Do you ever wonder about musicians and what secrets lay behind those closed doors after they’ve departed the stage? Well now the time has arisen and the secrets of the Vampire realm have been foretold and the one and only Helsinki Vampires are back from the dead, but not just back, back in blood. Frontman Jyrki69 spoke to me about The 69 Eyes U.S. return along with the undead truth about the current album and his past creations.
Planet Loud – Welcome back to the U.S., how does it feel to be back in California?
The 69 Eyes – It’s awesome, Hollywood in general we consider this our second home, this year we spent over 3 months during the spring time recording our newest album so it’s great to finally be able to come back and play a show. It’s never frustrated to hang out in Hollywood and to have fans recognize you and come up and ask you “What are you doing here – why aren’t you playing a show?” at that time there was no way to do anything but now it’s the time and we’re now in Hollywood, so The 69 Eyes and are back in blood!
Planet Loud – “Back in Blood,” came out last month and it’s also your tenth to date, how does that make you feel – do you think your music has grown since when you first started?
The 69 Eyes – Actually you’re mistaken there is a little confusion everywhere it’s actually our ninth album, I’m excited to do the tenth album when the time arrives, and we have of course several compilations available but this is our nine studio album. Yes and no it’s the same sources of inspiration remains, the same rock n’ roll life remains, on the other hand of course we’re better song writers, and I myself have written better lyrics, once in a while you make songs that last a little bit longer than others, like most of the songs within our set list, there are the ones we consider “our classics”. There are so many songs that could be on the next ten year compilation, with the way we’ve grown.
Planet Loud – Can you briefly tell us about the whole concept for “Dead Girls Are Easy,”?
The 69 Eyes – It was pure fun with Bam Margera, it was long lost Halloween weekend, the whole idea the name of the song, I just liked the title when I put together everything it represents the dead girls, these gothic girls who want to be dead and want to be a part of the undead and want to become Vampire girls. The story line is this classic old school 80s theme with this nerdy guy working and something strange happens to him when these Vampire girls come into his life. This video is much like the videos from the 80s – having that rockin style and positive atmosphere – all the videos of today have changed, with the bombs, bugs, a very depressing imagines, I’m a fan of the 80s videos so this video is just like those.
Planet Loud – What was it like playing on Carson Daily back in 2006 – I’m not sure if you remember me, at that show but I was the girl in the audience who had waved to you, I had wanted to be on the bottom near the stage but couldn’t get down there.
The 69 Eyes – That was great that was one of those classic 69 Eyes moments that we were able to do that show, and hopefully we can return to those shows, it’s been an honor to be involved with these shows, (Carson Daily) and to have The End Records (US Label) who have done great promotion for us, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re watching T.V. that you see us performing, we’ll be able to set something up pretty soon and also the next time you wave I will know it is you.
Planet Loud – In my opinion I’ve always pictured you guys doing a U.S. tour with H.I.M. would you ever be able to make that happen – I know you guys toured with Cradle of Filth back in 06.
The 69 Eyes – That is something the fans are always asking, but I don’t think the bands are really excited about the idea. If you haven’t noticed the Finnish bands don’t really tour together and I don’t know why but that is something that we should considering doing because the fans keep asking about it. I haven’t heard any rumors so don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon. As far as I understand the H.I.M. guys are recording their new album, and there are a lot of Finnish bands around here in Hollywood recording their new albums, so every rocker act is here in Hollywood right now and are from Finland so a very busy period for everybody right now.
Planet Loud – What can you tell us about your comic book “Zombie Love: Vampires, Ghosts and the 69 Eyes”?
The 69 Eyes – It’s just a compilation of my old stuff that I drew in the 80s as a teenager, during the night, most teens go out and get drunk for the first time and meet the opposite sex, I was this guy that spent my nights at home watching horror movies and listening to strange rock n’ roll music, like the real nerds Somehow these comics survived and the characters pretty much looks like our band and dressed in rocker appeal and the girls are drama queens so it’s not so far away from the world of the 69 Eyes. So I drew them and they still appear interesting so I put it altogether and that’s the book Zombie Love, and after 25 years, the kids still find this comic book amazing and it’s available at all of our shows so pick up a copy.
Planet Loud – How about “Route 69,” what can be said about that?
The 69 Eyes – That’s a photograph book it’s done by this photographer named Ville Juurikkala, the guy who’s been taking pictures of a majority of Finnish rock bands over the years, H.I.M. Nightwish, and us, and back in 06 he traveled with us and took pictures and put out the book and it has pictures of Japan, Finland but mainly it’s about when we first traveled the states and how everything was different, a very big and exciting experience. It’s a great book filled with great memories.
Planet Loud – Your known around the world as the “Helsinki Vampires”, do you consider yourself a Vampire?
The 69 Eyes – Well some strange reason I don’t age and I draw people’s attention to me I drive girls crazy especially those that know me. I like to hang out with sunglasses after dark as far as that goes I might be a Vampire but I won’t tell if I’m one or not. But don’t try old school tricks on me like holy water or garlic that won’t kill me. If you really want to destroy me, play me some anti-rock music, Beatles, Faith No More, Red Hot Chili Peppers, if you really want to throw me out of the party and kill me just throw on some bad music that should do it.
Planet Loud – Anything else you’d like to add?
The 69 Eyes – I hope people will have the chance to check out Back in Blood, because I think it’s our best record The 69 Eyes have done and we’re really proud of it. The theme involves Vampires, and the sound is awesome, and it’s interesting that The 69 Eyes have worked with American artists and producers, and a director for the video, it’s just something we’ve always wanted to do. Now that we’ve had the chance to do it, it’s become a great album but not just from The 69 Eyes but in general in the year 2009.
Interview by Natalie Perez
