E from The Eels: "I should take the Taylor Swift route"

What lessons will we learn from listening to The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett?


I thought it would be a worthwhile endeavour to throw myself under the bus as an example of stupid things you should avoid doing. I’ve already done them for you.

But all this bad relationship stuff has happened to you – the bus has already run you over.


The bus did run me over, but figuratively I am throwing myself under the bus again in terms of songwriting.

Is that what the songwriting process is like for you?


Not usually. That’s what’s different about this one. I realised I have plenty of songs where I point the finger at somebody else. There wasn’t enough where I was pointing the finger at myself.

Do you think women ever break heart just so you’ll write a song about them?


That never occurred to me. I need to chew on that for a minute… Maybe that’s what’s been going on all along. Shit. I may have to reapproach everything now.

Start writing bad songs then they won’t be interested at all.


Or I could write songs where I identify them by name. Paint a portrait of a terrible person then they’ll leave me alone. I should take the Taylor Swift route.

Is it important to get something out of a negative experience? Does a good song make the heartbreak worthwhile?


Eels often get mispegged as a sad band but the only way to truly get to a meaningful positive place is to deal with all the negative sad stuff. Any real lesson you learn in life is painful.

When Eels fans are sad and alone we listen to The Eels. What do you do?


Em… I don’t listen to The Eels.

You’re mostly known as E, is Mark a different person? Who am I talking to?


People who know me call me E. Most fans and people who approach me call me Mark so when someone comes up to me and says, “Hey Mark!” I know it’s somebody I don’t know. I think they’re thinking that’s what my friends call me but the opposite is true. I shouldn’t have given out the secret code.

Are you happy so many kids were introduced to your songs after they were heavily featured in the Shrek films?


Yeah definitely. Kids are pretty good at innately recognising good music so I feel like it’s a good sign. Every kid likes The Beatles if you play songs to them.

Last time you were in Liverpool you stopped by John Lennon’s old house.


Yeah. That kind of thing is a big thrill for a musician. I was so nervous I decided to do something stupid and I played a Rolling Stones song in his bedroom. The rest of the band were like, “You idiot”.

Your father first proposed parallel universes. Is there an alternative universe where you’re a member of the Backstreet Boys?


There probably is. And I’m probably a lot happier in that one.

The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett is out now