[Music] John Sykes RIP

Herr Tubthumper · 2025-01-21T07:51:25+0000

For those into their hard rock, yesterday was a sad day.

For those who do not know who he is, listen to Cold Sweat by Thin Lizzy...especially the solo.

Kosh · 2025-01-21T07:55:49+0000

Another legend gone, yes… a superb guitar

slinger.

His work with Whitesnake might not have appealed to the original WS fans, but 1987 rocks plain and simple.

Out spinal tapping spinal tap… how did they get their hair so big ?

Love it.

The Clamp · 2025-01-21T14:06:30+0000

RIP

One of the greats

£1.99 · 2025-01-21T15:19:10+0000

Very sad. A fantastic guitar player.
RIP

Superphil · 2025-01-21T15:30:18+0000

So sad, what a Guitarist he was, amazing hair too.

METALMICKY · 2025-01-21T16:01:48+0000

Herr Tubthumper said:
For those into their hard rock, yesterday was a sad day.

For those who do not know who he is, listen to Cold Sweat by Thin Lizzy...especially the solo.

Was never into Whitesnake much but loved his little turn on Lizzy's final album Thunder and Lightening. He brought a little of the 80's shred into the partnership with Scott Gorham.

For me his stand out moment is his solo on the sadly prophetic ( if only Phil had ) track Got to Give It Up from the Live/Life solo.

Hotchilidog · 2025-01-21T16:08:08+0000

METALMICKY said:
Was never into Whitesnake much but loved his little turn on Lizzy's final album Thunder and Lightening. He brought a little of the 80's shred into the partnership with Scott Gorham.

For me his stand out moment is his solo on the sadly prophetic ( if only Phil had ) track Got to Give Up from the Live/Life solo.

Was reminiscing about that tour yesterday when we heard the news. The Hammersmith show was legendary with an encore featuring Gary Moore, Brian Robertson and Eric Bell on guitar, an incredible night. For the bulk of the show though it was John Sykes at the helm tearing it up and bringing some youthful energy to the band. Also remembered for his work with Tygers of Pan Tang and of course Whitesnake. RIP John.

wellquickwoody · 2025-01-21T16:18:35+0000

Kosh said:
Another legend gone, yes… a superb guitar slinger.

His work with Whitesnake might not have appealed to the original WS fans, but 1987 rocks plain and simple.

Out spinal tapping spinal tap… how did they get their hair so big ?

Love it.

At the time this stuff felt like a guilty pleasure, wonderfully enjoyable but a little cliched. The cool kids were getting into Nirvana, Pearl Jam etc and Coverdale and crew were part of the old crowd. Looking back now this stuff was a little cliched, but HUGELY enjoyable nonetheless, so much more interesting, vibrant and powerful than the inoffensive shite that strangleholds the download charts and airwaves these days.

RIP John Sykes, thank you for making life more colourful and noisy and fun.

Stato · 2025-01-21T16:22:08+0000

Saw him with Thin Lizzy at the Centre in 1983 and again at the same place with Whitesnake the year after. RIP John.

thedonkeycentrehalf · 2025-01-21T16:39:51+0000

Another gone too soon - nice tributes from David Coverdale (despite John being one of many DC has fired from the band over the years)

Kosh · 2025-01-21T16:51:00+0000

wellquickwoody said:
At the time this stuff felt like a guilty pleasure, wonderfully enjoyable but a little cliched. The cool kids were getting into Nirvana, Pearl Jam etc and Coverdale and crew were part of the old crowd. Looking back now this stuff was a little cliched, but HUGELY enjoyable nonetheless, so much more interesting, vibrant and powerful than the inoffensive shite that strangleholds the download charts and airwaves these days.

RIP John Sykes, thank you for making life more colourful and noisy and fun.

Yep, it’s cheese, it’s probably not very politically correct (

) but really it’s harmless and, fundamentally, it ROCKS

Hadn’t listened to In the Still… for ages… it’s an interesting and cool track - owes a debt to Zep I guess, but it made Whitesnake HUGE, along with the rest of 1987 for a reason…

Yep, I love it.

