Back in 2004, Ondi Timoner’s documentary Dig!, about the feud between Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Dandy Warhols (two iconic psychedelic rock bands from Portland), had its premiere at Sundance. The film focused on the frenemy relationship between the respective leaders of the two bands, Anton Newcombe and Courtney Taylor-Taylor.
The movie showed the Brian Jonestown Massacre to be creative but hopelessly dysfunctional, while the Warhols came off as relatively stable careerists. But, no member of either band came out looking relatively good.
Just last month, members of the Brian Jonestown Massacre got into an onstage brawl while performing in Melbourne. Immediately afterward, the band cancelled the rest of their planned Australian tour.
Part 2 – Brian Jonestown Massacre, Melbourne Show pic.twitter.com/EDr4SE1xIT
— Ryder Jack (@RyderJack) November 21, 2023
Two decades after Dig! had its premiere at Sundance, both bands are still kicking around. At next year’s Sundance, Ondi Timoner will celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary with the debut of Dig! XX, a new expanded version of the documentary. The original film has been remastered, and now it includes an extra 40 minutes of footage that will follow the story of both bands up to the present day.
