As of this post, I am 51 years old. While it’s inevitable at this point that many of my heroes will be passing away, it doesn’t make it any easier. Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Clive Burr (Iron Maiden), Paul Di’Anno (Iron Maiden), Ronnie James Dio, David Crosby, I could go on and on. It’s fucking hard watching your heroes fall and this week the hard rock/metal world lost a great one.
Earlier today (Monday, January 20),the following statement was posted on Sykes‘s social media: “It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer. He will be remembered by many as a man with exceptional musical talent but for those who didn’t know him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man whose presence lit up the room.
“He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always pulled for the underdog. In his final days, he spoke of his sincere love and gratitude for his fans who stuck by him through all these years.
“While the impact of his loss is profound and the mood somber, we hope the light of his memory will extinguish the shadow of his absence.”
John Sykes was a guitarist/songwriter/vocalist known for his work in Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and Blue Murder in addition to countless other guest appearances and side projects. Even if you don’t know him by name, you know his work. Unless you were dead in the ’80s, you heard his work in Whitesnake. “Still of The Night,” “Is This Love,” “Love Ain’t No Stranger,” and countless other iconic Whitesnake songs bear his name as a co-writer and his style of playing and tone alone are unmatched.
After a terribly ugly split with David Coverdale and Whitesnake, Sykes went on to form the power trio Blue Murder with drummer Carmine Appice and bassist Tony Franklin. Blue Murder released their stellar eponymous debut album in 1989 which spawned to incredible singles, “Valley of the Kings,” and “Jellyroll.” The band received little to no airplay on radio and “Jellyroll” was played in limited rotation on MTV. The band hit the road supporting acts such as Warrant, Billy Squire, and Bon Jovi but even the high profile tours couldn’t further them enough to get past a cult favorite.
Throughout the years, Sykes would keep busy writing and performing on a smaller level than usual. He would do a small tour with a re-formed Thin Lizzy, he would continue work on solo work, and in 2012 there was even mention of a band he was forming with former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy and former David Lee Roth/Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan. The band was tentatively called Bad Apple but he abandoned the project due to conflicting obligations. Sykes’ position would be filled by vocalist/guitar virtuoso Richie Kotzen and go on to be called The Winery Dogs.
RIP John Sykes, wherever you may roam. Thanks for the music, the memories, and the connections.
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