The BETRAYAL of John Sykes: The Guitarist COVERDALE Tried to ERASE! 🎸(Short Rockumentary)

[@chrispraz877]

Without Sykes and that huge crunching guitar sound, the 87 album would have been a shadow of its greatness.

[@Biden_Cult_Dipsticks]

His playing was so smooth. I would go as far as saying Sykes was the best guitarist in 1987

[@NorthernProductions886]

@@Biden_Cult_Dipsticks Best guitarist ever!! period.

[@BanalayerPete1972]

@@Biden_Cult_Dipsticks: Why would a Trump-supporter's view matter? You support a criminal who attacks women.

[@Annihilation_0f_The_Wicked9066]

​@@Biden_Cult_DipsticksHe was great but nowhere near close

[@Annihilation_0f_The_Wicked9066]

​@@NorthernProductions886Lots of guitarists are far better. Don't be silly

[@brion-l1b]

I’ve said it before…Sykes is one of the best ever, period.

[@stephaniemariemcdonald9096]

❤

[@bang4urbux888]

Without a doubt..top 3 guitarist ever to play

[@stevenwilson9865]

I saw John front a Thin Lizzy show with Scott Gotham and Tommy Aldridge. Not only is John a monster on guitar. He's a fantastic vocalist....😮

[@georgebarry8640]

He is!

[@davidrobinson4012]

The live cd is killer!!

[@minimo1965]

Great show, Marco Mendoza was on Bass as well on that tour

[@PatchworkAndNuance]

I was honored to meet Sykes in the 90’s at a gig in Dallas… he kissed the top of my head after I got his autograph, I’ll never forget it, he’s receptive and cool to his fans 🖤🎸🎤🔥friendly and welcoming ☺️

[@zb8021]

That’s awesome

[@bmac5085]

John was a beast of a guitarist. A very good vocalist, and good looking. All I can think is that Coverdale was very jealous.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

I have said the same thing. It's obvious watching the 1984/85 tour videos of John on stage. No way in hell was david going to share the spotlight on stage, He was threatened and jealous of John's talent and onstage charisma. Also, he wasn't about to split all the money from the upcoming 87 Whitesnake album/tour with John. Like all cutthroat brits from the 70s, he learned from Blackmore that there is only one leader and that leader gets 80% of the money and the "band" is nothing more than paid employees that get to split the remaining 20%. Even though John had to take that snake weasel to court, and eventually got the royalties he was owed from Whitesnake 87. He still got hosed out of what he was actually entitled to.

[@yourinnervoiceyourinnervoi8552]

Interesting info

[@freakybeaky1]

That was something I wondered about way back. There were more and more female notice the Bon Europe bands etc. The lad Sykes was page 7 fella in The Sun or similar 😀… Clive Burr was as well at some point- what happened to him too!

[@ackerjawaka1966]

​@@johnsmith-ug5tpdidn't he then join the tygers of pan tang 🍺🍻😜

[@shawnstarks1743]

@@johnsmith-ug5tp David Coverdale jealous of John Sykes? Are you kidding me? It was David who recruited John. Hell, David begged John several times before John took the gig. Because of John's look for MTV. However, whatever everybody has selective memory about is, John NEVER! wanted to be in Whitesnake in the first place. It was only until the offer was about a million dollars or close to it, from what I hear after the contract was signed, did John take the job. John himself said "Fuck it I'll do it." Don't believe me. Type in "That Metal Show" Eddie Trunk with John Sykes. He explains the entire ordeal. And let me tell ya, he comes across as the biggest arrogant a$$hole I've ever heard. (I see why it didn't work out between him and David) Bad attitude in the studio. John Sykes fans are boohooing over him allegedly being screwed by David? (Please) David gave John the opportunity to showcase his talents. Don't ever forget that. EVER!

[@CapstoneTider]

Coverdale underestimated Sykes' impact on young guitarist of the time. We took the smoke and mirror replacement personally. John Skyes playing was melodic and blistering.

[@doctordetroit4339]

Probably the best background vocals since Mike Anthony......on top of shredding like a boss......tragic that him and Coverdale couldn't keep it going. Whitesnake reached their peak with Sykes.

[@bluebird925]

Ironic that Van Halen let go of their best backup singer/bassist no different then Whitesnake letting go of John Sykes.

[@stephaniemariemcdonald9096]

❤

[@a_planet_on_fire]

Don't know if I'd go as far as "tragic" but yeah.

