The 69 Eyes are a multi-platinum selling
Finnish gothic rockGothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
band. They are currently signed to
EMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Finland. The band's albums are now distributed worldwide. The End Records acts as the band's official North American distributor, as Nuclear Blast Records provides distribution in Mainland Europe, Ireland and the UK. Australia will be handled by AmpHead Music. All Asian and Latin American releases are handled by
EMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
affiliates.
Music style
Initially, the 69 Eyes' music style was of
glam metalGlam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
and
hard rockHard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
, influenced by acts such as
Mötley CrüeMötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
and
Hanoi RocksHanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
. However, they began to incorporate more influence from
gothic rockGothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
bands such as The Mission and
The Sisters of MercyThe Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
. Their sound was described as a mix of the gloominess of
gothic rockGothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
with guitar-powered rock'n'roll. Their music continued to show further influence from other rock artists such as
The DoorsThe Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
,
Elvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, and
Billy IdolWilliam Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
as well as vampire films and literature. The term "goth 'n roll" is used by fans to describe their style.
In recent times, with the release of
Back in BloodBack in Blood is the tenth studio album from Finnish goth rock band The 69 Eyes and their first to be released via Nuclear Blast in Europe and The End Records in North America. The album was recorded in both Helsinki and Los Angeles and produced by Matt Hyde. The cover art was designed by Estevan...
the 69 Eyes have moved back to a more guitar based sound, although gothic imagery and lyrical themes remain forefront in their style.
Band history
Formed in the bars of
HelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
,
FinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in the summer of 1989 by Jyrki 69, Archzie (formerly of Syyskuu), Timo-Timo, Lotto and Bazie; The 69 Eyes originally had a
glam metalGlam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
sound and were compared to other Finnish Sleaze Metal acts such as Smack and Hanoi Rocks.
The band's lineup has stayed the same since 1992 when drummer Jussi 69 replaced original drummer Lotto whom had played on the band's first two 7 inch vinyl singles.
1989–1999
The band released their first 7 inch EP, "Sugarman", in 1990, followed by another 7 inch, "Barbarella" in 1991. These are the only two releases that do not feature Jussi. These releases paved the way for the bands first album
Bump 'n' GrindBump 'n' Grind is the debut album by the glam metal band The 69 Eyes, released in 1992 on Gaga Goodies / Poko Rekords. Recently Re-Released on Cleopatra Records for distribution within the US.-Track listing:# "Voodoo Queen" - 2:29# "Juicy Lucy" - 3:34...
released in 1992 which contained some re-recorded versions of songs from the first 2 EP. This same year, the band released their final 2 7 inch EP's, titled "Juicy Lucy" and "High Times Low Lives".
The band's second CD "
Motor City ResurrectionMotor City Resurrection is the second album by The 69 Eyes, released in 1994. It's a compilation of the band's early 7" singles and EPs. Recently re-released on Cleopatra Records for distribution within the US. It even features a cover of Gimme Some Head, originally by the cult shock rocker GG...
" was released in 1994 via Japanese Label 1+2 Records. It has since been re-released with 8 bonus tracks worldwide. Though not a full length release, but rather a compilation album (much like Hanoi Rocks'
Self Destruction Blues-Personnel:* Michael Monroe – vocals* Andy McCoy – guitars* Nasty Suicide – guitars* Sam Yaffa – bass* Gyp Casino – drums...
), it collected the majority of the bands early material and contributions to other compilations.
It was followed in 1995 by
Savage GardenSavage Garden was the third studio album by the rock music band, The 69 Eyes in 1995, produced by Gaga Goodies / Poko Rekords. It also feature Andy McCoy from Hanoi Rocks on "Wild Talk".- Track listing :# "1-800-SLEAZORAMA" - 0:49# "Tang" - 3:27...
which featured Hanoi Rocks guitarist Andy McCoy on the track "Wild Talk".
Also released during this time were 2 VHS tapes "Motor City Resurrection" and "Savage Tales" available only through the band's self-run fan club (the aptly titled "Get Down to 69") which are seen rarely, if ever for sale online.
1997 saw the release of
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams, which fans generally mark as the last 69 Eyes "glam-era" album. The title track of this album was re-recorded for the Angels album 10 years later.
