Mama Trash Interviews Bazie of The 69 Eyes
Skype Interview 1/26/11
It is always nice to catch up with one of the most genuine guys in the music biz! Lead guitarist, Bazie, of The 69 Eyes, brought me up to date on what is going on in the world of our favorite Helsinki Vampires! I was also able to ask him some questions from the fans. I was sure to pass along comments to him from fans around the world that acoustic sets are wanted! He said, "They could show up in the future, you never know!" ~ mt
mt: We know the Dark Decadence Tour is coming up. So that sounds really cool. How about 2011 studio plans? Do you have any set plans yet?
Bazie: Not exact plans, but we are now writing new songs and music, so the plan is to go in the studio in September. The album is not coming this year, I know that. We are planning after the European tour to play festivals in the summer, then do a tour in Russia or Ukraine or something, but then September we will concentrate on recording. No touring or shows at that time.
mt: Any idea if you will be in the studio in the US?
Bazie: Not sure yet, will know better later who is producing and where we will record.
mt: Any plans on touring in the US and Canada? Quite a few fans have asked that question and I am sure you will be touring extensively once the CD is released.
Bazie: Yea, of course, then we come, but at this moment we don't have any offers to tour. Once we have the album, we ask the promoters to set up the tour, but now there is nothing to promote. When the new music comes out, of course we will come there. Right now we are taking a little time off and making new music. Basically it is me and Jyrki doing that.
mt: The Dark Decadence Tour should be a fun tour. Great line up.
Bazie: Yea, we know Crashdiet, so that is great. We met them in San Paulo and had a great time with the guys.
mt: I am really excited for you guys. Of course, I will miss you while I am in Helsinki, but it is great to see you tour.
Bazie: We are always not here when you have Trash Fest.
mt: I will see you again soon. Maybe I can come for the CD Release Party.
Bazie: Yea, of course.
mt: Here is a fan question from Liesl. What is your favorite American city and why?
Bazie: *Big sigh* It is a difficult answer, I guess New York. It just came to mind first, maybe because I was living there for a while. I also like LA, San Francisco, Chicago...
mt: So you like the vibe of the big city?
Bazie: Yea.
mt: A fan question from Lauren. When in a new city do you try local food or try to experience the local culture?
Bazie: Yea. I like places that are more like European cities. The typical cities...New Orleans, too. Downtown with offices, you know.
mt: What three things can you not live without?
Bazie: That is a tough one. To put it that way they are not such things, it is more like to be healthy and happy and whatever is included there.
mt: That is a good answer.
Bazie: Yea, you know to just be...
mt: Healthy and happy!
Bazie: There is nothing material...
mt: That is a good answer, people typically say their computer or phone. If you think about it. Who really gives a crap about that stuff?
Bazie: Think about it. There was a time when there wasn't email or VCR players. You didn't even have videos.
mt: Yea and we are so technical now. The end of the year I decided that I would prefer to get on the phone for five minutes with someone than to send an email. It is just so impersonal now. I am trying to do that more this year. Let people know how I feel.
Bazie: Yea, that is a good way. I am trying to see people, see my friends now that I have time.
mt: Yea, it is important especially as we get older and you tour a lot.
Bazie: It is good to get out. It is really hard sometimes, nothing is so important. It is good to get out and meet with friends rather than be locked in with the machines.
mt: A fan question from Zsanett. What do you usually do during the week when you are not in the studio or on tour?
Bazie: Actually I am actually working all the time. I work on new music, or business stuff or merchandise, but other than that...I don't have any hobbies. When it is warm, I go outside and have a walk in the forest. *laughs*
mt: That is good! *laughs*
Bazie: You know sometimes that is the best thing. To go and be outside. Especially in the summertime, with the bicycle.
mt: You live in a beautiful country, so it's nice.
