Tommy Walter. He is one of the most important persons in the long history of Eels members. He was part of the trio who founded the original Eels, along with E and Butch. But you all know that already, right? What is more wrapped in mystery is what Tommy is up to in these days and what excactly happened in his surprising leaving 10 years ago.
Rocking Eels is once again proud to present an interview with an extraordinary musician:
Before we start we want to thank you to take some time for us to answer our questions. This is a great opportunity for us.
From what we’ve found out, your band ABANDONED POOLS is also, like the Eels, a one-man-band. What is it that is more appealing to you to work with different artists rather than having a fixed membership in a band?
It’s more about my writing and recording process. It’s easier for me to focus in on what I want if I just do everything myself from scratch. Sometimes the process can get scattered and unfocused if there are other motivations involved. I generally know what I want.
We at Rocking Eels really like your sound, especially on “Humanistic”, your debut record. 2005 you released your latest LP. Is there anything we can look forward to in the near future?
As far as Abandoned Pools is concerned, I have about 25 songs in various states of completion. I’m not sure if I’ll release an EP or a full-length LP next. What I need to do is go into a cave for a month or two and finish the songs.
I have another band called Glacier Hiking (www.myspace.com/glacierhiking). I produce the music and my friend Ross Golan sings. We co-write everything. It’s a different sound for me and I’m always surprised and pleased by what Ross does with the songs. We have an album finished and we’re looking for a home for it. I wrote and produced three songs for an artist named Graham Colton. His album is coming out in August on Universal. I’m working with another artist named Charlotte Martin as well. I briefly worked with The Backstreet Boys too, if you can believe it. Unfortunately, my contact at their label was fired so it won’t see the light of day. Alas.
What are the chances that we can enjoy a live gig of your band in our neck of the woods in the years to come?
Probably not likely. Touring can be fun but it is the biggest expensive with the least amount of return. I’d rather work in my studio on new music.
What would be your profession if you hadn’t become a musician? Why and when did you decide to become a musician?
I didn’t “decide” to become a musician. That is just who I am. I knew from an early age that it was what I loved.
I don’t know what else I would do. Maybe I could be E’s guitar tech.
Do you have any all-time favourite bands or records? Which album is playing on your hi-fi system right now?
The simple answer is Prince and Radiohead. Lately I’ve been listening to Mew. I just saw them live and I loved it.
Is it true that you met E and Butch at an open-mic night? Tell us about the creation of Eels.
Not really, though that was the story we gave just to keep things simple. I met E at an open mic night but Butch wasn’t there. That night I was playing bass with Jon Brion and a drummer named Buddy Judge. One of the songs we played was ‘Not Ready Yet’ that ended up on Beautiful Freak. Jon co-wrote that song. E joined us for a few other songs but I can’t remember what they were. I saw him again at a friend’s apartment and told him that I was looking to work with other musicians. He called me, then later he dropped off a cassette tape of the demos that eventually became Beautiful Freak. I was interested so the next step was to go to Butch’s garage and play with them. Then E just said, “Let’s do this regularly” or something like that. And that was that. And by the way, I named Butch. I’m taking credit for that nickname right here and now. He just seemed like a Butch to me.
Butch once said in an interview with the German Eels fan-site that his “role [in the band] was to help E realize his vision”. How would you describe your role in this whole Eels story?
I only performed and toured with the first album so I’m not that significant in regards to the “whole eels story” but I was there from the beginning and was part of the original trio that started it all. I see it in reverse actually. The eels helped start my career by playing the role of a stepping stone for me. Leaving the eels (or not making sure I didn’t get fired, as it were) was the right thing to do and I am way better off. I made much more money and got to release my own albums as Abandoned Pools and I’m thankful for how the eels contributed to that.
Can you tell us something about the process of recording songs with the Eels? What was it like to work with E?
What’s good about E is that he is a leader and knows what he wants. So we already had a solid blueprint before when we went into the studio. His songs were inspiring and invited innovation so it was both easy and exciting to make Beautiful Freak. Some songs we did from scratch, others working from the pre-existing demos and others he did on his own.
