Blue Jean mag,

Turkey, 2006.

article about

finnish gothic

rock

The 69 Eyes

images and

article

 on pages 1 & 4.

Ilta Sanomat, 29.11.05.

 section about

The 69 Eyes

New York Post, 17.11.05. (part 1)

New York Post, 17.11.05. (part 2)

Helsingin Sanomat, 17.08.05.

JOHNNY LEE MICHAELS

Also known as the sixth member of the band, Johnny Lee Michaels with his producing skills

shapes the characteristic sound on the 69 albums that enchant us.

As Michaels is also famous as a film music composer, he gave a certain movie touch

to the works like "Blessed Be" from 2000, so the soundscapes in  "Matrix" and "Sleepy Hollow"

style are recognizable, also not forgeting shadows of "The Crow".

On this album he did all the arrangements and handled all keyboards and programming as well,

and similar cooperation continued on their next masterpiece entitled "Paris Kills" from 2002,

on which they began working in October 2001. The album, enriched with keyboard pieces

in 80's style and mature melancholic melodies represents a perfect symbiosis

of what both the band and Michaels have wanted, and Jyrki's vocals

can be decribed as a combination of Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Jim Morrison

(in the song "Forever More", Michaels even describes it as 'too much Cash-like'!)

Fascination with dark movies and the whole notion of "vampire romance"

continues with "Devils", which Michaels produced together with Hiili Hiilesma

(also one of their old friends).
 

LOTTO

Lotto was also a 69 Eye once! He played drums on their first two singles,

and stayed in the band for cca one year. After that, Jussi took over the drumsticks in 1991,

and as "the rest is", as they say, "history".
 

GIA JUPITER

You're wondering where the name 'The 69 Eyes' came from? It was a suggestion from Gia,

a tattoo-artist from New York, a mutual friend of both Jyrki and Bazie,

for whom Jyrki says is the most unbelievable person he ever met in his life.
 

VILLE VALLO

If you have heard of The 69 Eyes before, it's very likely that HIM

have also reached your cd-players. This finnish band is known for 'love metal'

and frontman VIlle, who has a close relationship with his countrymates.

In fact, Jyrki describes it as "brothers by blood"!

In the times where both bands have been growing and pawing a path to the millions of fans

throughout Europe and the rest of the world, their mutual support meant a great deal,

and their friendship goes another step further by recording Valle's vocals for many songs

of The 69 Eyes through the years (f.e. Wasting The Dawn, Lazarus Heart, Beneath The Blue, Betty Blue...)

And not only that, Ville also gives excellent red wine guidance ;)...