Chordplay - The Chords Of Blue Murder

Here's the next episode of Chordplay with The Chords Of Blue Murder. Blue Murder was formed in 1987 by John Sykes shortly after he was fired from Whitesnake and the original power trio featuring Sykes on guitar/vocals alongside bass-wizard Tony Franklin and drum legend Carmine Appice was explosive (to say the least) and their hard-hitting music is featured in this highly-requested lesson.
All of the material in this lesson came from Blue Murder's 1989 self-titled release, including chord-based moments from powerhouse rockers such as 'Billy,' 'Valley Of The Kings,' 'Ptolemy,' 'Riot,' 'Blue Murder' - and much more!
If you're a John Sykes fan or Blue Murder fan, or just looking for some hard rock guitar from the glory days - this lesson is for you, so grab a guitar and have some hard-rockin' fun!
Give this episode a view, leave some comments/feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!

[@mattmacarthur520]

RIP John Sykes . That vibrato was out of this world brother . Forever a legend.

[@lovemusiceveryday]

A great lesson of a great guitarist. R.I.P. John sykes. ❤

[@jamiekirbitz586]

Brew thank you,!. John was my absolute hero. This was awesome. I've always loved your page and breakdowns. Spot on. Rip john

[@DoubleDguitar]

John’s tone was the very definition of massive.

[@Islandsoundzz]

The Blue Murder album is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in hard rock. With the right promotion they could have easily surpassed Whitesnake in popularity. Nonethless, it's great that after all these years, the debut album is still widely acclaimed.

[@Wyldwulf]

I went to a shop not long ago to test an amp and started the Still of the Night intro. An employee was like "John Sykes baby! Have you heard the first Blue Murder album?" I hadn't listened to it for at least a few years....prior to my drive that day to the shop. We geeked out a while on some of these riffs.

[@RootsCafeAthens]

Thank you for showing all the cool stuff John plays ....John is a real guitar hero and singer extraordinaire.

[@delete.102]

You have no idea how much I respect your accuracy and skill. Note for note doesn't do that justice. The fingerings Iwas exemplary

[@michaelthompson3286]

One of my favourite players, everything he does sounds so massive! What an underrated singer as well.

[@streetfightingman4240]

Favouriteing this bad boy!! You rock \m/

[@cadillacjones22]

God your sound is HUGE. Always impressed.

[@othrerir_jussi]

The amount of content you could do about John Sykes is damn near endless.

[@klextacy]

Thank goodness for that!

[@Ratchet2]

Yeppers. Thanks for this vid. Sykes has one heck of a wide vibrato on the guitar. No whammy.

[@JuddOakes]

Sykes is killer. I love how he shakes the chords with some vibratto.

[@Mudder1310]

Holy cow- Blue Murder was sooo good. That first record with Jelly Roll, Billy, Valley of the Kings, just awesome. Thanks!!

[@lorettahookano6139]

You are the most comprehensive musician that offers just enough exciting content of musical history & background along with great tone & technique that won’t bore us or leave us in the dust. I admire & appreciate your channel & all the artists that you cover with the level of accuracy that does not disappoint !

[@mydayis5]

Masterpiece of an album

[@demokraatti]

John is such a monster player. Carmine and Tony are really good. The band had tons of talent, an unique groove and great songs. Such a shame that there was no future for the band.

[@fedup3449]

I'm English. I'm 62. I've been playing Les Pauls' through Marshalls since I was 15. I've only just discovered John Sykes 2 days ago. Now I can't put him down. I've even had a Whitesnake Best Hits CD sitting on my shelf for about 30 years. I can't believe that i didn't know about him and the whole Coverdale rift. Where have i been all my life? Of course now I've found your channel to propel me deeper down the John Sykes rabbit hole. Great video's, great understanding of his awesome riffage. Keep 'em comin'. Billy on the Big Al show is just a jaw dropper. I only discovered any of this because i was watching some guy tracking bass guitar for Warren on Produce like A Pro. Turns out it was Tony Franklin. Haha. What a weird world.

[@abcdefghijk5095]

#fedup3449 - mate, we always discover artists on our musical journey, John Sykes is a godly talent that inspired me and I'm sure he will continue to do the same with you. Keep playing Sir!

[@jedaigle]

Saw Blue Murder back in 1989 when they opened for Bon Jovi. Blue Murder was so much better than the headliner.

[@jeffgagawood3741]

John Sykes isn’t given enough credit he’s a monster guitarist and Riffman

[@ic_clearly]

out of love solo is sooo bad ass top 10 album for sure

[@davidbaron8330]

LOVE LOVE LOVE John Sykes. And he was at his best in Blue Murder. Thanks for coming back, Dave.