The goth rock infused
Wasting the DawnWasting The Dawn is the fifth studio album by The 69 Eyes, released in 1999, produced by Gaga Goodies / Poko Rekords.It was released internationally on Roadrunner Records....
was released in 1999 and was considered a milestone success for the band. The CD was released internationally on Roadrunner Records and marked the band's major label debut. The album's hit single, the title track
Wasting the Dawn lyrically paid tribute to
The DoorsThe Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
'
Jim MorrisonJames Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
and was released as a digipack CD single. Jyrki 69 developed a concept video for this track which featured long-time friend and collaborator HIM member
Ville ValoVille Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer, songwriter and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM. He has received the "Golden God" award in 2004 by the heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer. Valo has a baritone vocal range. Valo was ranked number 80 in Hit Paraders Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time...
posing at a snowy cemetery as the ghost of Jim Morrison. This video was released on DVD in Finland with a bonus behind the scenes feature and marked first ever music DVD released in the country.
Both the video and feature were later added as extras on 2003's Helsinki Vampires DVD.
2000–2002
In early 2000, the band began working with producer Johnny Lee Michaels in Helsinki whom would helm the band's next four albums, and contribute to the fifth.
Spring brought the single
Gothic Girl which spent months on the Singles Top 10 and on Finnish nation radio playlists. It became the band's first gold record. This single was a precursor to the sixth album, released in September 2000,
Blessed Be which rose to number 4 on the Finnish Album Charts and stayed in the top 10 for over a month. The album spawned four singles, the aforementioned
Gothic Girl,
Brandon Lee,
The Chair and
Stolen Season. Videos were filmed for the first 3 singles. After the release of
Blessed BeBlessed Be is the sixth studio album released in 2000 by the band The 69 Eyes. It was produced by Gaga Goodies/Poko Rekords.This album is more gothic rock influenced, leaving behind the "sleazy" lyrics seen in their earlier works...
, the band did their first short tour in Germany which included a show at the
M'era Luna FestivalThe M'era Luna is a festival of goth, metal and industrial music. It is held annually on the second weekend of every August, in Hildesheim, Germanyat Flugplatz Hildesheim-Drispenstedt, a former British Army airbase....
. Support for the tour was Norwegian rock band
ZeromancerZeromancer is a Norwegian industrial rock band formed in 1999 by members of the band Seigmen. The current lineup is Alex Møklebust , Kim Ljung , Noralf Ronthi Lorry Kristiansen and Dan Heide...
.
In 2002 the band released
Paris KillsParis Kills is the seventh studio album by The 69 Eyes. It was released in 2002 on Gaga Goodies / Poko Rekords, and re-released in 2007 on Cleopatra records. The first single from this album was Dance d'Amour.-Track listing:# "Crashing High" - 3:54...
, which would be known as their breakthrough album. It stayed for weeks as number 1 in Finland and went gold in a month of its release. It has since gone platinum. In Germany it rose to number 35 in the first week. After touring Europe and Finland for months, a sold-out show at Helsinki's famous
Tavastia ClubThe Tavastia Club is a popular rock music club in Helsinki, Finland. The house is owned by Hämäläis-Osakunta, one of the student nations at the University of Helsinki, but since 1991 the club has been operated by a private enterprise renting the house from the nation. It is located in central...
was filmed and documented in November 2002 for use in the "Helsinki Vampires"
DVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
.
2003–2007
At the end of 2003, The 69 Eyes signed to
EMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Finland as they geared up to record
Devils. The "Lost Boys" single was released in Finland at this time, paying homage to the film of the same name as anticipation for the full length album grew.
2004 saw the release of
Devils, their 8th album, to which they toured the UK in support of Wednesday 13. Once again the album was a success in their native Finland. It became the band's 4th album to reach gold status and the second to reach number one position on the Finnish TOP 40 album charts. It was Released in Finland in October 2004 and in October 2005 in USA through 456 Entertainment.
In 2005 The 69 Eyes played nearly one hundred shows around the world in fifteen countries, from Mexico to Japan.
Devils was also released in the USA with an alternate cover from the international release. The band filmed their video "Lost Boys" in Hollywood and the Philadelphia area, directed by
MTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
star
Bam MargeraBrandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
.