[@DarrenDavis-ov7zz]

I love Blue Murder but the way he re-did the 1984 Slide it in record was killer. But The Legendary 1987 record blew everything away. IMO. But I met John walking down the street at 3;00 am in Deep Ellum/Dallas, Texas in 2003-04 and he walked up behind my singer and I and said hi, put his arms around us both, and introduced himself as John. We freaked, then offered him what we were partaking in and it was as if we had know him our entire lives. He is, just THAT cool. I sure miss him in music. Godspeed John, wherever you are brother.

[@eduardomendozajr6300]

That is so cool, I saw John and Scott in thin Lizzy at star Plex around that time when you meet him,, Great Show!!

[@gabrieljohannson6777]

This broke Sykes. He was damaged to the core which still impacts him. John Sykes is a total legend. His playing and music on 1987, Blue Murder (especially Blue Murder), his solo albums had a profound impact on me. John Sykes towers over all that Coverdale has ever done.

[@tproudboomer5965]

Agree 100%! Coverdale is an overrated Robert Plant copycat. Sykes is the whole package!

[@BanalayerPete1972]

@@tproudboomer5965: Baritone Coverdale sounds nothing like tenor Plant.

[@scottyjordan3036]

@@tproudboomer5965 NO i think your wrong, The Failure of BLUE MURDER. He thought that Heavy Metal would sell like SEXY POP and it wouldn't, Gold at best. That broke him. White snake made him bitter. It's all in the head. He could be proud and say I DID IT . But he would rather sulk. I understand

[@xmonikerhotmailcom]

@@BanalayerPete1972 He sings out of his range and sounds awful.

[@deepzepp4176]

Don’t get carried away. Coverdale has been a top rock performer since 1974, fronting the biggest band in the world at the time, Deep Purple. Then had a very successful career in Whitesnake way before 87. Sykes is no doubt an incredible player, but he needed Coverdale as much as he needed Sykes.

[@timothygilman3010]

Blue Murder all the way.

[@jackvai2681]

I dumped WS after they did that to Sykes... He resurrected that band! And they ditched him!

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

David is POS, before he did John dirty, he did the same to Marsden and a few other guys in the original WS. He played weasel games with them too trying to get them to quit and then saying the band was no more and manipulating the contracts. Para pharsing here but that is the jist of what happened.

[@AnnaEAP1]

Same here. Coverdale used to be my favourite vocalist but his jealousy to handsome guitar players ( remember that Vandenberg was also a victim) and his rudeness to interviewers made me totally lose the interest in his music.

[@scottwhite2757]

Blue Murder was indeed a collaboration of Great musicians leaving you wanting more ..

[@RolandDeschain1]

Coverdale is exceedingly good at taking credit for other people's work.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

He learned from another A hole brit by the name of Blackmore.

[@marcelgommans2020]

That makes him no different than Dio or Ozzy, for example.

[@RolandDeschain1]

@@marcelgommans2020 No, that's Sharon who has tried to rewrite history regarding Ozzy's contributions to his music.

[@tnourse]

He's very arrogant.

[@Lnps123]

Like Wendy also done for Dio.

[@mikestillwagon5675]

If you listen to the Blue Murder album it becomes abundantly clear that Sykes was totally responsible for the quality of the 1987 Whitesnake album. Even though Slip of the Tongue featured arguably better musicians, the songs were tired and stale.

[@alstrange6055]

I know what you’re saying but you won’t get better musicians than Aynsley Dunbar, Neil Murray, John Sykes and Don Airey…👍🙂

[@mikestillwagon5675]

@@alstrange6055 that’s true, but Vai, Sarzo and Aldridge were definitely regarded more highly, or were at least more visible.

[@mwjsbleakwater564]

1987 is all Sykes. The debut Blue Murder album wipes the floor with Slip of the tounge

[@mattmacarthur520]

He needed to get a singer , I really think him trying to sing was what sank them

[@thomasbrogan8036]

Exactly

[@nathueil1]

This is a long shot, but John if your watching and reading...We miss you man!!!, and wish you were back!

[@tides234]

Cant blame sykes - he missed the tour of a lifetime and outside musicians got the glory

[@severinlourenco8355]

Whitesnake was excellent, but Blue Murder years were even greater for John Sykes 💙

[@GordonHeaney]

Creatively, yes, financially, no unfortunately

[@leepassmore7032]

@@GordonHeaney You can actually make an argument against both.

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

John played wonderfully exciting lead on 'Thunder and Lightning' when he was a member of Thin Lizzy.

[@deepzepp4176]

Blue Murder did nothing as good as anything thats on 87. Great playing, but in songwriting terms, nothing from Blue Murder lives up to 1987.

