The Electric Eels featured unconventional instrumentation initially, with no drummer nor anyone who was technically competent on any musical instruments. Nevertheless they were heavily influenced by bands like Sweet, T. Rex, Slade, and Roxy Music, as well as Ziggy Stardust era David Bowie, and the New York Dolls. Their rare performances did feature at various times, sheet metal hit with sledgehammers, anvils, a power lawnmower and fist fights. This led to the description of their act as "art terrorism". Much of 1973 and 1974 was spent, mostly unsuccessfully, trying to get gigs in bars that normally booked top-40 covers bands in Cleveland and then Columbus, where the band moved for some months. Morton has claimed that this move was caused by death threats he had received in Cleveland for sleeping with "one too many married women". When gigs did happen, promoters were known to pull them half way through. On their debut show the band were arrested by police for being drunk and disorderly. Morton resisted arrest and gained a broken hand, which caused him to play their next gig, three weeks later with an improvised splint made from a slide rule and a wrench.
Morton, in particular, had an inclination for violence that often led to physical fights and temporary splits in the band, or he and Dave E would go to a working-class bar and provoke a fight by dancing together as if a homosexual couple.
In late 1973 McMahon left the band, replaced by Paul Marotta, who was a competent musician on both guitar and keyboards. Drummers came and left during the history of the band, but bass guitar was always absent.
The deliberate provocation and controversy of the band also saw them use the Nazi imagery of the swastika, Morton later claiming that this was influenced by William Burroughs and Lenny Bruce: "That is something we wanted, to have that provocation, we wanted to confront those issues." In addition, controversial lyrics taken from American Nazi Party racist literature were used in the song 'Spinach Blasters' (AKA 'Spin Age Blasters'). Marotta: "It was shock tactics, it was confrontational art, it was meant to be satire". This presaged the use of similar shock tactics and images by other punks in New York and London, such as Sid Vicious and Siouxsie Sioux, as well as nonpunk glam rockers like David Bowie.
Eventually the Electric Eels got a gig at a Cleveland venue which would support original music, The Viking Saloon's "Special Extermination Night" 22 December 1974 with Rocket from the Tombs and Mirrors. This gig marked the public start of the Cleveland proto-punk scene. However the repeat event in January 1975 would see the Eels banned from the last bar that would have them, due to their use on stage of a gas-powered lawnmower. This led to the departure from the band of Marotta.
After Marotta left the band, Brian McMahon rejoined and they also recruited drummer Nick Knox, later to find fame with The Cramps. They made their peace with Marotta, who went on to record some of their rehearsals in early 1975. It is these sessions which make up most of the Eels material released since their demise, including the 1978 Rough Trade single 'Agitated' b/w 'Cyclotron', which was their only released recording for many years. The song 'Cyclotron' has a lyrical reference to Elton John whose music and style often crossed over into the glitter rock scene.
However, the Knox line-up of the band was short-lived, performing only one gig - the bands 5th overall - at Case-Western Reserve University in 1975 (sources differ as to whether this was in May or September of that year), before finally splitting there and then due to a Morton-inspired fist fight.
Later that year the original three Eels members, Marotta, and two members of Mirrors formed a new band 'The Men from UNCLE', but this lasted only two rehearsals before splitting again. Marotta went on to form The Styrenes, of which Morton was also an occasional member.
Anxiety
Electric Eels Lyrics
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Laid out prone, so vividly unaware,
Punctured out neural tissue, what can it be, to be so unhappy, to be unhappy
It's anxiety, and it's tearing you to shreds,
It's anxiety, and it's really gonna kill you,
It's anxiety, killing you like slow poison
Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety, oh woe is me
Now something, it's got a hold on, bring in the night,
Breathe on the lines, I would love to be paralyzed,
What is the matter, what can it be,
To be so unhappy, to be unhappy,
Maybe you got the rabies and maybe you got the flu,
But you can't try to fix it, 'cause you don't know what to do
Anxiety, and it's really gonna kill you
Anxiety, killing you like very slow poison
Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety, anxiety
The lyrics to Electric Eels's song "Anxiety" reflect the overwhelming and consuming nature of anxiety, a feeling that can take hold of a person in its grip and refuse to let go. The first verse depicts someone waking up at the bottom of the stairs, feeling completely unaware of their surroundings and possibly injured from the punctured neural tissue. The chorus highlights the all-consuming nature of anxiety, tearing the person apart and slowly killing them like poison. The second verse speaks to the despair and helplessness that anxiety can create, with the person wishing to be paralyzed and unable to cope with the overwhelming feelings they are experiencing.
The repetition of the word "anxiety" throughout the song emphasizes the insistent and persistent nature of this feeling, which can take hold of a person's mind and body and refuse to let go. The lyrics reflect the way that anxiety can take on a life of its own, interfering with daily activities, thoughts, and emotions. The cryptic references to rabies and the flu may suggest that anxiety can feel like a physical illness or invasion of the body, further underscoring the song's theme of feeling totally overwhelmed by this feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up, wake up, at the bottom of the stairs,
You are suddenly jolted awake at the foot of a staircase.
Laid out prone, so vividly unaware,
You are lying flat on the ground, totally oblivious to your surroundings.
Punctured out neural tissue, what can it be, to be so unhappy, to be unhappy
You feel like your brain has been pierced, and you wonder how you could possibly feel so miserable.
It's anxiety, and it's tearing you to shreds,
You realize that you are experiencing anxiety, and it is overwhelming you.
Don't die yet, baby, you forgot to make the beds,
You are so consumed with anxiety that you forget even the most basic responsibilities.
It's anxiety, and it's really gonna kill you,
You know that this anxiety is dangerous and could potentially harm or even kill you.
It's anxiety, killing you like slow poison
This anxiety is slowly draining the life out of you, like toxic poison.
Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety, oh woe is me
You can't escape the constant, debilitating feeling of anxiety, and it's taking a toll on your mental and emotional well-being.
Now something, it's got a hold on, bring in the night,
You feel like something is gripping you tightly and causing the night to feel even more suffocating.
Breathe on the lines, I would love to be paralyzed,
You feel so overwhelmed and hopeless that you almost want to be paralyzed and unable to move.
What is the matter, what can it be,
You can't pinpoint what is causing this anxiety and it's frustrating.
To be so unhappy, to be unhappy,
Your unhappiness feels never-ending and unbearable.
Maybe you got the rabies and maybe you got the flu,
You start to question whether this anxiety is a result of a physical ailment, like rabies or the flu.
But you can't try to fix it, 'cause you don't know what to do
You are at a loss for how to combat this anxiety, and feel helpless as a result.
Anxiety, and it's really gonna kill you
You are increasingly aware of how debilitating this anxiety is, and worry that it could be the end of you.
Anxiety, killing you like very slow poison
Once again, you are reminded of how this anxiety is slowly wearing you down and draining the life out of you.
Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety, anxiety
You can't escape the constant, unrelenting presence of anxiety, and it's driving you to the brink.
Contributed by Xavier M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.