Herr Tubthumper · 2025-01-21T16:59:51+0000

Kosh said:
Yep, it’s cheese, it’s probably not very politically correct () but really it’s harmless and, fundamentally, it ROCKS

Hadn’t listened to In the Still… for ages… it’s an interesting and cool track - owes a debt to Zep I guess, but it made Whitesnake HUGE, along with the rest of 1987 for a reason…

Yep, I love it.

1987 was a huge album, a quick look at Wiki says it was 8 times platinum in the US, platinum in the UK and has shifted 25 million copies in total. Co-written with Sykes.

The only time I saw Whitesnake was on the 1987 tour at Wembley; Sykes was sadly long gone at this point.

Kosh · 2025-01-21T17:16:14+0000

Herr Tubthumper said:
1987 was a huge album, a quick look at Wiki says it was 8 times platinum in the US, platinum in the UK and has shifted 25 million copies in total. Co-written with Sykes.

The only time I saw Whitesnake was on the 1987 tour at Wembley; Sykes was sadly long gone at this point.

Yeah, Coverdale and him - it didn’t quite work personality wise… bit of Blackmore about Sykes in more ways than one.

One thing I didn’t know, was that In the Still… was based on a demo Coverdale had worked up with Blackmore back in his Purple days, I guess Sykes helped him polish and refine it into the near power metal song it became…

I guess when all’s said and done, what made these great albums cook was often the tension between the protagonists… kind of a perfect storm.

‘87 is of its time, but I reckon it’s entered that kind of timeless zone where in spite of the trappings the strength of the material and the brilliance of the players wins out.

Rest in Rock

John.

birthofanorange · 2025-01-21T18:43:50+0000

Yet another fab guitarist fallen by the wayside.

RIP Mr. Sykes.

Doonhamer7 · 2025-01-21T20:59:09+0000

Reminded me to relisten to the Blue Murder album - great late 80s album. I remember as a student putting this on one morning on repeat play (linear tracking turntable) went out of my shared room and forgot about it. My roommate who woke up several hours later, he said he couldn’t get the lyrics out if his mind for weeks. He must have heard 5 songs 20+ times whilst in a subconscious state.

TugWilson · 2025-01-21T22:14:03+0000

Vaguely remember Whitesnake opening for Black Sabbath at the BC in about 79/80 , The Argus said Whitesnake stole the show .

R.I.P.

Kosh · 2025-01-21T23:12:22+0000

TugWilson said:
Vaguely remember Whitesnake opening for Black Sabbath at the BC in about 79/80 , The Argus said Whitesnake stole the show .

R.I.P.

That lineup, which I think included Moody, Marsden as well as Lord and Paice… not surprised they blew a coke and drink addled Sabbath off the stage… that era of WS was arguably the best if you like your groove, bluesy and soulful with a slice of MKIII Purps…

Pavilionaire · 2025-01-21T23:18:31+0000

Stato said:
Saw him with Thin Lizzy at the Centre in 1983 and again at the same place with Whitesnake the year after. RIP John.

I was at that Thin Lizzy gig too - the Thunder and Lightning Tour. The following day we lost to Stoke City 1-2 in our cup run season having beaten Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in the 5th Round 5 days earlier

Pavilionaire · 2025-01-21T23:20:10+0000

Kosh said:
That lineup, which I think included Moody, Marsden as well as Lord and Paice… not surprised they blew a coke and drink addled Sabbath off the stage… that era of WS was arguably the best if you like your groove, bluesy and soulful with a slice of MKIII Purps…

Live...In The Heart Of The City era. I loved that album.

Uncle Spielberg · 2025-01-22T00:42:17+0000

METALMICKY said:
Was never into Whitesnake much but loved his little turn on Lizzy's final album Thunder and Lightening. He brought a little of the 80's shred into the partnership with Scott Gorham.

For me his stand out moment is his solo on the sadly prophetic ( if only Phil had ) track Got to Give It Up from the Live/Life solo.

Phil dying at 36 hurt me badly I adored Thin Lizzy, still do. He was a poet

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[Music] John Sykes RIP

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Moved back to wear the gloves (again)

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