Bazie: Yea, so that is the one thing I try to be outside as much as possible, but it's not so easy in the winter time. Meeting friends when you have time, but all the band stuff...that is why when I have holidays I go somewhere else. Not stay at home, just go somewhere. Now I didn't have the chance to go, but every year, I try to go away. You need that. It is really hard when you have access to what you have to work on when you are home.
mt: Yea, it is hard to disconnect when you are at home. Here is another fan question from Jadis. What is the weirdest thing a fan has done to get your attention?
Bazie: There hasn't been any weird ones for a long time, but there has been. I dunno. Some shows, some girls got naked, but is that weird? They just got naked in the audience.
mt: Yea, that is weird! *laughs*
Bazie: I thought "what the fuck is happening?" *laughs*
mt: No shit. *laughs*
Bazie: It is weird, that doesn't happen every show. It was unusual.
mt: Of course a lot of people want to know if you are going to tour in South America and Australia. Will you tour anywhere that you have the ability/funding to go?
Bazie: Yea, we did go to South America, so we have to wait to go there. There is a lot do with promoters and I think they were happy, so we will go there again. To Australia, that is one of the things that were in plans to go in December 2011, but a sad thing happened and we didn't go. I don't know what really happened, but we really wanted to go. It is really expensive to go there, so we need to play at least seven shows in Australia.
mt: It is good that you are wanted everywhere, it is just a matter of making it happen and having the funding. People don't always realize that.
Bazie: Yea, with Australia, it is best to play Japan at the same time.
mt: Believe it or not, there are people coming to Trash Fest from Australia. I can't believe it!
Bazie: Yea? That is so far away. Have you been to Australia?
mt: No, I have not.
Bazie: I didn't realize, but they are so far away. You don't realize until you go there. From Bangkok it is still eleven hours!
mt: Wow, that is crazy. One of my new bands is from Australia and the singer is coming to perform with the ALl Stars at Trash Fest.
Bazie: What is the band called?
mt: Sunset Riot, I will send you the link. They are really good. They are coming to the US this year so we are going to do a Trash Fest US.
Bazie: Yea?
mt: Another fan question from Melody. What is your favorite part of touring in America?
Bazie: Favorite part...favorite cities. I think it is the East
and West coasts. Touring the US is the best that way. It is more like being in a
space shuttle because you are in the bus. I like it that way. Canada is also
good, so that would be nice to go there again, but best area would be East
coast.
mt: Now I have a question. You go all over the world. Is
there really a big difference between fans? Like US vs. Europe? Is there
a different vibe?
Bazie: Yea, even different
parts of Europe and the US. NY, Chicago and where you live, but when you go
to Texas it is different. It is different in Europe too. It is more like...
Germany, Austria, Finland, Norway, they are the same. England is different,
the clubs are so old and it varies so much. Same with the US, some venues
are really good and some are crap.
mt: How about fan wise? Where do you think you have the
most passionate fans? Is there one area that you have an overwhelming
sense of passion for the band?
Bazie: Last time
we were in South America that was really crazy. I would say Mexico is the
wildest crowd. When we played there last year it was the most excited crowd.
So in that sense, I would say Mexico, but it is different in South America
in general. Like in US, I can't really say. There is a difference in
different states in the US and even in Europe. English fans are different
than German fans. German fans are more mature than Swedish fans or Finnish
fans. English fans are a bit different, I don't know for good or bad, they
are just different. Same with Italy and Spain. It is a different culture and
people are different. Society is different, like in Italy or Spain, people
are more open to expressing themselves.
mt: Yea, I was going to say, I am Italian, so I am open
and huggy/kissy and excited, but some people are more reserved.
Bazie: Yea. That is the thing. It is more like the nationality in general.
Definitely it is different, that is why actually it is good to play Europe.
Now we are going to tour many countries. In the US it is different when you
tour there, it is a different vibe. A different scenery too, that is the
best way I can put it.
mt: I think it is wonderful that you guys have been
together for 20 years and you are still rockin' and still have new fans
every day. I think it is great. Come April, I have known you guys for
six years. It is has gone by fast, hasn't it?
Bazie: Yea, it has gone fast.
mt: I am just really proud of you guys as a friend and a fan. Just keep it
up!
Bazie: Thanks, we will.