About Angels & gothic rock`n roll
comics
Suiciderock: Your last album "Devils" was released in 2004. I
heard that you are planning to bring out your next album which is supposed to be
called "Angels". Is the title fix already and why "Angels"?
Jyrki 69: Well, it`s very much like my kind of sense of humor. You know we had this album, called "Devils" so of course in my way of thinking the next album had to be called "Angels". I don`t ask anybody I just use my sense of humor or artistic vision. I think it`s very cool to have a pair of records were one is called "Angels" and the other one "Devils". It fits together. Wait till you see the new cover because then you have the two records to compare. They will nearly look identical. I won`t reveal anything yet but it will be cool if you hold the two records in your hands. There will also be a song called "Angels" that helps to built up once own idea about the whole album. You know it`s a little bit about similar things but on the contrary somebody was asking if the new record will be really soft because of it`s title or really rockin and dark. The album is part of the f*** package and I think it will be pretty cool.
Suiciderock: So it`s the typical 69 Eyes Sound? You named some songs like "Perfect Skin" or "A Bullet called Love"...
Jyrki 69: Yeah, well it`s the typical stuff like I already said there is a lot of my very own humor in the songs. On the last albums you can find songs about gothic culture like in "Gothic Girl" or there has been this song which had "Miss Spookiness" and there was a song which had "Christina Death" and now I would say that the new material is about "older gothic culture" so of course there will be songs on the new album treating the same topic but... there is a song called "Frankenhooker". It will be a f*** cool record, we are really happy about it. I never thought that I will say that but it`s gonna be like a party album. You know a party album in my ways cause I don`t party like most of the people do out there.
Suiciderock: When are you planning to release it?
Jyrki 69: I think it comes out in January next year. It was supposed to come out a little bit earlier but we are a littel bit late so... But the first single which will be "Perfect Skin" will come out in about two month.
Suiciderock: So it will be autumn than?
Jyrki 69: Yeah, Yeah, it will be in autumn.
Suiciderock: While talking about angels, did you ever get into a situation were you needed a guardian angel?
Jyrki 69: The first thing about angels that I can remember was the first vist at a church. My mom took me there. That was in the age of two or three years, when you get the first memories and she told me that you can find angels in the church. I was like "wow there will be flying people" and stuff like that. I thought that this will be cool. So we went there, you know the big white church in the centre of Helsinki, it was a sunday morning and I found this two golden angels on both sides of the altar. That had been the angels she was talking about and I was like "Oh thoose are like statues..." and I asked here were the real angels would be cause I was expecting cool flying people. But when it comes to the record angles are ment more as... there are so many definitions as also with the word "Devils". For example women can be angels or fallen angels whatever so you can interprete the title in so many ways but the song "Angels" has it`s ownn story. I guess you know the movie "Black Hawk Down"? "Angels" is a little bit inspired by that film.
Suiciderock: When did you start to record the album?
Jyrki 69: We are recording it soon. I even don?t have finnished all the lyrics and all the music. We will record the album next month. The "real music" isn`t ready yet. After we come home we will suffer from a hang-over for one day and then we will start to work on the record.
Suiciderock: Why Johnny Lee Michales and Hiili again?
Jyrki 69: Well, why not. It proved to be a nice solution to work with them. Of course we had other options like for example to take an American producer. In my opinion "Devils" is the best record we`ve ever done, it opened up the doors to so many new places forus. So it was near to use the same form for the production of the album but the album will be about a million time better. When you have both producers you can always figgure out what to take. "Angles" will be an album our fans can wait for.
Suiciderock: As you progress in your career does it become easier for you?
Jyrki 69: It is still exciting e.g. playing this show today or yesterday...
Suiciderock: In Geiselwind?
Jyrki 69: Yeah, there were only 400 people watching the shows. It`s exciting out of the reason that it`s been a year that we played in Germany and so we were a little bit worried that people won`t remember us. It goes step by step and we become more and more known. Now we have a lot of people who really wait for our new record. It`s not like the album hits the stores and you pass by one of the numerous recordstores out there and you say "Oh what a nice cover" but you don`t know the band. We are well-known by now and it`s exciting to meet all the exptectations of this people. The album will be exactly what people want it to be. THat makes me happy. I can`t explain what it`s gonna be like. When I called Johnny Lee Michaels he said that we should go back to the times of "Blessed Be" but now it`s 2006 and not 1999 anymore.
Suiciderock: What are the elements that you deem necessary in order to make a great song?
Jyrki 69: Well, I think it differs. You sometimes need sick ideas, sometimes it is sensibility or agression and suddenly you have totaly different lyrics than anyone else writes. It`s just my vision and my way of thinking. You can`t compare it to the other Finnish bands. I won`t sing about "I miss you" or about "Red Roses" or things like that. It is more like Frankenhooker. But of course it`s different and some times the people don`t understand my sense of humor...
Suiciderock: You made it to the US. I guess it was the first time for you to tour in America. What was it like for you to perform in the Staates?
Jyrki 69: Yeah, it was our first time in the US. We were waiting for our lifes to play there. We are so interested in the rock music szene of America. When we built up a band we were like "Oh yeah we will play in New York City and L.A." and finaly we made it to perform there. It was cool.
