Eels
E
Background information
Origin	California, USA
Genre(s)	Alternative
Years active	1995–present
Label(s)	Dreamworks Vagrant
Members
E
Former members
Jonathan "Butch" Norton Tommy Walter Adam Siegel John Parish Lisa Germano Joe Gore Koool G Murder Puddin' Shon Sullivan Chet Atkins III

Eels (also sometimes eels or EELS, depending on the album) is an American rock band formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, better known as Mr. E or simply E. He is the frontman of the band, calling Eels a vessel for his music. Other members rotate frequently, both in the studio and on stage. Eels' live shows include new material, interpretations of older songs, and usually some well-known cover versions. Image File history File links E_Eels. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music[1] or simply alternative) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... DreamWorks SKG (also known as DreamWorks Pictures) is one of the major American film studios which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games, and television programming. ... Vagrant Records is a popular American punk, emo, and indie rock label. ... Mark Oliver Everett (born April 10, 1963, in Virginia) is the lead singer, guitarist and keyboardist of the pop band Eels. ... Jonathan Norton, more commonly known as Butch, (born March 21, 1958) is a drummer/percussionist/vocalist who has recorded and toured with many different artists. ... Abandoned Pools is the performing name for singer-songwriter and musician Tommy Walter. ... Adam Siegel is an American rock guitarist and producer. ... Lisa Germano, promotional shoot for Happiness (1994). ... Rock is a form of popular music from the mid 20th century which typically features a vocal melody (often with vocal harmony) that is supported by accompaniment of electric guitars, a bass guitar, and drums, often with a strong back beat. ... Mark Oliver Everett (born April 10, 1963, in Virginia) is the lead singer, guitarist and keyboardist of the pop band Eels. ... In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ...

History

E solo records

Everett released a little-known record in 1985 called Bad Dude in Love. Not much is known about the LP; all information found is located here [1]. In 1992, Polydor released the much more popular A Man Called E under the name E. The single "Hello Cruel World" was a minor success. Touring to support the album, he opened for Tori Amos. A Man Called E was followed by Broken Toy Shop in 1993; that year also marked the beginning of Everett's collaboration with drummer Jonathan "Butch" Norton. After Broken Toy Shop, E was released from his record deal with Polydor. 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Polydor Records is a record label once headquartered in Germany. ... A Man Called E (1992) is Mark Oliver Everetts debut album, using the pseudonym E. Track Listing Hello Cruel World (E/Huxley) - 3:50 Fitting In with the Misfit (E) - 3:09 Are You & Me Gonna Happen (E) - 3:00 Looking Out the Window with a Blue Hat On... Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos on August 22, 1963) is an American pianist and singer-songwriter. ... Broken Toy Shop is Es follow up to 1992s A Man Called E Track Listing Shine It All On Standing At the Gate Only Thing I Care About Manchester Girl L. A. River Most Unpleasant Man Mass Tomorrow Ill Be Nine Day I Wrote You Off Someone to... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Jonathan Norton, more commonly known as Butch, (born March 21, 1958) is a drummer/percussionist/vocalist who has recorded and toured with many different artists. ...

Beautiful Freak

Beautiful Freak album cover.

When Butch and E met Tommy Walter, they founded Eels. E chose the name so that the band's records would be next to his solo records in an alphabetical ordering; it was only later that they realised Eagles would fall in between. Eels became one of the first groups to sign a record deal with Dreamworks. In 1996 the band released their debut album Beautiful Freak, a melancholy pop record with tormented lyrics from Everett. Musically, it demonstrated a wide range of influences, including grunge and hip hop. The singles "Novocaine for the Soul" and "Susan's House" achieved modest international success. Image File history File links This image is the cover of an album or single. ... Image File history File links This image is the cover of an album or single. ... Abandoned Pools is the performing name for singer-songwriter and musician Tommy Walter. ... The Eagles redirects here. ... DreamWorks SKG (also known as DreamWorks Pictures) is one of the major American film studios which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games, and television programming. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Beautiful Freak (1996) is the album by musician Mark Oliver Everett where he began using a full band and the name Eels (in an attempt to get the records in the same general location in the stores as his previous works under the name E). ... Grunge music (sometimes also referred to as the Seattle Sound) is a genre of alternative rock inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... Novocaine for the Soul is the first single released by American rock band, EELS. This tracks comes off their 1996 debut album, Beautiful Freak. ... Susans House is the second song released by American rock band, EELS. This tracks comes off their 1997 debut, Beautiful Freak. ...

