The Warren Ellis interview

Warren Ellis will perform this afternoon as part of Dirty Three at the first NZ Laneway Festival.

Late last year I had the opportunity to speak, albeit briefly (and on a phone line that kept cutting out) with Ellis who, outside of his Dirty Three commitments, works with Nick Cave as a member of The Bad Seeds, with side-project Grinderman and most recently as co-creator of some alluring, hypnotic soundtracks (the latest being The Road - a great piece of score).

Ellis, born in Ballarat, Victoria, educated in Melbourne, now lives in France. He's been in Paris for close to 12 years and says, in a matter of fact tone, that "family life dictates this". He goes on to wax lyrical about the romance of the city, the appeal of it to artists and then closes off with "but basically I am married - I married a woman and we have two kids and we live here. This is home." He laughs and says that he still feels like something of a tourist, a person slightly out of place and "in some ways between homes".

The three members of Dirty Three all live in different countries now - which makes touring sporadic. But, as Ellis laughs, "it does, ironically, keep us together". He says "we're like a married couple living in separate houses...we're in dire need of counselling he says".

There's a bout of laughter and then Ellis points out, as if coming to the realisation for the first time himself just at that moment, "actually - all the members of all the bands I play with live in different cities. The Bad Seeds and Grinderman: both bands have members scattered all over the place. And Dirty Three. It's just the way it has worked out."

Backing up his comment that this actually keeps the bands together, Ellis says "we get precious moments, you know; when we record, rehearse or tour it all means something and we get down to business as quickly as we can. We get together and play and - usually - everyone is into it."

"I'm just so lucky," Ellis explains, "so very lucky to be in the position to work with these people." He is talking about Grinderman, Bad Seeds and Dirty Three ("everyone I play with and play for" - he laughs loudly at this and offers no explanation for the burst of laughter). "I can honestly say," here he switches gears, sounding very serious, "that I play with some of the greatest musicians in the world and that's amazing to me. It's amazing that they want me and that I am able to play with them - it's an absolute joy and quite simply the best job in the world."

Warren Ellis was probably always going to fall into music - he had an interest from an early age and his father, John Ellis, was a country crooner. Warren says: "I can remember being introduced to Johnny Cash and Hank Williams at any early age. It wasn't so much a case of dad really pushing music on me - but then again he wasn't the sort of guy to be too interested in watching the football, which was the case with a lot of my mates and their old men."

Ellis has taken on the role of Nick Cave's right-hand man - or thereabouts. And it is a role he almost reluctantly accepts - because, as far as Ellis is concerned, he is still amazed that he gets to play music most days of his life, outside of being a father.

"I really struggle with the concept that I get paid to do this. I mean, I love it - I think it's great but it's really amazing to me. The drive for this was never financial - it just felt good to be working with music. It felt really good and it always has. And other jobs never felt as good; I never felt satisfied with other jobs - or with the idea of other jobs. And I am very lucky to be able to do this."

Ellis says he is "an old-fashioned person. I'm 44 years old and I never expected to be making a living doing this - even though I just told you I didn't really want to do anything else." He laughs again, heartily, adding, "it's just so constantly baffling. I mean, I've done some sessions, you know, cameo work I call it, popping up on some albums, repaying favours or making an appearance here and there. And people ask me at the end of the day what I charge. And I have no idea. I mean, literally, I have no idea. I just laugh and tell people to buy me a drink or to give the money to some charity..."

Mentioning again that family life has changed the dynamic of touring, meaning it is now "the bread and butter; the way to support the family", Ellis says this is where the "living in different countries thing works out really well". He says that as well as being focused when you are on the road, engaging in those precious moments, it is also great to "have your own life in your own place away from the music. To actually step away from the band and the bandmates; it's a healthy thing to have happen and it's become another lucky part of my life".

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