The 69 Eyes

Formed in Helsinki in 1989, The 69 Eyes initially rooted themselves in a glam metal and sleaze rock vein marked by Finnish hard rock, before evolving their identity toward a darker crossover between gothic rock, rock’n’roll and melancholic melodies. The band, led by singer Jyrki 69 alongside Bazie, Timo-Timo, Archzie and Jussi 69, has kept a stable lineup since the early 1990s, an important element in the continuity of their sound. After the early records Bump ’n’ Grind (1992), Savage Garden (1995) and Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (1997), The 69 Eyes began a more gothic turn with Wasting the Dawn (1999), then affirmed this aesthetic on Blessed Be (2000), Paris Kills (2002), Devils (2004) and Angels (2007). Their style, often summarized by the expression goth’n’roll, combines direct guitars, grave vocals, well-constructed choruses and imagery borrowing as much from cinema as from black romance. Over the years, The 69 Eyes have toured European rock and gothic stages, while developing a regular presence in North America. The rest of their journey includes Back in Blood (2009), X (2012), Universal Monsters (2016), West End (2019) and Death of Darkness (2023), which prolong this blend of nocturnal hard rock and accessible goth rock.