[@severinlourenco8355]

@@deepzepp4176 Matter of opinion.

[@jamesmilne8445]

Sykes replaced Snowy White not Gary Moore in Thin Lizzy

[@chriswoosley1697]

Correct,,Who said Moore 🤣

[@seanabbottband]

I didn’t know snowy White played with Thin Lizzy

[@jamesmilne8445]

@@seanabbottband Snowy White replaced Gary Moore

[@eastcoastwilly1373]

Gary Moore died like 10 years ago.

[@tersan8547]

@@seanabbottband Snowy plays on the albums "Chinatown" and "Renegade".

[@simonbarber2297]

Just a correction regarding Thin Lizzy. Sykes stepped into the shoes of Snowy White...who 3 years prior, stepped in the shoes of Gary Moore.

[@johnnysullivan8926]

You're absolutely correct on that glad you pointed that out

[@fernandoperdomomusic]

I now have heard every pronunciation of Carmine Appice's name.. Carmine A-Piss should never be used yall!!!

[@delorangeade]

Brilliant guitar player, and the right player at the right time for Thin Lizzy, I saw them on that farewell tour, but left on his own with Blue Murder I don't think he was a strong enough songwriter to sustain a solo career. Coverdale was a much better lyricist and singer and had the ability to craft Sykes's ideas into a finished product. And, other than Still of the Night, the best songs on the 1987 album, Here I Go Again and Crying in the Rain, were written before Sykes was in the band. David Coverdale always seemed to have trouble when it came to man management, and Bernie Marsden had a similar story of being left out on a limb, not knowing if he was in the band or not.

[@Gerrys-Channel]

From Tygers to Blue Murder, one bad ass player!

[@euandrecampos]

In 85, when the Whitesnake replaced the Def Leppard at the last minute at Rock in Rio, here in Brazil, Sykes brought 350,000 people to their knees, being unanimously considered one of the best performances (historical), especially for the girls at the time LOL. In my humble opinion, perhaps the most concrete proof of Coverdale's mistake in firing him was that in the years that followed, it took such a quantity and quality of guitarists for Whitesnake to be able to maintain the "John Sykes standard of quality". Simple as that.

[@Alexanderpaal67]

Forever Legend 🔥 We Are Chosen We Are One We Are Frightened Of No One HOLY WAR 🙏 You are not forgotten Thank You For The Music Regards From Norway 🇳🇴

[@joeylyons4549]

Valley of the Kings.

[@jackvai2681]

BlueMurder

[@paulbattifora7617]

That entire album was amazing

[@mr.timebombman2230]

Spellbound from Tygers of Pan Tang is one of the best albums Sykes played on. Probably in my top 10 all time.

[@markkaminski4496]

And Crazy Nights

[@kienic7397]

The '84 line up was the best WS ever had. The Blue Murder debut was an excellent release but I believe that Geffen was the worst possible partners for John & Blue Murder due to Kalodner & Geffen's links to Coverdale who by this time was making serious money for Geffen following '87. A total shame as world missed out on a possible fabulous career from one of the top guitarists of the 80's going forward.

[@DarksaberForce]

David, John, Neil, and Cozy was the best but underutilized lineup of Whitesnake.

[@fredfox3851]

Sykes biggest mistake was abandoning Blue Murder, as the platform for his own songs. He had two enthusiastic, accomplished musicians and no bossy Cloverdale. I never understood why he would give up so easily, after working so hard to get in the drivers seat.

[@Gerrys-Channel]

Yep. Tony and Carmine rule!

[@randolphbean1108]

​@@Gerrys-Channel Just saw them together still kicking butt in Cactus. Sykes got lucky playing with them and blew it to leave.....

[@SJ-ty5rw]

He seems to have been like this for decades now . He will make music and play live then suddenly disappear for long periods . It doesn't make sense

[@bradbaird6526]

Loved Blue Murder

[@jeffpotts6187]

If you listen to the Blue Murder albums, and Sykes' solo stuff, it becomes VERY clear that Sykes was in the driver's seat for that entire Whitesnake album. There is NO FRICKIN' WAY Coverdale wrote those guitar parts. Period. Likewise, Sykes couldn't fire Coverdale from Whitesnake. It was Coverdale's band. It originally started as a solo project. The bitterness that Sykes has may have something to do with the fact that Geffen was the record company distributing and promoting both Whitesnake and Blue Murder. And while Geffen was promoting Whitesnake to the hilt, promotion for Blue Murder was virtually non-existent. You can speculate as to why that was.

