MovieChat Forums > Dig! (2005) Discussion > Anyone else annoyed with Joel Gion? (the...

Anyone else annoyed with Joel Gion? (the guy on the cover)

posted 19 years ago by IMDbID25
93 replies | jump to latest

I find it kind of lame that a tambourine player who doesn't write any music, dresses/acts like an attention whore "rock star" and comes off like he's important to the band or something. Dude, all you are doing is banging a tambourine, it's like one up from a triangle player and maybe two up from being a roadie/groupie. He's even out there in the front of the stage as if he was the main guy. I'd be embarrassed. He was just riding the coattails of Anton, at least members like Matt Hollywood were helping out with writing duties and playing a "real" instrument (guitar). Joel's even on the cover of the DVD. I mean, WHO IS THIS GUY?

[–] Josh2000-2 19 years ago

He may have only been the tamborine player, but he was definitely the coolest person in BJM and seemed to be the only one who's really down to earth. And his personality didn't seem "fake" like that one guy said, and he didn't seem like an attention whore. He just liked to make people laugh, which was definitely needed in a group fronted by egomaniacs.

Hell, I'd let him in my band.

[–] Beatfienduk 19 years ago

Like a lot of folk on here I too thought Joel's contribution to the film was a major plus. He's in another band now apparently, The Dilettantes.

On the subject of the film though there were a few points (albeit egomaniacal ones which there were already loads of)that it didn't mention. These may be addressed on the DVD's 2nd disc or, in some cases, have taken place after filming wrapped but I'd like to know other people's takes on them.

1.) Courtney Taylor becoming Courtney Taylor-Taylor never came up.
Similarly,
2.) Anton's credits on albums show as lifespans (i.e. (1967 -1998) or (1967 - 2000) etc.) & his penchant for the addition of Dr. at the start of his name.

3.) Anton is credited as contributing to Get Off on the Dandy's Urban Bohemia album - footage of that session would have been nice to see. Maybe.

& 4.) Peter Holmstrom seems to have had himself billed as Peter Loew on the last (2 years+ ago)Dandy's album - any explanation?

New Dandy's album out in September apparently. Hope it's a return to form.

Cheers.

[–] greg_hughes 19 years ago

People who don't play in bands and like to stick black and white labels on things are the same people who think Joel was "superflous"...let me give you guys a little tip on music and bands in general: 1. Members of bands aren't necessarily in the band only because they can play...that's a complete myth. Joel acted as the glue, the pressure valve, a lighthouse or comic beacon that someone like Anton probably needed. Who really gives a *beep* how he acted or what he played? We're you at there recording sessions? We're you at their shows? Do you have the slightest *beep* clue what he added to the band? No, no, and still no. Just because you saw like 1.5 hours of footage doesn't mean you have a concept of his "worth".

Besides, he was funny...that's really important in a band, especially when your ego is as big as Anton's.

[–] senorpants 19 years ago

& 4.) Peter Holmstrom seems to have had himself billed as Peter Loew on the last (2 years+ ago)Dandy's album - any explanation?

Isn't that because he got married and took his wife's maiden name?

[–] Beatfienduk 19 years ago

Thanks for that senorpants. I think he's back to Holmstrom on the Dandy's website listing for their forthcoming album so who knows.

Cheers.

[–] madfooters 17 years ago

at one point in the film he does say that he needs to find a new band looking for a tambourine player, but not for the music, just for the scene. i guess that agrees with him being a kick ass mascot.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] enchantedrocker 19 years ago

I personally love Joel in the film. And even though his part in the band was that of tambourine player, that isn't his only talent. His new band, The Dilettantes features him as singer and songwriter, and he's very talented.

[–] soylent9999 19 years ago

After watching Dig! The parallel between Bez of the Happy Mondays and Joel hit me like a brick. Though I have to nod to Bez for being funnier and maracas are more complicated than a tambourine in that there are a pair of them :o)

[–] duckgirlie 19 years ago

I liked Joel. Though at times he did seems slightly lost during the film, he also seemed like he was aware of what was going on. And he did get them the TVT deal.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] LordRiff 19 years ago

It felt like to me, he was the guy who held the band together by being a kinda middle man, and being amazing

"im lookin up at all those pent houses and stuff... going eny meany"

Man With No Name: Take off your gun and put on your pants.

[–] bostonbeebs 19 years ago

Personally, I couldn't take my eyes off the guy when he was on screen and wanted him back on it when he was off. Rock & Roll is equal parts music and attitude, like it or not (I do). The value that Joel brought to BJM is a face that sells the personality of the band.

If you're a music purist, that probably doesn't work for you but I personally like rock music with some obnoxious attitude. Look at the Sex Pistols. They only kept Sid Vicious around because of the personality he brought to the music/stage and you'd be hard pressed to argue that that didn't work perfectly. The role that the Joels of the rock world play is important to the rock & roll experience and I think Anton (a big music purist himself who wouldn't put up with Joel if he didn't see him as necessary) was aware of that.

Now, does anyone know if Joel had any other role in the band? The documentary shows him strutting around and playing tambourine, but I'm curious as to whether there was more to his role than that. Any huge BJM fans know for sure?

All that being said, I'm all about raging against the dancing guy from Mighty Mighty Bostones...

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] dulligirl65 19 years ago

joel's the bee's knees...if you're going to be annoyed by anyone in the film look no further than courtney taylor-taylor. and believe me, anton runs the show...that's why joel was front and center when they played. after having seen the bjm live, no one does much of anything on stage without anton telling them to.

"dig, dig, dig...grab your shovels we're goin' all the way to china."

[–] Brob8181 19 years ago

What do you all have against Joel? At least hes part of something right? He's part of a great great band and who cares if all he can play is the tambourine? He apparently plays the tambourine well enough for Anton, so cut him some slack. Also he stole the show in every scene that hes in throughout DiG! Hes Mr. Tambourine man. When is he gonna get his own talkshow? Straight up and Down man right on...we are the radio comes out Aug 23..
Bill Robinson, East Coast Promotional Man for Brian Jonestown Massacre

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] thsprrw 19 years ago

I think Joel was great in the movie, and he's great on tambourine, and well, he looks really great, but there was one man who really annoyed me, and it's Courtney Taylor. Nuff said.

[–] ignominia 19 years ago

you guys have a lot to say about a useless tamburine man!!!!

:)