Eels toured extensively to support the album in 1996 and 1997, playing at many festivals and building their name as a live act in the United States and Europe. In September 1997, Walter quit the band (or was fired, according to some accounts). My Beloved Monster, a song from the album, was featured on the soundtrack for the movie Shrek. Two other songs from the album, Not Ready Yet and Guest List, were featured in the fifth season of the television show Homicide: Life on the Street. And the song 'Lucky Day In Hell' acchieved also moderate success, and was used in Scream, the horror movie. 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about a film. ... Homicide: Life on the Street is an American television drama series chronicling the life of a fictional Baltimore police homicide unit. ...

Electro-Shock Blues

Electro-Shock Blues album cover.

After Beautiful Freak, E experienced a very difficult personal life. Some of his friends were dying, his sister committed suicide, and his mother was diagnosed with cancer. He was fast becoming the only living member of his family. These events inspired him to write Electro-Shock Blues, released in 1998. The lyrics deal with subjects like suicide, death, and cancer. Although it is a very dark album, and not nearly as big a commercial success as its predecessor, Electro-Shock Blues is still many fans' favourite. Contributions to the album were made by Jon Brion, Dust Brother Michael Simpson, and T-Bone Burnett. "Last Stop: This Town" was a minor success as a single; the second single "Cancer for the Cure" was used on the soundtrack for the film American Beauty. Still a three-piece band on stage, Tommy Walter was replaced by Adam Siegel, formerly of Infectious Grooves. A large part of the American leg of the tour was cancelled after the death of E's mother. They returned to Europe later in the year, to open for Pulp. After the tour, Siegel left the band to focus on his own project, My Head. Image File history File links Eels-Blues. ... Image File history File links Eels-Blues. ... Electro-Shock Blues is the second album by the band Eels, released in 1998. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Jon Brion at The Sunset Tavern in Seattle (photo by Nadja Dee Tanaka) Jon Brion (born 1962) is an American rock and pop multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer and record producer. ... The Dust Brothers are the Los Angeles-based producers E.Z. Mike (Michael Simpson) and King Gizmo (John King), famous for their creation of sample-based music in the 1980s, and specifically for their work on the groundbreaking albums Pauls Boutique by the Beastie Boys and Odelay by Beck. ... Cover of Proof Through the Night, 1983. ... Cancer for the Cure is a single released by American rock band, EELS. This tracks comes off their 1998 album, Electro-Shock Blues. ... American Beauty is a 1999 drama film that explores themes of love, freedom, self-liberation, the search for happiness, and family against the backdrop of modern American suburbia. ... Adam Siegel is an American rock guitarist and producer. ... The Infectious Grooves are a Funk metal band led by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. ... Pulp are a rock band, formed in Sheffield, England in 1978, by then 15-year-old school-boy Jarvis Cocker (vocals, guitar). ...

Daisies of the Galaxy

Daisies of the Galaxy album cover.