[@LynxieLuv2]

Coverdale 🙄

[@GrampsD63]

His second stint with Lizzy was just monstrous and a great tribute to Phil. Got to see the show in a small club and they tore the roof off. He has been a favorite of mine since the Tygers days.

[@kruseamplification4242]

None of Sykes successors could match him even close

[@deepzepp4176]

Doug Aldrich is pretty close. Slightly different style, but close.

[@Annihilation_0f_The_Wicked9066]

Vai destroys him in terms of skill

[@mike_w_21]

@@Annihilation_0f_The_Wicked9066 Not a fan at all. Sykes much better for that genre.

[@julistrauss870]

Thin Lizzy!

[@Tom-ch4zx]

If Coverdale wrote most of the guitar parts, why would he want Sykes back? Because Sykes wrote Coverdale"s best album

[@dannywizz]

Go 6 minutes into the whitesnake - full making of slip of the tongue 1990 documentary on youtube and you can see Coverdales guitar skills or should we say lack of skill.😅 Quite ok though for a vocalist.

[@georgebarry8640]

@@dannywizz I dont have insider knowledge...but clearly Coverdale is not as skilled a player as John Sykes (who is???). It makes sense that the guitr parts, the performances of guitar..were all better when Sykes was on board. I love Steve Vai,andhave tremendous respect for Vandenberg but neither get that genre of Melodic Blue-Hard Rock like John Sykes does. He has it in his DNA. I really love Coverdales vocals..but he (or his bosses) did not understand the value of what John Sykes brought in. That night at the studio when John was told he was out...certainly would be a strange heated mess. If you are John Sykes...."I did the majority of the writing here, the guitar playing, the backing vocals (because you couldnt do them,David)....and have put the energy back into this band.....and NOW I'M out???? It would be very hard to metabolize. For anyone. And David went and got Dan Huff,Vai,Vandenberg to redo parts and create other parts...but despite John Kalodners massive efforts at Gefen..the next release was less commercially succesful AND far less critically succesful. John Sykes was the magic..and he was gone. And everyone thought he would be so easy to replace. Not true. To this Day David has been touring the 1987 material. It gave him a catalog to play for the rest of his days, I wonder of John Sykes ever gets paid for his writing on 1987 or royalities whenever Coverdale plays the songs in a venue. I'd really like to see these 2 somehow collaborate again. Though I am sure John would ,rightfully, want the money he has been owed up front. And I think its all gone up peoples noses by now. And David just isnt in the vocal shape he used to be in. It happens..even to the most gifted. Maybe if someone would get them to work on the same material in two different studios. Use Davids name and connections and Johns Vocals and guitar-playing. I bet it would be a proper way to start. Nothing released until both sign off. No credits on who did what. It doesnt matter. What matters is the music..and I think they both have so much more of it in them.

[@dannywizz]

@@georgebarry8640 I agree on everything you said. I'm on Sykes side. Coverdale got lucky on the follow up album that little mountain studios and Bruce Fairbairn agreed to help which turned out to be an ok album. Coverdale even needed two guitar players to compensate for one (John Sykes) just proves Sykes skills were above everyone else.

[@artsmithdrums]

Oh this goes on and on. It’s fairly simple though, firstly you don’t try and fire David Coverdale from Whitesnake, even by then Coverdale was Whitesnake and vice versa. Secondly, if Sykes was all that he’d simply have moved on and been a huge star on his own or with another band, that didn’t pan out so he spends his life now blaming David Coverdale, no doubt from the large house his royalties from 1987 bought him. I don’t underestimate his contribution to the success of the album but it was a long time ago, everyone needs to get over it!

[@2sc458]

You can't erase John Sykes. He became a legend through his talent. Can't hide that. Sykes is one of the best shredders ever. Coverdale was lucky to get him at all.

[@Annihilation_0f_The_Wicked9066]

He's good but he's not among the best

[@Tolbiny]

John replaced Snowy White in Lizzy, not Gary Moore.

[@romeo8334]

Yep

[@JEFFWEEE]

I was 13 in 1987. I was in love with Metallica and Megadeath etc. My parents gave me Whitesnake 87 at Christmas. I think someone who worked with my Dad knew I was a 'rocker' and advised them to get me that record. I can remember feeling a bit embarrassed when I tore off the wrapping paper thinking, what's this glam rock rubbish. I can then remember going upstairs to my bedroom and playing Still of The Night for the first time, and my jaw hitting the floor listening to John Sykes guitars. It blew my mind. I didn't tell my friends for ages because I knew they would take piss 😂

[@Snakehead1964]

The remix of the 1987 album shortly after the release is nonsense. Adrian Vandenberg did the solo in "Here I Go Again" on the original release, that's all. The radio version of "Here I Go Again" featured parts with different musicians. And Vivian Campbell recorded a solo for the 1988 release of the "Give Me all Your Love" single. The album that was remixed shortly after the original release was "Slide it In", because the US record company didn't like the UK mix. On it the bass parts were replaced by Neil Murray and Sykes recorded some guitar parts for it.

