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Well, what
can we say about John? He IS the Eelman music ethos? Yes, probably.
John began writing for the Hulamen - the original Eel band that
used the Eelman character on posters and converted him to a
record label. He began playing with the Rodents as a teenager,
and was instrumental in creating the Hulamen, Tombolas, and
Holiday Makers. John's contribution to the Eel experience was/is
to make it whacky. The excellence of his many and varied tunes
is at odds with his equally excellent disregard for performance
norms. Hence, the Eel ethos includes a humorous humanity - the
sort of low-key fun and amusement that doesn't come with cold
perfection and performance anxiety. When the mood takes, John's
been known to make up lyrics as he goes - the funnier the better
- and he generally enjoys jamming out a song until someone somewhere
gives the wink that it's time to hit the end bars.
John's lyric content runs from the sublime to the ridiculous.
In songs he prepares himself for being cooked and eaten; asks
love interests to empty his potty; satirizes government; and,
on occasion, delves into the human condition. His style covers
funk, swing, soul, pop, reggae, and R & B. more...........>>>>>
Bill Lake
was, is, and presumable ever shall be, a postie. When the strain
of strolling through the sun and avoiding ankle-biters (dogs
not children) gets too much, Bill's version of "going postal"
is to write some Bloody Good Songs! Bill has a long musical
pedigree. He played with Mammal from 1969-74 and has had his
own band, The Windy City Strugglers, going since 1968. After
the demise of the Hulamen in 1982, Bill immediately grabbed
some of the leftover musos and created The Pelicans, the band
in which he began featuring as a songwriter, and with whom he
recorded two albums. From 1987-90 he created another band, The
Living Daylights, and also produced a solo album, "Home Truths",
in 1996. Bill's lyric content runs from girls, to politics to
Kiwi-ana; his creative style leans towards funk, pop, R &
B, and reggae. more........>>>>>
John "Mr
Head Space" Niland put the business effort into officially creating
the Eelman Records label and is now, as Mr Eelman Empire, a
legend in his own lunchbox. He was also a key figure in tracking
down long-lost original tracks (some of which were found under
dusty beds) and coordinating a UK/NZ cleaning and production
process for the CD "Feel The Eel". John began playing keyboards
for Thais & The Hot Cakes, graduated to the Rodents, SKa
band The Preservatives, played the local Newlands Arms Tavern
with a Rock 'N Roll band and then with Andrew Cross, John McDougall
developed The Hulamen in 1981. He later played with The Pelicans,
The Tombolas, and recorded a solo album, "Inside" in 1985. An
exceptional keyboardist, he provides the funk and zing that
helps create and solidify the Feel of Eel music. And like most
other Eel musos his songs end when they end - after a good dose
of jazz/funk jamming. John's creations are complex and his style
ranges from rag time & swing, through to reggae, funk, and
jazz. more........>>>>>
Marion sang
and wrote with The Hulamen from 1980-82. Gelling with the human
whacky feel, she contributed to the Hula-spectacle/show/party
with bourbon, balloons, and streamers. The stage extravaganza
has been part of Eel music shows ever since. While the Hulaman
evolved into The Pelicans and other later Eel bands, Marion
was in Scotland playing traditional, and writing contemporary,
Celtic music with band Quiet Waters. Back hin Wellington NZ,
upon the creation of the CD Eel compilation "Feel The Eel",
Marion was plucked up by the buddy network for the reunion CD
launch concert. She now helps John organize the Eelpire. Marion's
lyric content tends towards stories, which run from political
observation, to hallucinating on gas at the dentists. Her style
tends towards soul/funk and jazz/blues.
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