mt: After 20 years with The 69 Eyes are you content with the level of success you have achieved?

Jussi: In my head we're just getting started, but at the same time I think that in our heads we were super successful in year one already cause we kind of reached the goal which was to play our shit and tour and we never dreamed of having number one hit singles, or MTV or big bunch of money...we wanted to join the exciting rock and roll adventure. So in our heads we were super successful like let's say the first time we went to Stockholm with a van and played for 20 people, no I guess it was like 12 people same thing when we toured the UK in the 90's and Italy. This is it, we are cool. Lucky us it has been getting bigger and more exciting year after year. I totally understand the journalist point of view, meaning the first gold record or whatever, but for us it has been one exciting ride. I hate to use the word career, because that goes to your job. This is what we wanted do and we got to do it so we are happy. Lucky us we have the kind of fans and we've been around for so many years that I don't think it would even matter if nobody buys the new album. Cause there is so much more than the latest than the MTV video hit single, I mean if we kind of fucked this one up, there is still like a huge...

mt: Yea, many years of music.

Jussi: There are so many people with 69 Eyes tattoos supporting us and being there with us so it's not about the number one radio hit. It's about to be one of us.

mt: I have noticed that in the four years that I have been following you guys I have noticed a lot more people with t-shirts and tattoos and I think it is so cool to see the awareness level. I mean you guys were together 16 years before I found out about you so it was great for me. There was so much music, it was exciting. I assume you guys will keep going as long as there are people to hear your music?

Jussi: I am going to keep going until my body says no, but I am in pretty much good shape right now.

mt: Yea, I think so. (laughs)

Jussi: All these years it's funny that there is some country or some journalist or someplace were we are new exciting band. It is funny for us because at the same time, I am doing promotion in Finland right now and lots of people ask me "how can you do this after all these years?" and then I do a phoner to lets say with Texas where they just discovered this new dark rock band from Finland. So we get the best of both sides. It is always great to be a new and exciting band for somebody, but we kind of have this advantage behind us. The fan base and everybody that has been with us. Everybody has a different favorite album. Who likes Blessed Be, who likes the new album, who wants us to record the first album again, still there is so much support. Like I said, I don't think you can fuck this up easily.

mt: No...definitely not.

Jussi: And lucky me, we don't have to worry about that.

mt: You are coming to the US soon. This will be the third tour. Are you more excited now than ever before?

Jussi: Oh yea, I am super excited. Actually I was listening to Dommin when you called. I think the package is going to be so exciting and cool.

mt: Actually The Becoming is one of my bands. They are a great band from TN.

Jussi: I will check them out. I am not sure if I have the album here.

mt: I can send it to you.

Jussi: I am not sure, I am drowning in CD's, I am like "I have five copies of this same one", but I am about to check them out soon, I can't remember any songs now. But still, I know that the package is excellent it is not about like having five totally different bands. We have done that and it has been fun. Like Cradle of Filth, we like the band, but we are not the same kind of stuff. Not it's good...dark rock, but still party. Kind of fun thing to go out to see package.

mt: Yea, I am excited about it. Someone asked me this recently and I didn't know the answer. I don't know if you will remember or not, but at the end of the Lost Boys video are you yelling something?

Jussi: I guess so...oh no man, I am chewing my gum of course and I am doing the stretching things...showing off like look mom I can do this with one hand. (we both laugh)

mt: Can you describe your relationship with each member of the band with one word?

Jussi: With one word? This is pretty tricky since I have been trying to figure this out for 20 years now and now you give me one word?

mt: Yea, one word for each guy. Well Cat from Deathstars just answered this yesterday and called each guy a family member. Mother, Father, Sister, Brother so...

Archzie: A brother, Bazie: a drinking buddy and a brother, Timo-Timo: a drinking buddy and a brother and Jyrki: a brother (he laughs), he is taking it quite easy when it comes to drinking nowadays. So that is my answer. If you want to know the full length complete answer I still need 20 more years.

mt: Yea, 20 more years for that. Ok, how about one word for your relationship with me?

Jussi: Ah...you're...Mama!

mt: Yea I am.

Jussi: That is one word, but like everybody who is listening to this we were just talking about it that Mama Trash is all over the place. I had long long day for press yesterday and many people are talking about Mama Trash. Every country I go, every city I go, everybody comes up to me to say "hi, from Mama Trash!" (raises voice to talk like a girl). It's fun, but I am honored to work with this super star, Mama Trash.

mt: It's funny I have been getting a lot of emails about the US Tour asking me what shows I am going to and I finally had to put a blog out saying I don't tour with The 69 Eyes. I might see you at a few shows, but believe it or not, I don't tour with them.

Jussi: You need to get paid more.

mt: Yea, I know...they think I am going to be hiding under the bus or something. I don't know it is kind of funny.

Jussi: It is going to be The Becoming, Dommin and The 69 Eyes supporting Mama Trash tour. (laughs)

mt: Now that is funny. How about five facts about yourself?

Jussi: Five facts?

mt: Yes...can be simple stuff.

Jussi: I'm small, I'm hot, I'm noisy and I'm messy.

mt: That's four.

Jussi: Was that five?

mt: No that was four. Small, hot, noisy, messy...that's four. (laughs)

Jussi: I'm a drummer, I can count only til four.

mt: Well see you are a drummer that's five. (both laugh)

Jussi: Oh yea, ok...I get lost after four. 1,2,3, 4, what's then? I dunno...Ramones didn't have to know any more than that so I live up to counting four.

mt: If I were an actual vampire and offered you the gift of eternal life would you accept my gift?

Jussi: I have eternal life...Helsinki Vampire. And I am having fights on a regular basis with Edward Cullen because he tries to sneak into my territory.

mt: He does? Ok, oh that is not good. Can you introduce me to Mr. Cullen? (we laugh)

Jussi: Edward Cullen is getting way more press than we are, so that is what I mean about the fighting.

mt: There is an awful lot going on with illegal download lately. I found out yesterday that there were almost 5,000 people waiting to illegally download the new 69 Eyes CD. How do you feel about that in general?

Jussi: That sucks, but that is the way of the world and you kind of have to deal with it. It is up to the record company to take care of that. I am sure that the true fans will want to have the CD rather than just the file on their laptop or I-pod. 

mt: Message for your fans?

Jussi: Thank you for the eternal support, it has been wonderful, but it is only getting started. You guys in the US, we are going to see each other pretty soon so good to have you here.