shoeless and clueless...

Anna (Magazine) 17/2007 (26.4.2007)

At this age - Jyrki Linnankivi 38

”I don’t know whether it is childishness or immaturity but I don’t even realize that I have become older. Playing rock music and drawing comics is associated to youth culture, it keeps mind fresh. I still dig same things than in teenager but from school mates I can tell that I’m not exactly young rebel anymore. Probably all kids think I’m old.”

”Fans don’t seem to mind about my age. It’s confusing to get letters that contain outburst of feelings from teenage girls saying ‘it doesn’t matter for me that you are 25 years older than I’. But maybe 70 years old Sean Connery gets similar letters from young women.”

”I have been hyperactive since kid; I have been talking and making observations a lot.
In a tour bus I usually sit at the front and talk about scenery all the time. Now days I can little bit control my enthusiasm. Some times I let other ones talk too or I even listen what they are saying. Or at least I pretend to listen.”

”My look is combination of my childhood heroes: Tarzan, Elvis and Price Valiant. I remember when I was little kid and my mom took me to a hairdresser. I asked her to cut Tarzan hair. I was so disappointed when she cut my hair too short. Later I let my hair grow all way to the hips, but keeping that long hair was too much trouble. I don’t have any big complexes of my looks, okay my beard really doesn’t grow and my eyes are sensitive to the light, so I have to keep sunglasses. So they are not just for posing.”

”I’m vain, of course. Going out takes sometimes way too much time. At the Christmas I usually travel somewhere with my mom and she is always laughing that how come you have so much luggage and how it can take so long to get out of the hotel room. It’s good that guys at the band are all same. Makeup is essential part of Glam Rock and putting it on takes time. I don’t think it’s vain to that you want to look good at the state and promo pictures. But it is vain to be late from movies because you can’t decide what shirt to wear. That has happened to me.”

”It is always funny when I go shopping somewhere near gig place on the other side of the world and from next to me someone says “Jyrki” perfectly pronounced. When I meet fans, it’s feels like meeting old friends and soul mates. Especially in foreign countries I meet fans that look answer to big questions from our music. At the gig place there might be bunch of hair or diary waiting. It is sort of fascinating that I can cause so strong feelings. And kind of scary too.
I still remember how it was to be young and wait your idols on the stage, and how great it felt when he was standing on the stage right front of you. I want pass same feeling for my fans.”

”Before tour I always think is this what I really want. At the night I stand couple of hours in the spotlight as a star, but all the other time I spend in crammed tour bus with ten other people and some times there is not even change to shower.”

”You have to be in good physical shape and be good sleeper to survive a tour. I have personal trainer that looks after my physical condition. I have never had any problems with sleeping. On the other hand, hyperactive person like me thinks sleeping is wasted time. Couple of years ago I sometimes forgot to go sleep which caused me to loose my voice. I had to learn to go to sleep also. At the tour weekdays lost their meaning and normal routines disappear quickly. Every day is Saturday or Sunday. Being back at home feels weird. It’s nice to bath in your own bathtub and sleep at the bed that doesn’t move. But still I feel restless. ”

”For me home is place where I stop by before next trip. But when there is longer pause in touring next time I have to move to bigger apartment because I need more space for my clothes.”

”I have never lived together with anyone. I have been in long relationships but no woman has really been right for me. All my women have been colorful and dominating ladies, center of attention in their own circles. It’s ok for me because I get so much attention that I don’t need to be star at private life. When I have got older I have learn to appreciate also other qualities at the woman than just good looks.”

”Woman has to be independent and strong nerved. My nights are long; if we are training I can’t promise that I’ll be at home at certain time. Last years I have been alone, I’m always gone so it’s feels wrong to keep anyone waiting.
Being alone feeds itself, longer you are alone more difficult it is to adjust to live with someone else. I’m not looking for relationship, but I’m not running away either. Family comes on time, age doesn’t limit guys same way than it limits women.”

”I won’t be middle aged just yet. Now I feel like at the forties I could start concentrate my energy also to something else than rock. I would like to study more, interest to learn didn’t go away after graduation. I would also like to try acting and writing. I’m really grateful that I have had change to realize myself without limits. I hope that enthusiasm to new things stays on in future. That way I don’t need to regret later that I didn’t even try.”