In March 2006, The 69 Eyes briefly toured the USA for the first time with Program The Dead &
DamoneNot to be confused with singer Vic Damone.Damone is an American rock band with distinct elements from power pop in their sound. The band originated in Waltham, a city located just west of Boston, Massachusetts, and comprises Noelle , Mike Woods , Vazquez and Dustin Hengst .-In popular culture:The...
, performing live on
Last Call with Carson DalyLast Call with Carson Daly is an American late night talk show that is broadcast on NBC. The show is hosted by Carson Daly, the half-hour show featuring celebrity interviews, documentary-style coverage of a topic, and musical performances. Last Call airs weeknights at 1:35 a.m. Eastern / 12:35 a.m....
.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0785491/ This marked the band's first ever US television appearance.
AngelsAngels is the name of the ninth album by gothic rock band The 69 Eyes. It is the sequel to The 69 Eyes's last album Devils. The first single from the album is called "Perfect Skin", and a video was released in 2006. Also, another single, titled "Never Say Die", was released and a video was also...
, the sequel to the 2004 album Devils, was released in Europe in March 2007. It debuted at number 1 in Finland and has since gone gold. Shortly after their tour with
Cradle of FilthCradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
&
3 Inches Of Blood3 Inches of Blood is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in 2000 in Vancouver, British Columbia, currently consisting of Cam Pipes, Justin Hagberg, Shane Clark, and Ash Pearson...
.
Angels was released on the 25th of June 2007 in the UK. The first single from the album was "Perfect skin" which went straight to number 1 on the Finnish singles chart. The second single was "Never Say Die". Videos were filmed for both singles and received international airplay.
The band did a summer 2007 US tour with Wednesday 13, Night Kills The Day, &
Fair To MidlandFair to Midland is an American progressive metal band that formed in 1998 and is based in Dallas, Texas. They are currently signed to E1 Music. According to the band's official website, their name comes from "...an old Texan play on the term 'fair to middling'." The band produced two self-released...
, and supported
Within TemptationWithin Temptation is a Dutch symphonic gothic metal/rock band founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. Their music is described as symphonic metal, although their earlier material, such as Enter, was gothic metal. In an interview, Den Adel said they fell into a...
on tour in the UK in November. They played 125 shows world wide in 2007.
2008–present
In 2008 the band released their first live album, titled
The 69 Eyes: Hollywood KillsThe 69 Eyes: Hollywood Kills - Live at the Whisky a Go Go: is a live album, released by Finnish band The 69 Eyes. It was released January 16, 2008 through Virgin Finland. This is the first live album the band has made...
. It featured a complete live show recorded at the
Whisky a Go GoThe Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
in West Hollywood in March 2006. The performance featured hits spanning the six latest albums an introduction by Bam Margera and a live cover of The Ramones "I Just Wanna Have Something to Do". The concert was also filmed in its entirety. Five tracks from the performance were released on DVD as bonus content on the Angels/Devils box set and the entire concert was released on the "Back in Blood" bonus DVD.
The band began 2009 by touring in Europe as a part of Hellhounds Festival with
TiamatIn Babylonian mythology, Tiamat is a chaos monster, a primordial goddess of the ocean, mating with Abzû to produce younger gods. It is suggested that there are two parts to the Tiamat mythos, the first in which Tiamat is 'creatrix', through a "Sacred marriage" between salt and fresh water,...
and
Ava InferiAva Inferi is a musical group created in Almada, Portugal, by guitarist and songwriter Rune Eriksen .The debut album, Burdens, was released in January 2006....
. In early 2009, The band started initial recording for their tenth studio album with Grammy award winning producer Matt Hyde. The recording process took place in Los Angeles. It was also revealed that Johnny Lee Michaels provided post-production work in Helsinki.