[@Icepacalapse]

Dan Huff

[@macleod1592]

Yeah, Coverdale wrote the guitar parts... That's why Blue Murder sounds like the Whitesnake record and Whitesnake hasn't sounded the same since. Coverdale just couldn't share the spotlight with anybody.

[@andrewtaylor1281]

Coverdale wrote jack shit when it comes to the guitar parts..well, maybe a few chords on an acoustic as an idea for a song.

[@lorensanders8501]

#1) Although I think it is sadly gone now, I will proclaim for the length of my life, that David Coverdale is the pinnacle of rock singers over and above even Robert Plant. #2) Although he seems to be destined to spend his life in the shadows of music, rather than on a big stage, I think Jon Sykes is one of the most tremendous players of the entire 1980's scene - soulful to shredders. BUT, for me Whitesnake became an entirely different band in '87, and my love of the 'Snake will always rest in the halcyon days (IMO) of Bernie Marsden, Mickey Moody, and Neil Murray's slithering songs and performances.

[@billcowan5539]

This man is a legend! I am a fan of all his stuff from Thin Lizzy to Whitesnake and Blue Murder and on👑

[@gowanian]

I liked when John was playing with Thin Lizzy doing "Thunder and Lightning".

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

John was fantastic on that album .I saw him play with Thin Lizzy and then when he was in Whitesnake and he was great live.

[@donobrien1977]

Hard to argue with John Sykes not wanting to ever see Coverdale again, he made that 87 album what it was and got shafted just before it hit the streets. Silver lining is we got blue murder out of it which was an absolutely cracking band.

[@maximum007]

I first saw John play with his band 'Street Fighter' in Blackpool at 'Jenks' bar before he joined the Tygers of Pan Tang', he went out with my sister for awhile. He was a guitar master from the start mainly playing Thin Lizzy covers in the early days. What a player he is.

[@patrick4625]

It's almost like David did music fans a favor. That first Blue Murder album has always been one of my favorite albums. I would love to see the two of them collaborate again. 🤙

[@FleetAdmiral215]

John Sykes is in a League of his own , Whitesnake are Amazing but would have been even better with John Sykes !, Blue Murder we're also Amazing & what a line up !

[@carvinieri5217]

David was lucky to then hire the great Doug Aldridge, who is a phenomenal guitarist. He has the same killer guitar sound as John's. Great two albums "Good to be bad" and "Forevermore" But nothing beats "1987" with John

[@perseapolaris9015]

Yes.'! John is so brilliant guitarist..and beautiful person...!!😵‍💫🎸 Beautiful hair .!!!

[@ramong9406]

This dude is in my top five. Vai is technical and had musician cred but no tension or bile in his playing. Listen to Sykes solos on Don't Turn Away, Crying in the Rain and Out of Love. They're perfect and that's just a small sample size. Dude was a beast from 84-91.

[@regular_rocker]

@1:47 Gary Moore was far from "late" when John Sykes joined Thin Lizzy. BTW Sykes's predecessor was Snowy White

[@briankehew579]

I live in LA, where a lot of the 1985 Whitesnake album was done. There were always stories among professionals about session musicians being brought in to make that album, including Denny Carmassi on drums and Michael Landau on guitar. I think it's come out that some of this is true, and I know Coverdale really ended up loving Carmassi. I'm sure there's info out there now. You can definitely hear Sykes' distinctive style on many things, but they were making one of those "hit records" and often bringing in ringers from outside is/was common.

[@kevinhancock8617]

Saw John fronting Thin Lizzy in 2001, 2002 & 2004. Spoke to him after the 2001 gig. Class act & phenomenal musician. However, I respect his decision to retire from the music scene & hope he’s living a happy, pleasant life 🙏

[@stephaniemariemcdonald9096]

Loved meeting him before he left on tour in the 90s ❤ at my house in West Hills , CA close to Hollywood Hills, gentleman ❤🎉

[@vidsforsquids]

Whitesnake would NEVER have had the success it had without Sykes. Not even close. The album he did launched and sustained Whitesnake with all the radio airplay it received at the time.