Suiciderock: Is there a main difference between the German or European Audience and the American audience?
Jyrki 69: Ahm... The only difference between them is that the US audience as well as the English audience understand the idea of the songs immediately. For instance when we released the song "Lost Boys" and the video it was like a tribute to the movie. Everybody knew about it and in our clip we have the same szenes. Our recordcompany here was like "Why are you hanging down from a bridge" or "Why are you driving on motorbikes"... but in the US they think that this is a classic movie and it is great that we made a song and a clip about it. It`s nice to get the message straight to the audience. There is nothing so special, same people almost everywhere. Seriously I was a bit pissed off that the people here in Germany didn`t get the idea of "Lost Boys" but well... I don`t care...
Suiciderock: Any plans for another US tour?
Jyrki 69: Oh yeah, I think we will do one more before the new record comes out. A really quick one though. But then we will first tour here after the release and than we will see what happens to the rest of the world and Finland. I mean our German fans deserve it. I hope there are still one or two left out there. * laughs *.
Suiciderock: Would you say that the fact that Bam Margera puts a great effort in the promotion of almost every Finnish band helped you to get your feets on the American market= How important would you say was his influence?
Jyrki 69: Of course it is obvious that he opens up the doors but on the other hand he is just like kind of a pioneer who discovers the places first and then the rest follows him. He brings good stuff to the people over there and he defenatly has an excillent taste.
Suiciderock: You will release a comic book. Can you tell us what the comic is about, something about it`s caracters and the story behind the whole thing? and how did you come up with the idea to make a comic? Are you very much into stuff like that?
Jyrki 69: There are so many things. Especially after "Devils" came out and I had become a single I have so much time in my life now to do what I want. When I was in the Highschool I was a real nert. I loved reading comic books and I was always drawing. Lot`s of stuff from the 80`s. The comic book is like a summary of all this 80`s stuff. A best Of if you want. Everything was drawn like years ago but when you see it you will be surprised. The caracters look like our band, like all the people who are walking around on this festival `cause it is very 80`s like. I`m really happy to have it finally out soon. It`s gonna be lot`s of fun. I probably will draw a couple of new pages for the book. I was so much ahead of my time like I always am and I wanted to have it released since a long time but I improved it. The result is just funny. Gothic, rock`n roll comics. You will be so amazed when you see it.
Suiciderock: Your last words for Suiciderock.com?
Jyrki 69: Readers or Video people?
Suiciderock: Readers...
Jyrki 69: Don`t forget to read. * everybody was laughing * Read books and try to figgure out good comics. Kiss me when I`m around.
Jyrki 69: Well, it`s very much like my kind of sense of humor. You know we had this album, called "Devils" so of course in my way of thinking the next album had to be called "Angels". I don`t ask anybody I just use my sense of humor or artistic vision. I think it`s very cool to have a pair of records were one is called "Angels" and the other one "Devils". It fits together. Wait till you see the new cover because then you have the two records to compare. They will nearly look identical. I won`t reveal anything yet but it will be cool if you hold the two records in your hands. There will also be a song called "Angels" that helps to built up once own idea about the whole album. You know it`s a little bit about similar things but on the contrary somebody was asking if the new record will be really soft because of it`s title or really rockin and dark. The album is part of the f*** package and I think it will be pretty cool.
Suiciderock: So it`s the typical 69 Eyes Sound? You named some songs like "Perfect Skin" or "A Bullet called Love"...
Jyrki 69: Yeah, well it`s the typical stuff like I already said there is a lot of my very own humor in the songs. On the last albums you can find songs about gothic culture like in "Gothic Girl" or there has been this song which had "Miss Spookiness" and there was a song which had "Christina Death" and now I would say that the new material is about "older gothic culture" so of course there will be songs on the new album treating the same topic but... there is a song called "Frankenhooker". It will be a f*** cool record, we are really happy about it. I never thought that I will say that but it`s gonna be like a party album. You know a party album in my ways cause I don`t party like most of the people do out there.
Suiciderock: When are you planning to release it?
Jyrki 69: I think it comes out in January next year. It was supposed to come out a little bit earlier but we are a littel bit late so... But the first single which will be "Perfect Skin" will come out in about two month.
Suiciderock: So it will be autumn than?
Jyrki 69: Yeah, Yeah, it will be in autumn.
Suiciderock: While talking about angels, did you ever get into a situation were you needed a guardian angel?
Jyrki 69: The first thing about angels that I can remember was the first vist at a church. My mom took me there. That was in the age of two or three years, when you get the first memories and she told me that you can find angels in the church. I was like "wow there will be flying people" and stuff like that. I thought that this will be cool. So we went there, you know the big white church in the centre of Helsinki, it was a sunday morning and I found this two golden angels on both sides of the altar. That had been the angels she was talking about and I was like "Oh thoose are like statues..." and I asked here were the real angels would be cause I was expecting cool flying people. But when it comes to the record angles are ment more as... there are so many definitions as also with the word "Devils". For example women can be angels or fallen angels whatever so you can interprete the title in so many ways but the song "Angels" has it`s ownn story. I guess you know the movie "Black Hawk Down"? "Angels" is a little bit inspired by that film.
