John Sykes dead at 65

[Thebottomline]

R.I.P. John. Listening to Blue Murder right now.

Sykes definitely wasn’t in my 2025 death pool, and as another mentioned, I never even knew he had cancer. Most likely he kept that cancer battle private the whole time, of course. RIP to one talented guitarist…

I put him on my 2024 one I think, but it was more of a wild card.

His website says he passed away in 2024.

https://www.johnsykes.com/

[Thebottomline]

His playing and tone on WS '87 is magnificent. So much so that when you hear Adrian's solo on HIGA you make a face like someone in the room farted.

Always thought what could have been had he been picked to join Lep in '92. Probably would have clashed with them too but maybe not before they made something great.

I had heard that he was asked to join before they got Vivian. Not sure how that would have worked. I seriously doubt John would have played on something like Slang and Euphoria, .

[joey78]

R.I.P. John. Listening to Blue Murder right now.

Sykes definitely wasn’t in my 2025 death pool, and as another mentioned, I never even knew he had cancer. Most likely he kept that cancer battle private the whole time, of course. RIP to one talented guitarist…

I put him on my 2024 one I think, but it was more of a wild card.

His website says he passed away in 2024.

https://www.johnsykes.com/

Maybe they delayed the announcement like they did with Jack Russel . I recall he passed away a couple of weeks before the news got out

[diablomozart]

i was lucky enough to meet him at a blue murder record listening party...there was a long line and he was signing stuff at the bar...when i got there i asked him how he built up such speed, he responded with "do you play guitar?"...i told him i was learning and had been playing about 2 years, he immeditely called over his manager and said "i need to have a conversation here" and stopped signing so he could spend 10-15 minutes giving me some tips on playing...he didn't have to do that and i'll remember that forever...while much is made of his talent, he was also an incredibly nice guy and perhaps that isn't mentioned enough...d.m.

[eddie lee roth]

i was lucky enough to meet him at a blue murder record listening party...there was a long line and he was signing stuff at the bar...when i got there i asked him how he built up such speed, he responded with "do you play guitar?"...i told him i was learning and had been playing about 2 years, he immeditely called over his manager and said "i need to have a conversation here" and stopped signing so he could spend 10-15 minutes giving me some tips on playing...he didn't have to do that and i'll remember that forever...while much is made of his talent, he was also an incredibly nice guy and perhaps that isn't mentioned enough...d.m.

That’s a good story. He didn’t have to do that for you.

[Indy_Rob]

i was lucky enough to meet him at a blue murder record listening party...there was a long line and he was signing stuff at the bar...when i got there i asked him how he built up such speed, he responded with "do you play guitar?"...i told him i was learning and had been playing about 2 years, he immeditely called over his manager and said "i need to have a conversation here" and stopped signing so he could spend 10-15 minutes giving me some tips on playing...he didn't have to do that and i'll remember that forever...while much is made of his talent, he was also an incredibly nice guy and perhaps that isn't mentioned enough...d.m.

Very cool story. Top notch gesture on his part.

[Indy_Rob]

FWIW, he's 4th on Yahoo trending right now trailing inauguration; of course.

So anyone who thinks he wasn't "known" is mistaken.

Its not some dude from say, Diamond Rexx........

Yeah it made the BBC news as well

That’s weird, why did he have a big black cock?

[Hellbound]

i was lucky enough to meet him at a blue murder record listening party...there was a long line and he was signing stuff at the bar...when i got there i asked him how he built up such speed, he responded with "do you play guitar?"...i told him i was learning and had been playing about 2 years, he immeditely called over his manager and said "i need to have a conversation here" and stopped signing so he could spend 10-15 minutes giving me some tips on playing...he didn't have to do that and i'll remember that forever...while much is made of his talent, he was also an incredibly nice guy and perhaps that isn't mentioned enough...d.m.

Seems the least you could do is spend 10-15 minutes to pass that knowledge on to us here!

Awesome guitar player and an influence. Cool to hear that he was a good guy as well, thanks for sharing.

[Ryan81]

GoddamnIt! Wasn't expecting this one. Sixty-five just like Edward. That is too young. Sykes didn't seem like he was a big into drugs or anything. When he was in Blue Murder he actually looked pretty ripped (not that you can't be ripped and party).