[@dannyh5700]

Since I entered his fandom as a noob (around the time grunge died ironically), Blue Murder ftw , I was completely blown away by this virtuoso that I didn't even knew existed.

[@2AChef-n-BBQ]

Just more of the same from Elvis to today, Egos and Personalities clash. The music always becomes secondary once the wars start. Ive seen it 1000 times in 50 years in the business. Both were great in their own right, together they were Legendary.

[@stephenroberts8964]

The Tygers for me, then Lizzy.

[@brianmurphy954]

I feel bad for Sykes. Not knowing exactly what went down (nobody except the two of them does I guess) it’s got to be tough to have contributed so much to an album and be ousted just before its release especially an album such as 1987. I guess we’ll never truly know what happened. I’m guessing egos and insecurities played a large part. Still…they created something very special 🤘

[@kenjohnson604]

I have to begin by saying that Coverdale is and always has been my favorite singer. The man just has a unique voice that is pure gold to my ears. Beginning with Deep Purple's BURN, which is an absolute masterpiece, every album Coverdale has put out has had varying amounts of spectacular songs and amazing vocals. That being said, he did have quite an issue with his ego for a number of years, and it really hit it's pinnacle wirh the Sykes era. They were an unbeatable force together, and it's a shame it didn't last longer. I think Whitesnake '87 and the first Blue Murder album were quite similar and both are among the best albums of that era. I kind of consider them brother and sister albums. Unfortunately I didn't care nearly as much for the follow-up albums from either band, although each had a few great songs. Sykes' career work since has been a big disappointment to me, as I thought he was destined for much greater things. Coverdale has put out a few excellent releases since, but I also feel a little shortchanged with his output since Sykes. I think the Coverdale/Page album and his albums with Doug Aldrich were great, but I often wish we could have had a few more Coverdale/Sykes collaborations before Aldrich entered the picture. It's a shame to think of what could have been, but I greatly appreciate the music we do have from these guys. Whitesnake '87 is my all time favorite album, and the first Blue Murder is probably in my top 20...kinda makes you wonder what could have been had ego's and personality clashes hadn't gotten in the way of what was pure magic

[@cryptoking8060]

Sykes was a massively under appreciated guitarist. His rifs are timeless and punctuate every whitesnake hit.

[@stephaniemariemcdonald9096]

Who's here October 2024: Love these guys ,great ❤band 💞🧬

[@steveclem]

Spellbound and the live album Hellbound Spellbound by Tygers Of Pan Tang are just fabulous.

[@t4bd8]

I always love the 1987 era for John Sykes he rocked on that whitesnake album and I'll never forget it

[@icemanire5467]

Whitesnake didn't write anything decent after Sykes. He shot himself in the foot getting rid of him.

[@uweborsch1946]

WS didn't even write much good stuff with him. Great songs all but one or two came from Marsden-Moody-era.

[@DarksaberForce]

The lineup of David, John, Neil Murray and Cozy Powell should continued for more than one album. Also the amazing Blue Murder album would've been the follow up for the 1987 but like with Cozy, David let that slip away.

[@matthewgonzales3970]

John is a beast of a guitarist and one of my influences, for sure. BUT, there is a reason Coverdale has said he will NEVER work with him again. Surely, David has his own issues with keeping members around but, by MULTIPLE accounts, the band was frustrated with Coverdale taking so long to recover from his throat issues and John asked about replacing him and moving forward. When word got back to DC that his own guitarist wanted to replace him, that was it. Coverdale considered it an attempted mutiny and fired the entire band. It makes sense if you think about it: under ordinary circumstances, with an album MILLIONS OF DOLLARS in debt and two years behind schedule, the last thing anyone would do would be to fire the ENTIRE BAND as the album was being released. For someone to do that, it would have to be an indefensible, unacceptable act that warranted a firing of that magnitude at that critical of a moment, with MILLIONS on the line. On Blue Murder's second album, Sykes reportedly took so long to complete it that Carmine and Tony Franklin eventually moved on, and John had to finish the album with other musicians.Carmine said John was almost impossible to pin down about band decisions, and Billy Sheehan and Portnoy basically said the same thing. John is an amazingly gifted guitarist, writer and vocalist. I saw him do the Thin Lizzy "reunion" shows in 2004, and my wife commented, "who is THAT blonde guy? He is unbelievable!!" She had no idea who he was, but she was absolutely blown away. He's still one of my favorites, and I really think youth and impatience cost him a great writing partnership.