Suiciderock: When did you start to record the album?
Jyrki 69: We are recording it soon. I even don?t have finnished all the lyrics and all the music. We will record the album next month. The "real music" isn`t ready yet. After we come home we will suffer from a hang-over for one day and then we will start to work on the record.
Suiciderock: Why Johnny Lee Michales and Hiili again?
Jyrki 69: Well, why not. It proved to be a nice solution to work with them. Of course we had other options like for example to take an American producer. In my opinion "Devils" is the best record we`ve ever done, it opened up the doors to so many new places forus. So it was near to use the same form for the production of the album but the album will be about a million time better. When you have both producers you can always figgure out what to take. "Angles" will be an album our fans can wait for.
Suiciderock: As you progress in your career does it become easier for you?
Jyrki 69: It is still exciting e.g. playing this show today or yesterday...
Suiciderock: In Geiselwind?
Jyrki 69: Yeah, there were only 400 people watching the shows. It`s exciting out of the reason that it`s been a year that we played in Germany and so we were a little bit worried that people won`t remember us. It goes step by step and we become more and more known. Now we have a lot of people who really wait for our new record. It`s not like the album hits the stores and you pass by one of the numerous recordstores out there and you say "Oh what a nice cover" but you don`t know the band. We are well-known by now and it`s exciting to meet all the exptectations of this people. The album will be exactly what people want it to be. THat makes me happy. I can`t explain what it`s gonna be like. When I called Johnny Lee Michaels he said that we should go back to the times of "Blessed Be" but now it`s 2006 and not 1999 anymore.
Suiciderock: What are the elements that you deem necessary in order to make a great song?
Jyrki 69: Well, I think it differs. You sometimes need sick ideas, sometimes it is sensibility or agression and suddenly you have totaly different lyrics than anyone else writes. It`s just my vision and my way of thinking. You can`t compare it to the other Finnish bands. I won`t sing about "I miss you" or about "Red Roses" or things like that. It is more like Frankenhooker. But of course it`s different and some times the people don`t understand my sense of humor...
Suiciderock: You made it to the US. I guess it was the first time for you to tour in America. What was it like for you to perform in the Staates?
Jyrki 69: Yeah, it was our first time in the US. We were waiting for our lifes to play there. We are so interested in the rock music szene of America. When we built up a band we were like "Oh yeah we will play in New York City and L.A." and finaly we made it to perform there. It was cool.
Suiciderock: Is there a main difference between the German or European Audience and the American audience?
Jyrki 69: Ahm... The only difference between them is that the US audience as well as the English audience understand the idea of the songs immediately. For instance when we released the song "Lost Boys" and the video it was like a tribute to the movie. Everybody knew about it and in our clip we have the same szenes. Our recordcompany here was like "Why are you hanging down from a bridge" or "Why are you driving on motorbikes"... but in the US they think that this is a classic movie and it is great that we made a song and a clip about it. It`s nice to get the message straight to the audience. There is nothing so special, same people almost everywhere. Seriously I was a bit pissed off that the people here in Germany didn`t get the idea of "Lost Boys" but well... I don`t care...
Suiciderock: Any plans for another US tour?
Jyrki 69: Oh yeah, I think we will do one more before the new record comes out. A really quick one though. But then we will first tour here after the release and than we will see what happens to the rest of the world and Finland. I mean our German fans deserve it. I hope there are still one or two left out there. * laughs *.
Suiciderock: Would you say that the fact that Bam Margera puts a great effort in the promotion of almost every Finnish band helped you to get your feets on the American market= How important would you say was his influence?
Jyrki 69: Of course it is obvious that he opens up the doors but on the other hand he is just like kind of a pioneer who discovers the places first and then the rest follows him. He brings good stuff to the people over there and he defenatly has an excillent taste.
Suiciderock: You will release a comic book. Can you tell us what the comic is about, something about it`s caracters and the story behind the whole thing? and how did you come up with the idea to make a comic? Are you very much into stuff like that?
Jyrki 69: There are so many things. Especially after "Devils" came out and I had become a single I have so much time in my life now to do what I want. When I was in the Highschool I was a real nert. I loved reading comic books and I was always drawing. Lot`s of stuff from the 80`s. The comic book is like a summary of all this 80`s stuff. A best Of if you want. Everything was drawn like years ago but when you see it you will be surprised. The caracters look like our band, like all the people who are walking around on this festival `cause it is very 80`s like. I`m really happy to have it finally out soon. It`s gonna be lot`s of fun. I probably will draw a couple of new pages for the book. I was so much ahead of my time like I always am and I wanted to have it released since a long time but I improved it. The result is just funny. Gothic, rock`n roll comics. You will be so amazed when you see it.
Suiciderock: Your last words for Suiciderock.com?
Jyrki 69: Readers or Video people?
Suiciderock: Readers...
Jyrki 69: Don`t forget to read. * everybody was laughing * Read books and try to figgure out good comics. Kiss me when I`m around.
You can check out a couple of pictures from this interview in the Gallery!