[@geemac7267]

I loved this band. Bad timing is probably what hurt them most, but you're right about MTV not pushing them much.

[@marcjordan29]

Always cool to hear someone else use your favorite chord voicing.. Em11add9. Beautifully eerie.

[@klextacy]

A few notes (I may have studied how he plays some things about a million times.lol ) Live, he doesn't ever tune to Double Drop D, so that also explains why he doesn't play that fill in BM. For Valley of the Kings, he doesn't play the main riff as a single note octave thing. He actually plays it as a D power chord on the 5th fret of the A string. And that tag chord riff thing.. I see him play that in first position, accentuating the high strings. And don't mistake this for criticism. You NAILED this stuff. I definitely learned some stuff on this. Love what you're doing man. It's so helpful and it's great to see other folks geeking out on Sykes like I have for so many years now. :D

[@whitneyhookano8610]

I have always been a huge fan of John Sykes since the tigers of pan tang & blue murder is his finest work by far especially hearing him sing , unbelievable , Coverdale meats Lynette !

[@bradfordknights7554]

I always try to find new music and keep current, despite being rooted in 80s metal. The other day I was at the gym and needed a boost. put this album on. Over 30 years later and still made the hair stand up on my arms. this album is 100% fire from top to bottom. great job!

[@The-Real-Blissful-Ignorance]

On John's KZbin channel: John James Sykes, he released 2 new songs this year - 'Dawning of a Brand New Day' and 'Out Alive'. On Tony Franklin's KZbin Channel: Tony Franklin - The Fretless Monster, his latest video Tony talks about how his JayDee bass (from his Blue Murder days) came back into his possession after a 25 year absence.

[@SuperHorsecow]

Top tier album

[@d.j.stachniak4441]

Thank you for this! John Sykes is simply the most underrated guitarist ever! Just awesome! Great lesson!

[@danriley5848]

John Sykes is an amazing guitarist and singer, Blue Murder were an amazing band. Great video as always. 👍🤘

[@ginopanteristabootpim7346]

Great lesson thanks Sir

[@Wyldwulf]

David your internal clock feels impeccable. NO metronome needed.

[@jperryfan]

Valley Of The Kings has elements of Kashmir & Still Of The Night. Done in a very cool way though

[@stephent9363]

Great lesson thanks David - always loved this record (and Sykes other playing as well). Funny story from back in the day. In 89 I had this on cassette and friend of mine used to love to listen to it in the car when hanging out. I finally let him borrow the tape after couple months of his asking. The night he borrowed the tape, his car caught on fire while he slept (he had foolishly flicked a cig butt in the backseat thinking it went out the window). His car burned to the ground! When he called me later to tell me his words were "I guess that Blue Murder was just too f*ing hot!" LOL!

[@chrislestermusic]

Great album! I saw them with the 3 piece lineup. They rocked. Tony is a super player and Sykes’ voice was surprisingly great.

[@jimsinister13]

I remember when this album came out, a friend of mine give it to me as a birthday gift, we all know who was in the band but the caliber of music these guys made together was simply astounding, Even by today's so called to standards.

[@jmar482]

John Sykes is such an amazing musician. Few guitarist can touch him!

[@Sodacake]

John Sykes is the king imo. It's like hard rock just emanates from him.

[@billyc6678]

Love me some Blue murder!!! 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@cymro6537]

Sykes is such an incredible guitar player - and has an amazing musical coordinaton -playing complex riffs whilst singing ( with a great voice) And that guitar solo on Valley of the kings ? Fantastic! 🤘🤘🤘

[@RichardSmith-yv8pe]

This was and still is a great album.

[@tyrannosaurusshred7849]

John Sykes!!! Thank you Mr. Brewster. Great breakdown of some badass riffs.

[@kevinsmith7-7-7]

John is one of my favorites Riffs, Solos the total package

[@DocRaunchy]

Talking about grossly underated Hard Rock Albums. It is way up there. Everybody that likes Whitesnake´s 1987 SHOULD own Blue Murder-Blue Murder. Sensational playing and lesson, David. Thanks.

[@allenlocke1935]

All the praise you give Blue Murder... is well deserved, even if the only thing they ever released was Valley Of The Kings or Jelly Roll. Freakin' Brilliant!!! Whitesnake is not Whitesnake without John Sykes! No disrespect to Steve Via( who's other worldly and unto himself!). While I don't have that beautiful black Les Paul ala Sykes! I did not hesitate to pull the trigger and snag the Tony Franklin Signature fretless Precision Bass...and I'm just a guitar player😎🎸 That group was like a holy trinity of talent🎸🎸🎸 Thanks for an awesome lesson🎸🎸🎸

[@bluegroove536]

I bought my 1st Les Paul in 78' ... a black beauty custom. Was tickled when I read that Mr Sykes used one as his main axe. He's absolutely brilliant and one of my all time faves. Never got a chance to see him in a live show though... 😕

[@Michael-bl4no]

John Sykes has insanely good vibrato. Love the title track on this record.