In 2000 Eels released Daisies of the Galaxy, a more upbeat work than its predecessor. As Everett has noted, "if Electro-Shock Blues was the phone call in the middle of the night that the world doesn't want to answer, then Daisies of the Galaxy is the hotel wake-up call that says your lovely breakfast is ready". The album was almost entirely recorded in E's basement. He was joined in the studio by Michael Simpson (Dust Brothers), Grant-Lee Phillips (Grant Lee Buffalo), and Peter Buck (R.E.M.). On the tracks "It's a Motherfucker" and "Selective Memory", E plays the same piano that Neil Young used on his classic album After the Goldrush. Image File history File links Eels_-_Daisies_Of_The_Galaxy. ... Image File history File links Eels_-_Daisies_Of_The_Galaxy. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Daisies of the Galaxy is an album by Eels. ... Grant-Lee Phillips is an acclaimed singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for his versatile voice, intense lyrical narratives and dexterity on the acoustic twelve-string guitar, a style that’s often seen him compared to greats Neil Young and Bob Dylan. ... Grant Lee Buffalo was a Los Angeles-based rock band, consisting of Grant-Lee Phillips (vocals and guitar), Paul Kimble (bass) and Joey Peters (drums). ... Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956 in Berkeley, California) is the guitarist and co-founder, along with Bill Berry, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe of the seminal 1980s alternative rock band R.E.M.. Biography After spending time in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the Buck family moved to... R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in early 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and vocalist Michael Stipe. ... Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist and film director who grew up during his teen years in Winnipeg, Manitoba. ... After the Gold Rush was a 1970 album release by Neil Young. ...

The first single, "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues", was co-written by Simpson and features the sound of his pager at the start. The song was not intended to be on the album, but the record company insisted on its inclusion. Therefore it is not featured on the track listing but listed as a "bonus track", separated from the rest of the album by 20 seconds of silence. The song also appeared on the Road Trip soundtrack and some prominent members of the cast from that film feature in the music video. Additionally, it was also featured in the opening credits of the film A Guy Thing; because of the use of swear words on "It's a Motherfucker" and "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues" ("Goddamn right, it's a beautiful day") a censored version was released. "It's a Motherfucker" was renamed to "It's a Monstertrucker"; instances of the 'f-word' were removed by E singing over them in a distorted voice. To promote Daisies of the Galaxy another tour took place across the United States and Europe. This time Eels were transformed into an 6-piece orchestra, including Lisa Germano. E also played some solo shows, opening for Fiona Apple. Mr. ... A pager is an electronic device used to contact people via a paging network. ... In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. ... Road Trip is a 2000 comedy film written by Todd Phillips and Scott Armstrong and directed by Todd Phillips. ... Movie poster for A Guy Thing A Guy Thing is a 2003 film directed by Chris Koch. ... Look up Profanity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Censorship of music, the practice of censoring music from the public, may take the form of partial or total censorship with the latter banning the music entirely. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Lisa Germano, promotional shoot for Happiness (1994). ... Fiona Apple Maggart (born September 13, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter. ...

Souljacker

Souljacker album cover.

In 2001 Souljacker was released, an album with a darker feel than Daisies of the Galaxy. John Parish, previously in PJ Harvey's band, co-wrote most of the songs and also played guitar on the album and first part of the tour. Koool G Murder played bass and keyboards and joined Eels on tour, jokingly introduced by E as "the other guy." Wim Wenders directed the video for the first single, "Souljacker part I". After Parish became a father, he was replaced with Joe Gore for the American leg of the Bus Driving, Band Rocking Tour. {albumcover} Cover of Souljacker by the Eels. ... {albumcover} Cover of Souljacker by the Eels. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Souljacker is a 2001 album by the band Eels. ... PJ Harvey in concert. ... Wim Wenders at Cannes, 2002. ... Souljacker Part I is a song released by American rock band, EELS. This was the only single released from their 2001 album, Souljacker. ...

The song "That's Not Really Funny" was used as the theme for the BBC comedy series Monkey Dust, while Souljacker Part I is set to be included in the forthcoming Simon Pegg film Hot Fuzz. The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is one of the largest broadcasting corporations in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the UK alone and with a budget of more than £4 billion. ... Monkey Dust is an animated TV series that satirises the darker side of life in the United Kingdom. ... Souljacker Part I is a song released by American rock band, EELS. This was the only single released from their 2001 album, Souljacker. ... Pegg at the League of Gentlemen book launch, October 2003 Simon John Pegg (born February 14, 1970) is an English stand-up comedian, writer and film and television actor. ... Hot Fuzz is a 2007 British cop film written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, known for Shaun of the Dead and Spaced. ...

Shootenanny! and Butch's controversial departure

Shootenanny! album cover.

