Jyrki 69

Finnish musician and songwriter Jyrki Pekka Emil Linnankivi, professionally known as Jyrki 69, fronts the multi-platinum-selling glam/goth metallers the 69 Eyes from Finland. His influences range from Elvis Presley and Glenn Danzig to David Bowie and Jim Morrison, resulting in a brooding baritone often compared to Type O Negative's Peter Steele, Iggy Pop, and Sisters of Mercy's Andrew Eldritch. He launched his enduring collaboration with the 69 Eyes in 1989 and continued performing with the group well into the second decade of the twenty-first century. Their debut arrived in 1992 under the title Bump 'n' Grind, followed by dozens of additional studio albums that encompass the platinum-selling Paris Kills from 2002, X in 2012, and West End in 2019. Cleopatra Records released his first solo album, Helsinki Vampire, in June 2017. The 2021 follow-up American Vampire mixed original material with covers and featured contributions from Tim Skold of Shotgun Messiah, Steve Stevens of Billy Idol, Xiu Xiu, and Tiffany. Beyond music he serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, creates comic illustrations, writes, and holds a degree in analytical chemistry.