[@alisterfolson]

His guitar and solos on the hits still hold up

[@tproudboomer5965]

If the general music listening public had any musical taste, Sykes would be a household name!

[@mattonbass]

Coverdale follows '87 with "Slip Of The Tongue" and "Restless Heart". Sykes follows '87 with Blue Murder ST and Blue Murder "Nothin' But Trouble". I know which sequels I prefer.

[@Griuofficial]

Thanks for the video🤘🏻

[@rickfortine7454]

THAT WHOLE ALBUM AND ALL THE MAGIC IS UNDENIABLE SYKES & COVERDALE MASTERPIECE ... AND SYKES GUITAR IS 90% OF WHATS ON THE RECORD !!!

[@timguzz8844]

I think it's a tie between Tygers & Thin Lizzy. That's probably controversial but I'm a fan of old Whitesnake and never took kindly to the very commercial, slightly lame Whitesnake/1987 album

[@vocelladieferin4028]

All love and no disparagement to Viv Campbell. I'm surprised Sykes wasn't the choice for DL. Good on Viv for being the guy.

[@andyhayes7828]

Whitesnake were awesome with Sykes. I hated that he was fired, but Dave was jealous. I liked Vivian Campbell and Adrian Vandenburg, and sure wished that 'Slip of the Tongue' had been recorded by Adrian Vandenburg, because Adrian has tone and is soulfully melodic. Steve Vai sounds totally WRONG on it and it's a SHAME that after all these years later that they won't admit that it wasn't Adrians hand or whatever, it was because Vai was a hot sell at the time and David and the record company wanted added incentive for the album to sell well. Vai admitted to be a buyer of his own hype back then.

[@Mark-oy9lw]

1987 was a great album although I prefer the earlier snake albums. The blue murder albums especially the first were fantastic and deserved more acclaim. Not so keen on his solo stuff though

[@nicholaschapman6763]

BLUE MURDER!!! FUCK YEAH!! JELLYROLL!! ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART!!!

[@metalheart80s]

Sex Child, Riot, Black Hearted Woman and perhaps the most underrated Blue Murder song ever: PTOLEMY !!

[@stephenjefferies5101]

Sykes is one of my favourites. I just feel we never heard the best of him. His stints in all the band was far too short. He should have much better thought of than he is.

[@jamieb-mo3dl]

that sound and tone, even the immenses talent aside. Its hard NOT to like Sykes. we're all older now, time is passing by, and sadly i sometimes feel like he missed out on some, yet he rolls down his own road and I resepct that too

[@cortarelva]

Al I know is that the guy who benefited more from being in Whitesnake was the one who probably contributed the less musically. Steve Vai. He went in did his shit cashed on the massive popularity he got from WS, released Passion and warfare and became a legend.

[@haggbom72]

he released passion while on tour with WS or before the tour started.

[@Davy.J.Y]

TYGERS ! Interesting fact - Tygers of Pan Tang the name ? It is taken from the writings of legendary British author Michael Moorcock . Pan Tang is a part of the fictional world of ELRIC of Melnibone .

[@nc1969]

Without Sykes…. NO US version of Whitesnake period! No doubt Coverdale felt threatened when he was ill. Maybe Sykes pushed too hard? More details of what when down between them during Coverdale illness is the key here.

[@robigarcia3444]

Both Blue Murder albums are supreme!!! so somehow i am grateful that he was fired from Whitesnake otherwise they would've probably never been made.

[@ampman50]

Still the rocker at heart. What a fantastic musician.🎸

[@frankmcconnellogue3351]

Seen Sykes with Thinlizzy on numerous occasions ,great player .

[@raymondlugo9960]

I heard David said he felt burned by John going into the studio on David's dime. Also, David reached out and then changed his mind. I understand that only one guitar lead was swapped out,l.

[@insin5905]

I love Sykes’ playing. Extremely underrated. What does he do all day?

[@DYNAMITEDORK]

The biggest mistake was David getting rid of John, but then again we wouldn’t have Blue Murder 👍🏻

[@heavymetalhero08]

John has always disputed the claim that he wanted to replace Coverdale, he even stated the obvious, that it was Coverdales band and that Coverdale's iconic vocal talent would be a hard replacement anyway

[@rickfortine7454]

SYKES HAS A VERY UNIQUE WAY OF TUNING AND RECORDING LAYERED GUITAR TRACKS THAT IS SECOND TO NONE, AND ITS TRULY IMPOSSIBLE FOR OTHERS TO DUPLICATE IT !!!