2003 marked the release of the album Shootenanny!. E now refers to the album as a break from recording the following Blinking Lights album. It was recorded live in the studio in only ten days. "Saturday Morning" was released as a single. Image File history File linksMetadata Shootenanny!.jpg‎ This image is of a cover of an audio recording, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the album or the artist(s) which produced the recording or cover artwork in question. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Shootenanny!.jpg‎ This image is of a cover of an audio recording, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the album or the artist(s) which produced the recording or cover artwork in question. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Shootenanny! (pronounced shü-t&n-a-nE) the name of a 2003 album by the Eels. ...

Fans were shocked later that year when Butch left the group. The official reason given by the band was that he had amicably left to play drums for Tracy Chapman. However, in an interview given to Rhythm Magazine, Butch stated that he was leaving the band over monetary concerns: "We were coming through Europe on the second tour for Souljacker, and I had to apply for bankruptcy." After asking their management for a retainer in exchange for giving up his part of their legal partnership, he claims that he "got a call from E's accountant who said, 'E doesn't want to change the structure', so, no retainer...I'm still very hurt. That's how it goes with relationships. I would hope that the door would be open for me to return and work with E one day because that's what I enjoy." Butch would go on to work with Tracy Bonham and Rufus Wainwright. Tracy Chapman (born March 30, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles Fast Car, Talkin Bout a Revolution, Baby Can I Hold You, and Give Me One Reason. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Accountant, or Qualified Accountant, or Professional Accountant, or Accountancy Practitioner, is an accountancy and financial experts legally certified in different jurisdictions to originally worked only in public practices, selling advice and services to other individuals and businesses, but today in addition many work within private corporations, financial industry and government... Tracy Bonham (born 16 March 1969 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American musician best known for her single Mother Mother. ... Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright (born July 22, 1973) is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter. ...

Butch was replaced on drums by Puddin'. In 2003 Eels did another big tour, the Tour of Duty. The live band consisted of E, Shon 'Golden Boy' Sullivan (guitar), Koool G Murder (bass) and Puddin (drums). Sullivan soon left to work on his own project, Goldenboy, and was replaced with Chet Atkins III. Later that year, E composed the score for the film Levity.
Goldenboy is a soft rock band from California that has collaborated with Weezers former bassist, Matt Sharp. ... Levity is a 2003 drama movie, directed by Ed Solomon. ...

Blinking Lights and Other Revelations / Live with Strings

Blinking Lights and Other Revelations album cover.

Eels' next album, Blinking Lights and Other Revelations, was released on April 26, 2005; it was the band's first release for new label Vagrant Records. It is an epic 33-track double album. Contributions were made by Tom Waits, Peter Buck and John Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful). A hand-written lyric-sheet to "In the Yard, Behind the Church", a song from the new album, was sold on eBay for charity. The winning bidder paid $544 for it.
Image File history File links BlinkingLights. ... Image File history File links BlinkingLights. ... Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (2005) is a double album by the band Eels. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Vagrant Records is a popular American punk, emo, and indie rock label. ... Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. ... Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956 in Berkeley, California) is the guitarist and co-founder, along with Bill Berry, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe of the seminal 1980s alternative rock band R.E.M.. Biography After spending time in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the Buck family moved to... John Sebastian (born March 17, 1944) is an American songwriter and harmonica player. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... The correct title of this article is . ...

The first tour in support of this album, billed as Eels With Strings, featured primarily acoustic guitar-, organ- and piano-based performances by E backed by Alan 'Big Al' Hunter on piano and upright bass; Chet Lyster (also known as Chet Atkins III or 'The Chet') on guitar, mandolin, pedal steel, musical saw and drums; and the string quartet of violinists Paloma Udovic and Julie Carpenter, violist Heather Lockie and cellist Ana Lenchantin.
Pump organ, a version of the reed organ where the player maintains the air pressure needed for creating the sound in the free reeds by pumping with his feet. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... Carved (electric) and round backed mandolins (front) A mandolin is a small, stringed musical instrument which is plucked, strummed or a combination of both. ... Pedal steel guitar (also called Steel Guitar) is a type of guitar, and a method of playing the instrument. ... Playing a musical saw A musical saw, also called a singing saw, is the application of a hand saw as a musical instrument. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... The viola (in French, alto; in German Bratsche) is a string instrument played with a bow which serves as the middle voice of the violin family, between the upper lines played by the violin and the lower lines played by the cello and double bass. ... The violoncello, almost always abbreviated to cello, or cello (the c is pronounced as the ch in cheese), is a stringed instrument and a member of the violin family. ...

