Interview With Jyrki 69 of The 69 Eyes

June 17, 2026 — Recently we chatted with frontman Jyrki 69 of The 69 Eyes about their recent studio EP and other topics.. You can read what Jyrki said to us below. The 69 eyes latest EP, "I SURVIVE" is now available at all the usual outlets. The album can be ordered online HERE. The album can be streamed HERE.

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Need406: The 69 Eyes latest EP “I Survive” was released on June 5, 2026 how did the band decide on this release date?

Jyrki: That was decided by our label BLKIIBLK. It is out on CD and vinyl as well.

Need406: How many songs did the band have going into the studio and how long did it take the band to decide the four songs that landed on I Survive?

Jyrki: We recorded "I Survive" and "Cold Sweat" in Helsinki last summer and Barry Pointer mixed them in Los Angeles and Howie Weinberg mastered them in Los Angeles later on. Two other songs on the EP are old recordings from 2009 from our "Back In Blood" sessions with Matt Hyde. The label wanted to release an EP and we needed a studio break from non-stop touring. Since we happened to have some left-over material, it felt like a good time put them out as well.

Need406: Are there any songs that didn’t end up in “I Survive” that may end up on future The 69 Eyes album?

Jyrki: Fans love "I Survive" and it is a very strong track live, so it should have an extended life to included on the album as well. Time will tell.

Need406: What was the process involved in picking which songs Steve Stevens and Ed Mundell would appear on ‘I Survive’?

Jyrki: Steve Stevens collab is something like 3-4 years old, finally we got it out. It was the most exciting to have a chance to make music with such a legend. We are HUGE Steve Stevens fans. In 2009, Matt Hyde, who produced our album "Back In Blood" was also known of his production of the classic Monster Magnet albums which we loved. Matt invited Ed to play on the track, that was another highlight for us. Gladly the track finally came out, now some 17 years later!

Need406: A music video was made for the song “I Survive” how long did it take to plan out and produce this video?

Jyrki: That is shot in Mexico City during our show there. We walked around the center, played a soundcheck and then a show. It was filmed and directed by an LA-based music video legend Vicente Cordero. It shows our band how we are on stage these days. The same idea is on our video for "Cold Sweat", that was filmed on our European tour, again by Vicente Cordero.

Need406: Can we get your take on what ‘I Survive’ and ‘Devil’’s Rose’ are about?

Jyrki: "I Survive"'s music is written by Steve Stevens and he sent me his instrumental demo first. As I heard and felt like it should be an anthem. The lyrics are a very simple poetry by being on the road, looking for somebody to share it and eventually surviving through a faith on it. It's a rocker, it's a road vampire. With a heart and a faith.

Jyrki: "Devil's Rose" lyrics were written with producer Matt Hyde for the TV series "Sons Of Anarchy". He had delivered a lot of music for that show and thought that our songs would fit as well. That was the best tv show then, still incredible. "Devil's Rose" is a life story of the main character Gemma Teller, mother of Jaxx, who just grew more powerful character in the series at that time. It is cool to release that song now, since it didn't make it to the show. I would love to see a fan making a video for it with SOA clips!

Need406: Can we also get your take what ‘Cold Sweat’ and ‘In The Misery” are about?

Jyrki: "Cold Sweat" is a Thin Lizzy cover. We actually recorded a demo of it like some 17 years ago, never pushed it more further, so now it was cool to finally really record it. "In The Misery" is written by Johnny Andrews, a Nashville songwriter known from his songs to Halestorm and Three Days Grace. We co-wrote some tracks with him for "Back In Blood" in 2009.

Need406: The ‘I Survive’ EP was released on vinyl and CD. Do you feel The 69 Eyes will continue this on future releases and could we see the band go back to the practice of also releasing albums on cassette again?

Jyrki: I think the cassettes are back as well. Nostalgia always matters in entertainment.

Need406: The last time The 69 Eyes released an EP (Drive) the band followed that EP up with a full length album (Death of Darkness) the following year. Will The 69 Eyes be following up I Survive EP with a full length album in 2026?

Jyrki: Yes, but in 2027 or even 2028. We will release a complete different album before. We have been recording an acoustic album now.

Need406: Creatively speaking do you find it more difficult or easier to plan out and create an EP as opposed to planning and creating a full-length album?

Jyrki: Basically this was like a summer present for our fans. A reminder that we are a recording band, not only relying on our old material.

Need406: Will The 69 Eyes be touring in support of ‘I Survive’ here in the United States during 2026?

Jyrki: We will return with our brand new sonic album next year!

Need406: If so do you see The 69 Eyes playing any shows in New England?

Jyrki: Let's hope our booking agency sees this!

Need406: For over 30 years, The 69 Eyes have had the same five band members making music together. In an era where bands break and/or change musicians every so many years is there a secret sauce, The 69 Eyes has that has kept the band intact and making music together for over 30 years?

Jyrki: We became as friends from bars, more like a rocker gang.

Need406: Why do you think concert festivals are larger and honestly so much better in Europe than here in the United States?

Jyrki: We have a longer tradition here for that but I think the USA has been catching up really fast during the last ten years!

Need406: Ever since the pandemic we’ve seen situations in the music industry where some bands just release a new single every couple or so months then release an album after 8 to 12 of those singles have been released. Do you for-see this being the industry standard in the future?

Jyrki: Labels define the business model to serve the current time. What worked five years ago, does not serve the demand these days. Some years ago the release day was always Friday. Not anymore. I'm sure it will be Monday pretty soon!

Need406: There’s no question AI has heavily inundated itself into our everyday world. Do you feel musicians or record labels employing the usage of AI technology to help create music would be a good thing or a bad thing for music industry overall?

Jyrki: I'm a guy from the 60's, our band from the 80's. Our values of art are based on that time. Enjoy them as long as we are still here to bring them to you!

The 69 Eyes formed in Helsinki, Finland in 1989. They have released 13 studio albums, 6 EP’s, 5 compilation albums and 1 live album. They have had 13 top ten singles. Their most recent EP "I Survive: can be ordered online: HERE.

The 69 Eyes are: Jyrki 69 (Vocals), Bazie (Guitar/Vocals), Timo Timo (Guitar), Archzie (Bass/Vocals) and Jussi 69 (Drums).

The 69 Eyes Discography:
Bump 'n' Grind (1992)
High Times, Low Life (1992 EP)
Music for Tattooed Ladies & Motorcycle Mamas Vol. 1 (1993 EP)
Never Too Loud! (1994)
Motor city Resurrection (1995 Compilation)
Savage Garden (1995)
Velvet Touch (1995 EP)
Supershow [Split With Backyard Babies 1996 EP)
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (1997)
Wasting the Dawn (1999)
Blessed Be (2000)
Drive (2002 EP)
Paris Kills (2002)
Framed in Blood – The Very Blessed Of (2003 Compilation)
Devils (2004)
Angels (2007)
Angels/Devils (2007 Compilation)
Goth N' Roll (2008 Compilation)
The 69 Eyes: Hollywood Kills Live at the Whiskey a Go Go (2008 Live Album)
Back in Blood (2009)
X (2012)
The Best of Helsinki Vampires (2013 Compilation)
Universal Monsters (2016)
West End (2019)
Death of Darkness (2023)
I Survive (2026 EP)