The 69 Eyes is Finland’s longest-running rock band. Although the band members have grown together from boys to men, the matters of their private lives have remained pretty much everyone’s private information.
It’s 1989. The night before Sunday in November has caused the public to wander to the Bat Cave in Helsinki’s Ruoholahti. That night changed everything in the lives of The 69 Eyes band members, although the change did not happen immediately.
The band’s soloist Jyrk69 or Jyrki Linnankivi recalls the band’s career path together with bassist Arto Ojajärvi, guitarist-singer Pasi Moilanenthe drummer Jussi Vuoren and a guitarist Timo Pitkänen with in the news book about the band The 69 Eyes (Like Cost).
This is what The 69 Eyes’ first concert poster looked like. Pasi Moilanen’s collections
According to Jyrki, making the book was a therapeutic process. Packing a 34-year career between the covers has required a lot of thought.
– The reason why this band is still standing is certainly discipline. We have been able to see and experience everything, but our approach has always been disciplined. The first success didn’t come until we were closer to thirty years old, so we didn’t get on the bike either, Jyrki reflects to Iltalehte.
The book also discusses how Jyrki and Jussi are always mixed up. Jyrki tells Iltalehti that mixing is mostly fun. Petteri Laakso
Each member of the band has always been equally motivated to work for the fact that they step on stage as the best rock band. In the early years, the band members hung out a lot in their free time, went to see concerts and enjoyed the nightlife. Jyrki clarifies that yes, they sometimes go to see gigs even today.
– In the beginning, it was important to be visible in Helsinki’s rock nightlife, that we have a band and that we always show up. In the end, representation was left because it was part of a certain alley-oop phase. Now there are other things that are interesting, that is, we are interested in being the best every single night when we perform. It is also important that each of us takes care of being the best ourselves, Jyrki opens.
No family matters
Of The 69 Eyes, only Jyrki69 and Jussi69 have performed more in public, while the others have stuck to just playing.
The book shows, among other things, that the members have also worked day jobs and started families in addition to the band. For example, Juss and Timo have children.
The 69 Eyes got a new boost in their career with the Vain läämä program. JARNO JUTI
Families are something that Jyrki doesn’t have much to say about either.
– We have kept our private lives out not only from the public but also from our band and each other. When we are together, we do band stuff, but each of us has our own private life, Jyrki reveals.
– For example, we don’t gather at someone’s home to celebrate birthdays. We keep our private lives separate from the band. We haven’t talked about it or agreed, it just happened by itself, he continues.
The 69 Eyes has performed a significant number of gigs both in Finland and abroad. Ville Juurikkala
While some other bands and bands might take their spouses and kids on tour, The 69 Eyes would never do that.
– We are not one family. The five of us are a rock band and a gang, but we are not one big family outside of the band. It sounds really boring, but it guarantees that we can focus fully on the thing we are doing between us, Jyrki opens.
Jyrki also states that he doesn’t even know much about his bandmates’ private lives, relationship patterns or children. They are also not talked about on gig trips, although sympathy for a friend can be found during possible unpleasant situations. Jyrki laughs and admits that he is not even really interested in other people’s private affairs.
– I know when we have a gig and when we go there, that interests me, he laughs.
Age differences
The band members were born between 1962 and 1972. Jyrki says that he noticed the age difference, for example, after the party nights after the gigs. Twenty years ago, he wondered why a bandmate a few years older was “very tired” in the morning. A few years later, Jyrki himself felt the same kind of powerlessness.
– We have always had great respect for each other and we have talked about it. Thanks to the book, we have also been able to do a self-analysis of how we look to outsiders. For example, many have said that we are polite and considerate towards each other, even though we don’t notice it ourselves.
The 69 Eyes has been operating in Finland for five decades. Harri Hinkka
The book also covers the births, childhoods and ending up in the Helsinki rock circles of each member of The 69 Eyes with exceptional precision.
The band members, who met at the turn of the 90s, would never use the term “guys” about themselves.
– We have never been such a group of idiots. We are members of a rock band from different starting points. We are not a sauna club that sits on the decks and talks about family or women’s issues. We play rock ‘n’ roll on stage with sunglasses on and cheer up.
– Thanks to the book, I have realized that we are a different regiment than many others, even though we are at the top in terms of combat readiness, Jyrki sums up.