THE EELS - EVERETT NEARLY DIDN'T WRITE MEMOIRS

EVERETT NEARLY DIDN'T WRITE MEMOIRS

THE EELS frontman MARK EVERETT almost turned down an offer to write his memoirs - because he was convinced fans wouldn't want to read about his troubled childhood. The rocker, who is better known by his stage name E, was so traumatised by his father's death in 1982 from a heart attack, he contemplated suicide as a teen - just weeks after his sister Liz had tried to kill herself by swallowing a bottle of pills. And the tragedies outlined in his new book Things The Grandchildren Should Know continue with his mother's subsequent death from cancer; his sister's successful suicide attempt in 1996, and the death of his flight attendant cousin Jennifer, who was one of the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. But the 44-year-old maintains an optimistic outlook on life - and is hopeful his book will help others suffering from depression. He says, "For years I never took the idea seriously. Why would anyone want to read such a catalogue of misery? But then as I started writing I began to see there was a story there, and it wasn't to find out how optimistic I am and how I enjoy life. "I'm one of the lucky people who is making a living doing something I would be doing anyway. At the very least, I hope the book might inspire some kid who thinks his life is screwed and can't see a way out."