[@jukup1]

Dave, I have no words. Thank you so so much for posting this. This album is one of my all-time favourites and it is such a treat to have you walk us through the songs! Billy.... What a song!

[@roderickhager8154]

Heartache coming my way ANGELES! Feels likea my dying day. Thanks a million Brewski!!!👂🍬🤘💪🎸

[@1dswylde]

Saw King's X, Blue Murder and Billy Squier in Little Rock. John Sykes is a badass guitar player!

[@Brunodowney1]

Savage stuff, brilliant !!! Thanks so much David. FYI the screaming blue murder is a phenomenal Live album

[@AD-ui2pz]

awesome lesson- I always loved this CD and still listen to it today- it was mixed with an epic big sound including the drums- I saw Carmine Appice the legend and his brother Vinnie play a small club in my town's tiny theater for this Drum Wars show where they played a bunch of stuff from Ozzy and Dio that they both had played on with a live band, Carmine played with everyone from Rod Stewart to Ozzy and others, Vinne also played with Ozzy and Dio, the drum sound on Blue Murder is big and bombastic!!!!

[@newrosesartworx4662]

yesss....JS does ROCK!!

[@timpitts9256]

Thanks, super cool. It doesn't get much better than that 1st album

[@RipVDub]

DB, have to agree on the monstrosity that John Sykes is/was/will be. Another shredder that is a great rhythm player. The fact that he sings as well as he does is redline level talent. Blue Murder is truly a great album - regardless of era. Always appreciated! #latenightlessons #johnsykes

[@klextacy]

David, you keep making my day!! More Sykes and DEFINITELY more Blue Murder, in particular!! Love it!!

[@Kaspa2025]

John Sykes is a guitar GOD!! Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy & Blue Murder.

[@65Lynchy]

Tygers of pan tang too

[@dannymcmince]

@@65Lynchy Streetfighter too

[@frankiedonofrio5438]

Really was a good band....Thanks for the Lesson!

[@nahnotsomuch2292]

The second Blue Murder disc is killer as well. Got lost in the shuffle of the grunge movement unfortunately.

[@bghammock]

Catching an "accidental broadcast" of Jelly Roll on MTV (hard to imagine they would have played it on purpose) in '87 made me snag that cassette as soon as possible. I remember getting it home and my brother and I commenting on Carmine being in THIS BAND TOO!! He was all over the place in the '80s.

[@patzguitarz]

Incredible album! The solos in Billy and Out of Love are epic. Back in the days before KZbin, I spent many a night rewinding a cassette and trying futilely to figure out the chords on this album. Thanks David!

[@jpcantrell1]

One of my favorite bands....Baffled how they weren't known as much as they should've been

[@toneranger]

Thanks for this Dave. I hope Sykes and the lads read the comments and see the love and admiration for this incredible album. What an album, met John after a Lizzy revival concert in Dublin and had the pleasure of telling him how much I love this album, and you could tell that meant alot to him. It's incredible to think Carmine rented a car and drove up to Blackpool where John was based to meet Tony and John to make this happen, the glossy polished MTV hair metal of the videos and an English seaside town in the 80s recession 😂😎

[@suprchickn7745]

You can go over to Tony Franklin's channel. He responds to almost all posts in the comments. Super nice guy!

[@timothyweesner6286]

John Sykes! Enough said! He is up there right along with Eddie, Randy, Jimi, Ace, Cris, Michael, etc!

[@GeoffSweet]

I see anything John Sykes....and I'm all about it...great stuff Brew!!!

[@ClassofEighty2]

YES!! Thank you. No wonder I couldn't come close to figuring some of these out. Drop D Duh! Love your channel. Been trying and failing to figure out "Riot" for a few years as well. This album is a masterpiece. Can't thank you enough for breaking these down for us.

[@elinino5275]

John Sykes is SO DAMN GOOD!!

[@nicklebac6753]

Yes!!! Thank u David! I hope I was one of the comments you saw!

[@evilkenevil766]

And as bad ass as John Sykes is , now picture playing those riffs and SINGING! That’s were he is really an enigma

[@crimfan]

I'm always floored by the guitar parts John Sykes played while singing... crazy. I mean, he does "Still of the Night" and "Is This Love?" live, singing lead and playing those monster guitar parts. Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice were a fantastic team in the rhythm section, too. They really swung, not something that one usually associates with hair metal. "Jelly Roll" is almost a Jerry Cantrell acoustic groove. If it'd been about heroin, maybe it would have gone somewhere. It's a pity Blue Murder were a bit too hair metal for the grunge era because they were doing great funk metal before that really was a thing (and, I'd argue, better than what funk metal became). Those guys were monster players but they had good material to work with.

