY prophets, and they all did things their own way. be your OWN prophet--and show THAT to the world--then you're all the "apprentice" you ever need to be. authenticity.

[@tobiascdngustaf]

I do think he makes great music, and learning to play many instruments takes discipline--but all of us have that creativity. try it out--you have it too. nothing he's saying is stuff i haven't heard elsewhere. we're all the same energy--i know that's cliche but it's true-i still think it's POSSIBLE he could need some treatment re: paranoia/delusions, but only if he's harming others or himself.(not knowing him personally, i can't know that). i do know that it's good music-but not a "new" message.

[@iAMColDBlooDx]

Its sad lookin at the towers behind him, people just goin about their daily lives with no clue

[@SethHesio]

@darthDew22 I know exactly what you mean. I go back and forth between thinking that this is the way Anton should be. He does his own thing, his own way, and he makes great music. Fuck the theme to Boardwalk Empire is one of his songs. But I can't help but wonder what kind of impact he could have made if drugs weren't involved. I just think he should be more celebrated, and I know that being commercially successful was never part of his game plan.

[@ridingman1]

Fuuuck it, I just own the one disc version and can't find anywhere the two disc dvd of Dig!. Who can help me? I need as much stuff from that guy as I can get! Pure devotion!

[@vuvaladusi]

i think he just means lou reed would have lived like that back in the VU days but is now rich and living a nice, comfy life.

[@enterbalak]

Anti-Religion - Pro-Spirituality

[@orangevideo]

Anton, with the Twin towers in the background.....PROFOUND...it was a different world then.

[@spicyMcHAGGIS9green]

@SethHesio The dude is just insane, man. A genius, but totally nuts.

[@coldironhands1]

@loserluver100 no, not recently...

[@WhiteNacho]

And the message is "LOVE"

[@MrLongduckdoong]

Anton listens to TOM LEYKIS everyday!!!

[@fugepoo]

@glory777 only during this year.

[@CrowClouds]

meher baba!

[@giggysmile]

been off drugs since '97. HA

[@JACKskates101]

did you actually listen?

[@SethHesio]

He's talented... he's real, and a natural musician. But drugs have not been his friend. I can foresee him ending his life or dying from drugs. It's a shame, if he left them alone he could be a hugely successful artist.

[@Diazepamber]

It's bizarre reading this shit about drug use 10 to 12 years later. He has surpassed countless artists, brought himself up off the floor. Let's be honest here, WE ALL have a story in our lives. I am inspired by him and anyone that recovers.

[@suncat5160]

Yeah it's wild, he literally did the complete opposite. Anton was basically 100% successful when it came to what he actually planned on doing.

[@womenrsmarter420]

when was this vid shot?are those the twin towers in the backround??

[@Master_of_Critique]

mAngotronic jedi Id have to guess some time before 09/11/2001

[@feardhorcha]

YEH IVE SEEN DIG! thas my point, why isnt there more stuff like this in dig!! Ondi Timoner Sounds way too defensive, u can hear the guilt in her words!!ive watched countless docus and any filmmaker who thinks they're IMPARTIAL or BALANCED are essentially MENTALLY UNHINGED!!