WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: THE 69 EYES ON THEIR OBSESSION WITH VAMPIRES

The 69 Eyes have lovingly embraced the horror genre in their goth punk for almost two decades. With new album Back in Blood (The End), however, the group embraces the world of the undead, and specifically vampires, like never before. Frontman Jyrki 69 fills us in on his passion for blood for this, the second part of our 69 Eyes interview.

REVOLVER Your current album, Back in Blood, includes a lot of songs about vampires. How long have you had the idea for a vampire-themed record?
JYRKI 69 It’s always been all about vampires with the 69 Eyes. Ever since our very first recordings, I’ve written about vampires, zombies, and rock-and-roll sleaze. I wouldn’t call myself a vampire “fan” anymore, though. I see myself more like on the other side; I’m creating the mythos. As I wrote the lyrics for a couple of the early demo songs for this album, I noticed that all my ideas were circling around vampires and horror movies. Instead of trying to come up with something else for a change, I thought to continue what I know the best. This is my specialty. So, after a while, we had some 20 songs loosely vampire-themed songs. When our producer Matt Hyde stepped in I asked from him what did he think about this, he was excited and said, “This is great! Did you know that there’s this new movie Twilight out, which promotes you guys already in the U.S.?!” Sounded cool all right, but like I mentioned earlier, it’s been already two decades all about vampires with the 69 Eyes.

What attracts you to horror movies and vampire films in particular?
Vampires are like immortal rock stars for whom all women fall, and it’s lonely as hell. Beautiful strangers. Seemed cool as a teenager. People pointed me out as a vampire wherever I went around the world in the rock clubs. They also asked what band was I in, so I thought of using these assumptions later on.

What are your favorite vampire/horror films?
to bring a little forgotten classic vampire movie back into spotlight. Fright Night is a great ’80s movie with the first cool rock-star-like vampire on the silver screen!

To read part one of our interview, click here. For the opportunity to win a 69 Eyes prize pack, click here.

Photo by Ville Akseli Juurikkala