The new album
Back in BloodBack in Blood is the tenth studio album from Finnish goth rock band The 69 Eyes and their first to be released via Nuclear Blast in Europe and The End Records in North America. The album was recorded in both Helsinki and Los Angeles and produced by Matt Hyde. The cover art was designed by Estevan...
was released 28 August in Europe and the 15th of September in the USA. In early June 2009,
Bam MargeraBrandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
directed the music video for the first single from the album, "Dead Girls Are Easy." The video premiered on
playboy.comPlayboy Online is the internet business segment of Playboy Enterprises. It produces some original content that differs from print editions of the publications produced by Playboy Publishing, one of the three business segments of Playboy Enterpises...
on 17 of July 2009. The 69 Eyes also toured Australia for the first time in mid June, playing in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. A tour of the United States followed in October 2009, and Jyrki 69 was featured on both FOX New's "Red Eye" program, and CNN International also. In December 2009, the band debuted their newest video for the song, "Dead & Gone" via Myspace. This new video marked the bands third collaboration with Bam Margera. On August 10 the band revealed a contest for fans to create a video for the next single "Kiss Me Undead". The response was overwhelming, and on September 30 the band posted their 14 favorite videos on their YouTube page.
In April 2010 During an interview with Sean Twisted of Renegaderadio.net,
Rudi ProtrudiRudi Action Protrudi , is an American rock musician, songwriter, record producer, artist and actor best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of the rock and roll band The Fuzztones.RudiProtrudi was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania...
, frontman & founder of
the FuzztonesThe Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi...
, reported he had completed work on new song with The 69 Eyes, although further details were unavailable.
On the official The 69 Eyes webpage they reported a European tour with
Hardcore SuperstarHardcore Superstar is a hard rock band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was formed in 1997 and continue on today. Hardcore Superstar have had several #1 hit singles, and Grammy wins in Sweden.-Bad Sneakers and a Piña Colada:...
and
CrashdïetCRASHDÏET are a glam metal band from Stockholm, Sweden. They have released three albums: 2005's Rest in Sleaze, 2007's The Unattractive Revolution and 2010's Generation Wild.- Early years :...
in March and April 2011. On that same post they announce that they will be heading to the studio later this year.
Discography
- Bump 'n' Grind
Bump 'n' Grind is the debut album by the glam metal band The 69 Eyes, released in 1992 on Gaga Goodies / Poko Rekords. Recently Re-Released on Cleopatra Records for distribution within the US.-Track listing:# "Voodoo Queen" - 2:29# "Juicy Lucy" - 3:34...
(1992)
- Motor City Resurrection
Motor City Resurrection is the second album by The 69 Eyes, released in 1994. It's a compilation of the band's early 7" singles and EPs. Recently re-released on Cleopatra Records for distribution within the US. It even features a cover of Gimme Some Head, originally by the cult shock rocker GG...
(1994)
- Savage Garden
Savage Garden was the third studio album by the rock music band, The 69 Eyes in 1995, produced by Gaga Goodies / Poko Rekords. It also feature Andy McCoy from Hanoi Rocks on "Wild Talk".- Track listing :# "1-800-SLEAZORAMA" - 0:49# "Tang" - 3:27...
(1995)
- Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (1997)
- Wasting the Dawn
Wasting The Dawn is the fifth studio album by The 69 Eyes, released in 1999, produced by Gaga Goodies / Poko Rekords.It was released internationally on Roadrunner Records....
(1999)
- Blessed Be
Blessed Be is the sixth studio album released in 2000 by the band The 69 Eyes. It was produced by Gaga Goodies/Poko Rekords.This album is more gothic rock influenced, leaving behind the "sleazy" lyrics seen in their earlier works...
(2000)
- Paris Kills
Paris Kills is the seventh studio album by The 69 Eyes. It was released in 2002 on Gaga Goodies / Poko Rekords, and re-released in 2007 on Cleopatra records. The first single from this album was Dance d'Amour.-Track listing:# "Crashing High" - 3:54...
(2002)
- Devils (2004)
- Angels
Angels is the name of the ninth album by gothic rock band The 69 Eyes. It is the sequel to The 69 Eyes's last album Devils. The first single from the album is called "Perfect Skin", and a video was released in 2006. Also, another single, titled "Never Say Die", was released and a video was also...
(2007)
- Back in Blood
Back in Blood is the tenth studio album from Finnish goth rock band The 69 Eyes and their first to be released via Nuclear Blast in Europe and The End Records in North America. The album was recorded in both Helsinki and Los Angeles and produced by Matt Hyde. The cover art was designed by Estevan...
(2009)