[@haitolawrence5986]

Yeah, I love Coverdale but he really needs to own this sh*t.

[@UFO1601]

Sadly, I think John Sykes has fallen out of love with the music business . A genuine talent that appears to have been lost. Thank god I got to see him live with Whitesnake on the slide it in tour in the UK.

[@DanHunterSportsWriter]

I'd never heard of this guy. I'm well aware of David Coverdale. One of rocks true Marmite figures

[@heavymetalhero08]

You probably would need to be a die hard fan of WS or a guitarist to know of John Sykes .. thats sort of the tragedy. Go check out the live performances of WS with Sykes (pre 87 album) the guy did by himself what it took two guitarist with every other lineup (and none of them could replicate his work accurately.. Mostly with his eyes closed and not a single muffed note. He is no doubt the greatest, he had it all, Check out the live Crying in the rain solo from 85 Rio

[@haggbom72]

@@heavymetalhero08 come on, every band who records with one guitarist is better live with 2, or do you think sykes plays solo and rhythm at the same time ?

[@heavymetalhero08]

@@haggbom72 wow, smh.... its not about having someone to cover rhythm for the short period of a solo break. It's about all around quality/tone/accuracy. Sykes had it all. The same reason EVH, Dimebag Darrell, Paul Gilbert, and so many other greats never needed a 2nd guitarist. It's not as good if neither of the two are capable of what the one top shelf guy can do

[@johnfletcher948]

Slide It In 1984 American version kids!!!!

[@andyleibbrand4834]

I loved his Thin Lizzy period, why isn’t it mentioned here??

[@BanalayerPete1972]

Errors aplenty here, sorry. John Sykes' main influences were Blackmore, Schenker and Moore. His tenure with Lizzy was not cut short by Phil's passing - John was in Whitesnake from late 1983, and Phil died in 1986 (RiP). John Sykes replaced Snowy White in Lizzy. And Slide It In was the album that was remixed with contributions from two new members (Sykes and a returning Neil Murray). Those are the facts. Speculation over why Coverdale and Sykes fell out is more tricky to nuance. I see no reason why either man would've been jealous of the other. Coverdale knew Sykes' good looks would help Whitesnake appeal to a bigger audience. Sykes knew Whitesnake was Coverdale's band. Something else was probably at the heart of it. We don't have to take sides in these dramas!

[@nicolasvandyk5803]

I remember hearing an interview where Coverdale said his mother called him to complain that Sykes was ugly and it would impede their popularity! :) not sure if that's him being defensive or what. :) To repeat what others have said, Sykes is a legend, Coverdale is a legend, the 1987 record and Blue Murder are both high water marks for that era. I take issue with people (not you, but elsewhere in the thread) saying players like Vivian Campbell, Van, Aldrich, Reb Beach and Vandenberg (different kind of player) aren't good players. They're all strong. I think Gary Moore (RIP) felt both VC and Sykes were...ahem...HEAVILY influenced by him (Gary, allegedly an irascible sort, was less charitable in this comments).

[@BanalayerPete1972]

@@nicolasvandyk5803: No, David Coverdale's mum thought that John Sykes was TOO good-looking, not ugly! 😄 She said something like, "David, girls will be looking at the guitarist more than you." Oh, those people are really tedious. They think that to prove Sykes' brilliance they have to denigrate all later Whitesnake guitarists. Ridiculous. Viv and Adrian are just as good as John. Steve Vai is also world class. Those that have replaced Lou Gramm and Ronnie James Dio also get the same meaningless abuse from "fans". They're more trolls than fans.

[@nicolasvandyk5803]

Well said!

[@BanalayerPete1972]

@@nicolasvandyk5803: Cheers!

[@davekubesh919]

I've only heard his music in Whitesnake and Blue Murder, I'll have to check out some of his other work. I was also hoping he was going to replace Steve Clark in Def Leppard, that would have been a great kick in the pants for them. But, unfortunately it was just a rumor. By what I'd heard in Blue Murder, there's no denying he had a big role in writing for the two Whitesnake albums he was on.

[@haggbom72]

he was on one WS album '87 and a few overdubs on slide it in but he did not write any songs on slide it in

[@paddytguitar]

Justice for John

[@fredohrwell7221]

After sykes got fired Whitesnake never rose to the heights of Sykes playing and songwriting. Jelly Dave .

[@dingushussey4100]

Sykes replaced Snowy White in Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore might have stood in for a few gigs, but Snowy had recorded Renegade, the album before Thunder and Lightning

[@andreawagner7352]

Jealousy at its finest !!! I love you John !❤