I met Jyrki 69 in Jyväskylä before their gig in Lutakko club in the end of October 2019. We spoke about amazing Glenn Danzig, about The 69 Eyes’ last album “West End”, and about relationships with the fans during last 30 years.
You just came from US where you attended presentation of “Verotika”, a new movie by Glenn Danzig. How was that?
Jyrki 69: Yes, I just came from New York. And Glenn Danzig is one of my ever favourite artists. He is involved in such many things. Some people know him only as a musician from “Danzig”. But he is a creator not only of “The Misfits” and “Samhain”, of course, but of the whole concept of American dark rock’n’roll. All of us remember the logos, and the graphics, and something about the symbolism. It’s amazing how wide spectrum of amazing American culture he has created from such a simple things, you know. Elvis, Marilyn, Kennedy, horror movies… “Verotika” is just another chapter of his creativity. I’m his huge fan. And I’m just happy of whatever he does.
And the song “Close Your Eyes” from you solo project “Helsinki Vampire” is used in the soundtrack…
Jyrki 69: Yes. I knew about it but it was nice surprise to see it by myself on the movie. And in general it was one of those lifetime experiences when there’s a movie premiere in New York, on the 42th Street; the movie was premiered for selected audience; and music that I have created was used in the movie. And I saw it for the first time. I didn’t know, and I wasn’t sure what song it’s gonna be, I just heard rumours. So it was like one of those things that I’m glad that they happen in my life. Maybe it’s a beginning of our new cooperation between and Danzig. Let’s see what will happen. But that was a great start.
Ok, let’s come back to The 69 Eyes last album “West End”. I know you like to say it’s your best album…
Jyrki 69: I don’t know if it is anymore. Next album will be the 13th, and it will be the best.
I have to say that I really like the lyrics, they are funny, good humour.
Oh, thank you! It’s just like the same things I’ve done over the years, all 30 years. Take the first single. There’s horror. There’s some sleaze rock. There’s some tongue-in-a-cheek dark humour. And then it’s very simple, ‘cos I like them to be simple. It’s my art. This is my way of doing things. I know exactly what I’m doing. Nothing is unintentional. Everything there is like I want it. And now it brought back The 69 Eyes to live a little bit more than ever. It’s not because we have changed. But like I’ve been saying the times are different at the moment. People are eager and open to rock’n’roll once again after a couple of years. In this perspective now we are going to European tour. Some of the shows are already sold out, and I know there’s gonna be more, ‘cos I know what’s gonna happen. It looks like The 69 Eyes is again popular like it was a little while ago, but I think that we’re doing exactly the same, but you, guys, change, and you have time for us once again. There doesn’t have to be any answer. We are doing what we always have been doing. And it’s nice that people are still here with us. And that they have time to share it with us. ‘Cos we have time to share it with you. We are fucking vampires. We don’t go anywhere. It’s you, guys, are not always gonna be here. Now, enjoy!
It’s impressive how many dates are in your tours.
Jyrki 69: This year we play 70 shows. And next year – I have no idea.
Aren’t you tired?
Jyrki 69: No! Not at all. I can’t wait. I’m seriously enjoying every moment. I’m different age. I handle things differently. I enjoy different things. I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be involved in 2019 playing rock’n’roll being 51 years old rocker.
For many shows you sell “Meet & Greet” VIP ticket. Did you do it before?
Jyrki 69: It’s an American way of selling tickets, American culture. It has been there for many years. And then every band is doing it. And we started to do it in the Stated, and then in European tour as well. It’s just a service to meet fans, and to make it secure that we meet them in a spare time to take photos, to have time to hang out with everybody. We hope that we make fans happy with that.
And please say some words about the documentary dedicated to The 69 Eyes 30th anniversary. Unfortunately I haven’t seen it yet.
Jyrki 69: That’s a documentary about our 30 years. We wanted it to be ready and included when the album comes out. It’s a blu ray disc. I wrote a manuscript for it. And I had to finish recording the album. First I finished the album, and then I came back to the art guys. Everything feels like pretty much yesterday. I don’t know what people feel. There’s lots of people who are our age. There’re people who are your age, who been around like all these decades. There’re people who weren’t even born when we started. I don’t so much think about it, but I’m glad we succeeded in creating something what gets people sometimes out of this cruel world, and gets their thought to somewhere else for a while.
What is the biggest change in music industry during these 30 years?
Jyrki 69: Ermmm…..
Ok, what do you like, or what you don’t nowadays in music business?
Jyrki 69: Ah, this way… I don’t even care about it these days. It’s just doesn’t matter. It’s me, or it’s Danzig, or some other guys who are just making music which we always been doing. We don’t stop it. It doesn’t matter what happens in the industry wise. Fans are here, we are here, and what the industry does next – it just doesn’t matter, it doesn’t make our music bad, or worse. Well, maybe one thing is interesting… It’s just a food for thoughts. Majority of modern day big hits are written by many people. What is the most popular song at the moment? If you check, it can be written by nearly ten people. I think it seems like than more people involved in writing one song, than less it holds the test of time. They are great, but they come, and they go. And when there’s one guy writing… Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry, and so on… Those songs are here still. When ten people write a simple song which is really nice right now, maybe it’s gone already tomorrow. I don’t know why. Somehow… Obviously… It’s just interesting. But it seems like that.
What will happen next for The 69 Eyes?
Jyrki 69: We are gonna play a fucking cool show tonight. And tomorrow, too. And then Halloween comes. And then we play in Tavastia club. And then we go to Europe. We are planning a lot of things. Ok, I reveal you. We’re gonna have a new music video out before Halloween which is filmed in a couple of days. We will release a lyric video for “Last House On the Left”. That’s comes by Halloween. It was a secret by now, but now you know.
By Melamory, CrimsonCrown.ru
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