The 69 Eyes are touring the US to support their latest CD ‘Back in Blood.’ Jussi 69 was kind enough to take some time to chat with me about the CD and tour.
How are you enjoying your US tour?
It’s going great. The first couple of days was hard to get used to with jet lag and having a new crew, new backline, new everything, but not all the pieces are together and totally rolling. I’m so excited about the whole package. All of the bands are pretty great. Dommin I’m a big fan of already and The Becoming are just awesome too. So, the whole package to tour with all over is great. Now, New York city. New York City streets almost killed me last night, but I’m gonna do it all over again today.
I have a friend who is going to be at your show tonight. She’s very excited.
Are you going to be there?
Unfortunately, no, but I will see you at Helldone.
For real? That is great.
I’m excited!
Wow, wow. I’ve been to Helldone like ten times almost. Like, every New Year’s Eve. HIM did that even before it was called Helldone and so large, but they do it in the same venue. It’s great and it’s great to be a part of that, so I’ll see you in Helsinki then.
I know a lot of fans are excited about the 69 Eyes acoustic sets. That will be fun.
Totally. Totally. It’ll be something new.
The CD, Back in Blood, is doing well. How do you think your recording style or artistic style has changed over the years?
It has a lot to do With the producer we’re working with. Of course, everybody is different and everyone has different ways of working when it comes to recording. Matt Hyde was really kicking our asses big time. There’s no way we could perform any better than we actually did on the record and big thanks goes to Matt Hyde. He wasn’t after like, perfect stuff. Computer wise, it’s easy to make perfect records now with all the computers and programs and stuff like that, but he was more into having a performance rocking out. So, in a way you can actually feel the energy and sweat and blood on the record. He got that out of us and we’re totally happy with that. What has changed over the years…we’re still learning. We try to keep evolving.
You’ve done a great job with it.
Thank you, thank you. I’m super happy with the new album.
It’s getting a great reception from people.
From what I’ve read, it’s been just awesome and I’m proud of it.
Any favorites from the album?
The title track on the new album. That’s like, I think it really shows the perfect way we are as a band right now. Lyrics-wise. Song-wise. Energy-wise. The energy it has in that song. I mean, I love that track. As it says int he very beginning, two thousand years I’ve been waiting and that’s where we’re at. We’re back in blood.
What influences you? Have you always had an interest in vampires or how did that come about?
It’s always been there. I grew up watching movies like Lost Boys and those types of rockstars and I wanted to be like them. I wanted to be one of those guys. Jyrki’s a big fan of films by Bela Lugosi and all those classics. Vampires were the rockstars before the rockstars. Maybe that’s why it’s exciting. It’s always been there and we’re the Helsinki Vampires, so we’re not going to forget all about that. That’s who we are.
What are you listening to now?
It depends. I’m a big KISS fan, so I just bought the new KISS CD. I’ll be rocking that out. If you would see my collection you’d be surprised because it’s so diverse. From hip-hop to electro to death metal to reggae. It depends on the mood. If we’re going on stage it has to be something like some kind of kick ass kind of stuff. You know, you have the worst hangover, you’re not going to put on Slipknot. That kind of mood…Stones always.
Do you have any backstage rituals or habits to get pumped up before a show?
Well, Archzie is always the one who actually tapes my in-ear system. I have in ears and wire behind me so I need Archzie to tape my back and he always did it and nobody else all these years and it’s his job. It’s our ritual and has to be him and nobody else. I try to take a piss five times and kick walls a little bit and get the energy going. I’m the guy who’s always nervous and needs to take a piss because you can’t go to the restroom on stage. So, that’s it. It’s funny before the shows because every one of us is wired in ears, and it’s basically me we can’t hear when we’re talking, and if you come in a backstage room and we’re yelling at everyone, we look weird, but that’s what’s going on. A bunch of deaf people yelling.
Good luck with the rest of your tour and thank you for your time!
Thank you. I’m on the New York streets already. I’m going to kill New York City again. I want to tell everybody they still have the chance to see the Helsinki Vamps for the next three weeks. Take care and I’ll see you at Helldone.
Thank you!
Catch the 69 Eyes on their US tour!
69 Eyes Official Site
69 Eyes on Myspace
69 Eyes on Twitter
69 Eyes on YouTube