He seemed like a good guy. The story told a few posts above definitely points to that. That is really cool and I can't think of many well-known guitar players who would do that for a complete stranger...it was d.m. though so clearly respect is due. I remember when he was on That Metal Show the hot hostess walked by him and he said to the guys "what a piece of ass" and they were doing their best to contain their laughter.

Amongst guitar players he was respected, but it's too bad that he wasn't a bit more recognized. He was a great talent! Obviously he could play his ass off, but he was a good songwriter, and really good vocalist as well.

I hope he wasn't in a lot of pain in the end. R.I.P.

[Ozzy Stradlin]

His playing and tone on WS '87 is magnificent. So much so that when you hear Adrian's solo on HIGA you make a face like someone in the room farted.

I can’t find it anywhere, but I swear I read an interview back in the day, in which Sykes said that Vandenberg sounded like he had played the solo on “Here I Go Again” with his thumbs.

[diablomozart]

i was lucky enough to meet him at a blue murder record listening party...there was a long line and he was signing stuff at the bar...when i got there i asked him how he built up such speed, he responded with "do you play guitar?"...i told him i was learning and had been playing about 2 years, he immeditely called over his manager and said "i need to have a conversation here" and stopped signing so he could spend 10-15 minutes giving me some tips on playing...he didn't have to do that and i'll remember that forever...while much is made of his talent, he was also an incredibly nice guy and perhaps that isn't mentioned enough...d.m.

Seems the least you could do is spend 10-15 minutes to pass that knowledge on to us here!

Awesome guitar player and an influence. Cool to hear that he was a good guy as well, thanks for sharing.

that was a long time ago...lol...he did say make your vibrato musical and explained something where i thought he was playing 6 note patterns and he was actually playing 4 note patterns but used a different note choices than normal...as for the speed? i quote "that just takes practicing it over and over"...apologies i can't remember the finer points, i was young and he had a pretty good buzz on...still...it was extremely nice of him to spend a little time with me...d.m.

[aznsquirt]

i was lucky enough to meet him at a blue murder record listening party...there was a long line and he was signing stuff at the bar...when i got there i asked him how he built up such speed, he responded with "do you play guitar?"...i told him i was learning and had been playing about 2 years, he immeditely called over his manager and said "i need to have a conversation here" and stopped signing so he could spend 10-15 minutes giving me some tips on playing...he didn't have to do that and i'll remember that forever...while much is made of his talent, he was also an incredibly nice guy and perhaps that isn't mentioned enough...d.m.

Wow. I can't imagine he did that with everyone who mentioned being a guitar player to him, though. It must've happened constantly.

Are there any tips or insights that he told you that stick out that you'd be willing to share? Just curious.

RIP, one of the greats. Really.

[skinni]

i was lucky enough to meet him at a blue murder record listening party...there was a long line and he was signing stuff at the bar...when i got there i asked him how he built up such speed, he responded with "do you play guitar?"...i told him i was learning and had been playing about 2 years, he immeditely called over his manager and said "i need to have a conversation here" and stopped signing so he could spend 10-15 minutes giving me some tips on playing...he didn't have to do that and i'll remember that forever...while much is made of his talent, he was also an incredibly nice guy and perhaps that isn't mentioned enough...d.m.

Wow d.m., what an amazing story!

I am listening to Eddie Trunk remembers John Sykes - good stories so far
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRAWk-3ands

[alleyrulez]

this explains all of the cancelled projects, no new music, etc.

he took quite a bit of shit for that. surprised it didn't leak out at some point, depending on how long he'd been sick. I'm guessing it had been a while.

huge loss, as so many have said.

loved him in Tygers Of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, and Blue Murder.

expected a bit more of a condolence from Coverdale, as Sykes was no doubt a big part of why the 87 album was so awesome.

[HueyRamone]

That is really cool and I can't think of many well-known guitar players who would do that for a complete stranger...it was d.m. though so clearly respect is due. I remember when he was on That Metal Show the hot hostess walked by him and he said to the guys "what a piece of ass" and they were doing their best to contain their laughter.

Damn, d.m. firing off the funny lines on That Metal Show! Good one!