Tell us about your influence on how the Eels songs would be performed live?
I think the three of us had something special — a good chemistry. We wouldn’t try to recreate the songs as they were on the album. Instead, we would re-arrange them so we could perform them as a three-piece without using tracks, loops or samples. I was the utility guy. Whatever was needed I would try to do. It was a good opportunity because I got to play a lot of different instruments. Mostly bass but also guitar, keys, percussion and french horn. I got to sing a lot too which is always fun. I never got bored. We had a pretty good working relationship that was inspiring. That’s what happens when you feel useful and appreciated. We had a lot of fun working the songs out. Those were good days.
How would you describe E as a private person? Is E really the “lone wolf” he is presenting himself on stage and via his songs?
That’s a tough one to answer because it gets into a territory I don’t’ really want to revisit. He’s a very complex and interesting person. I don’t really want to get into evaluating the positive and negative aspects of his character. However, I do remember thinking how unfortunate it was that he would sing lyrics like “everyone is trying to bum me out” and then off-stage he would completely bum me out! But we definitely had some great times and I miss him sometimes. There’s a good person in there.
We think that you make up a very important part in the history of the Eels. Some of the concerts of the Beautiful Freak era were the best gigs ever performed of the band. You surely know that lots of fans all over the world were very sorry when they heard about your exit. The whole fan community is asking itself why and how you dropped out of the band. Numerous rumours were floating around on the internet. This is your chance to finally tell the story of the break-up from your point of view.
E and I just stopped getting along. It’s too bad because early on I think we were pretty good friends and worked well together. I was the youngest in the band by seven years. I was passionate which meant that at times I could be stubborn and a bit of a hot head and that didn’t mesh well with E’s “my way or the highway” attitude. But being passionate also meant that I was enthusiastic and committed and I wish that that would have been better appreciated. I realized that I would never be allowed to participate in the eels to the level that I wanted to and that was frustrating for me. I don’t think he ever really wanted to have a band and would have preferred to be a solo artist again which is what the eels turned into. It seemed like the more attention we got as a band the more he felt the need to prove that it was all about him, which it was anyway. Although I think the three of us had something very special, it was his band and he was the main songwriter. The problem I had was when he’d go out of his way to denigrate me either on stage, in an interview or even among the crew we travelled with. That’s when I started to crack. In retrospect, I should have just tried to enjoy it more. That would have been difficult to do in the long run and I’m happier not being part of the eels anymore.
You once said “I’m really glad we’re past that whole ironic phase, which I was part of with The Eels, where everything was super ironic and we’d play “The Macarena” on stage – [sarcastically] and that was funny! I’m glad we’re through all that stuff[...]” What exactly did you mean by saying that?
I like music that is not afraid to be sincere without having to be self-depricating at the same time. I think that’s what I meant but I can’t remember really.
Are you following E’s recent music career? What do you think of the path the band took after your leaving?
I haven’t followed it that closely. It was best for me to just move on and not give it much thought. And I’m not familiar enough with eels music to have an opinion.
Have you ever visited Eels concerts? Do you own any Eels records besides “Beautiful Freak”?
No and no. I’ve heard a few things here and there but I don’t own any of the albums.
One time I was in Austin, Texas, and someone came up to me and said that they saw the eels last year and it was the worst show they’ve ever seen. I find that hard to believe and I hope it’s not true.
Are you still in touch with E?
No, we haven’t spoken since 1997. I do speak to Butch occasionally. I believe they had a falling out as well.
Tell us about the craziest thing you’ve ever experienced since you’re in the music business!
Abandoned Pools once opened for a concert film of a Japanese metal band called X-Japan at the Tokyo Forum. It was our first performance in Tokyo and the Prime Minister of Japan was in the audience. The crowd responded to the film like they were at a real show. They were so into it. I don’t know if that’s the craziest thing but it was pretty great.
Thank you for this interview. We think that you make up a very big part of Eels’ music history and we’d like you to be part of Eels’ future, too, although we know that this is almost impossible. We wish you all the best.
Thanks Berni!