[@Mrtonecruiser]

Yeah!! Now David, this is too cool. This record killed back in the day and it kills now! The live shows from this tour were insane as well!! Thanks!🤟🏻

[@voronOsphere]

Thanks, David!!! Excellent Lesson!!!!

[@kmanick107]

such a great guitar album! Sykes was a beast , thanks so much for shedding some light on these great songs

[@zombee38]

John Sykes is the real beast....if you compare Whitesnake's sound when John was playing with later the sound when Steve Vai joined the band his tone and riffing gets "murdered"

[@derekmiller1240]

Love this band 🤘🏻 So underrated!

[@acmichaels4983]

Damn John Sykes is so fuckin cool. Really great lesson 🤘

[@TwelveSticks]

As a Sykes myself, it was always nice to have a proper rocker share the family name - makes a change from us always being the 'baddies' in US films and TV shows (thanks Charles Dickens for setting that trend!)

[@sergedenovo2389]

As a White person, you’re a villain in their story. Every time. …It wasn’t his fault. It’s the narrative written for us, by the tribe. America’s BFF in the desert.

[@lanceross3633]

One of my favorite albums, thanks David for uploading this 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@jimmypage9198]

Vernon from Massachusetts here. Love you channel and all of your lessons. This is my brand new favorite lesson. Especially the Billy section. This is absolutely one of my favorite albums of all time. Thanks man!

[@tallkeesh]

Epic album and band! Thanks for doing this!!

[@Snostrebla1]

John’s a monster player and riff writer

[@LeonTodd]

Awesome lesson - all that's missing are a set of Sting pants like the Valley of the Kings music video!

[@NJAY104]

Wonderful analysis as always, thanks so much for doing this. I would have been happy just to hear you play the ‘Billy’ riff over and over! 🤘😎🎸

[@kmfrazz]

Great video, Sykes is a monster! Thank you for this one!

[@jimmyz2098]

Sykes is just a KILLER player. Another great vid, David. Loads of fun.

[@jonswift4742]

Sweet! Still have this album on repeat!

[@vesahurskainen7166]

John Sykes rules

[@FunkymetalBL]

Oh yeah! Blue Murder rocked, what a band. I saw them at the Paradise in Boston in 1989, one of the best shows of my life, Sykes was on fire!🔥🔥🔥. Love it, thanks for the upload David! 🙏🏼

[@klextacy]

Was that the Billy Squier / King's X tour? I missed them when they came around to Philly. I SO wanted to see them, but I couldn't get any of my cheap-ass friends to go, so I ended up skipping it. I could still kick myself today for missing it.

[@FunkymetalBL]

@@klextacy No, it was a club show that they headlined, I remember it was freezing that night and I couldn’t get anyone to go with me but I went anyway. So glad I did, a local band opened up and they played for a while. I was right in front of Sykes. Guy is amazing-voice, chops, stage presence, he’s got it all.

[@logancleary374]

Such a great band 🤘

[@patrickian8843]

David, thank you for including Valley of the Kings…I’ve been looking for a rhythm tutorial for it. I’m a huge John Sykes fan ever since I heard him in ‘87 just before I got outta the Navy. Another great lesson!!!

[@abcdefghijk5095]

Came back to this tutorial/overview and its 100% incredible. Thank you Sir.

[@patrickbarnes9343]

Killer lesson !!!

[@DominicGaudious]

killer!!! Tony Franklin played on one of my albums called "The Dominic Didgeridoo Express", also has Gregg Bissonette and Stu Hamm

[@The_Macaroon]

I'd say I had about 90% of valley of the king's correct. But this is great really helpful thanks 🤘

[@timbennett6644]

Blue Murder were Magnificent

[@greg77hot]

awesome lesson Dave !!!

[@matsnilson7727]

Nice episode! That album definitely has a unique vibe to it. Listened to it a lot in the early 90s. Great songs, tons of cool riffs, fantastic vocals, and that rhythm section absolutely kills. Sadly I don't have a physical copy any more but I should probably look into that. Dont need it on vinyl though, cd is just fine for me.

[@bluegroove536]

Pure Magic... Thanks!

[@drockny]

Dream come true lesson right here! You made my day David. Huge John Sykes and Blue Murder fan. The 2nd album is also killer. To me John Sykes, Devin Townsend and Dan Huff are the three most talented guitarist/vocalist combo to ever live.