The tour resulted in a live album, Eels with Strings: Live at Town Hall, recorded in New York City. The performance includes tracks from all of their albums, and was released on CD and DVD on February 21, 2006^[2]. Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1613 Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... CD redirects here. ... DVD (commonly Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ... February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Bobby, Jr.

Everett's dog, Bobby Jr., was a homeless dog that roamed the streets of Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California until the Los Angeles Animal Control captured him and took him to a dog pound, from where Everett eventually "adopted" him. Because he has the body of a German Shepherd and the legs of a Basset Hound (one of which is deformed), he has trouble walking and getting around. Bobby Jr. lent his 'vocals' to the song "Last Time We Spoke" on the album Blinking Lights and Other Revelations. He can also be seen on various Eels merchandise, the official Eels website, and the video for "Hey Man! (Now You're Really Living)", and he even has his own MySpace account. [3] Bobby Jr. is named after Bobby, a toy robot dog Everett bought as a trial before buying a real dog. Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog is a mammal in the order Carnivora. ... Silver Lake is a Los Angeles neighborhood east of Hollywood. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Animal shelters or (dog) pounds are either governmental or private organizations that provide temporary homes for stray or surrendered pet animals, most often dogs and cats, until the animal is reclaimed by the owner, adopted to a new owner, placed with another organization, or euthanized. ... The German Shepherd Dog or Alsatian (see History), is a breed of dog. ... The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog of the hound family. ... Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (2005) is a double album by the band Eels. ... MySpace is a social networking website offering an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos. ...

Fanscene

Eels have a huge fan community. Their several world tours took them to Europe, Australia, Japan and USA. The band is probably most successful in the UK and in Central and Northern Europe. In past interviews, E has said that Dreamworks encouraged the group to tour mainly in Europe, as their American tours were not typically as profitable. However, since the group signed to Vagrant Records, it seems that they tour the United States with a higher frequency.

There have been a few collaborations between the band and the fans. In 2001, for example a song called Hidden Track (ironically, not released as a hidden track, but as a b-side) was recorded, a song with lyrics pieced together by E entirely from fans' text messages and sung by Butch. 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... now. ...

The relatively large community is active on its own. In 1999 a tribute album was made, organized by the Fansite The Galaxy (now part of the Behind the Church community site), and another was completed in mid-2006. 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

The first ever Eels karaoke contest was recently held on the Austrian fansite Rocking Eels.

Discography

Main article: Eels discography

This article contains additional information about the band Eels and the man E. // Discography Studio albums E solo albums Compilations & live albums Video/DVD Compilation appearances Singles Promotional releases 1996: Rags to Rags, Beautiful Freak 1998: Climbing To The Moon 2003: Jeannies Diary, 3 Speed 2001: Fresh Feeling, Rotten...

External links

• EelsTheBand.com – Official site
• Eels at MySpace
• Behind The Church.com – Fansite
• Eels.nl – the online guide to live Eels – Fansite with tour archive
• EELS Italia – Italian fansite
• [4] – Email from Butch, confirming him leaving the band
• EelsTheDiscography.co.uk – Collectors and fansite.
• The Galaxy – Database of all eels tracks
• Rocking Eels – Austrian fansite
• Eels on Last Fm – Last.fm link
• Eels at MusicBrainz
• Lazy-i Interview: July 2003
• Concert photos by Laurent Orseau (Black Session)

MySpace is a social networking website offering an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos. ... MusicBrainz (MusicBrainz. ...

References

1. ↑  Eels Get Tangled In Strings On Live CD/DVD. Retrieved on 2005-12-15.