Riff Retrospective: John Sykes
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hey guys!!! its your good buddy Uncle Ben Eller here with a very special Riff Retrospective on one of the greatest guitarists of all time: John Sykes! His careers with Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Blue Murder, and of course his solo career have yielded a megaton of incredible riffs, and we are here today to celebrate them!
Armed with a Mesa Badlander 100 rack mount, Suhr RL/IR, Ownhammer IR, Logic Delay and Reverb, a Boss SD1, and my buddy Mitch's Les Paul Tribute, i'm gonna take you all through his entire career, spotlighting some of his greatest riffs from across his career.
Whats your favorite Sykes riff? And who should i feature on the next Riff Retrospective? Let me know in the comments!
@BenEller 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Riff Retrospective: John Sykes!!! Who should cover on the next installment?!
@byrdman023able 2 жыл бұрын
Jake E Lee
@PeteBreen 2 жыл бұрын
Nuno Bettencourt.
@josearalat 2 жыл бұрын
Warren DiMartini
@SuperSpear2009 2 жыл бұрын
Randy
@PedroPrando 2 жыл бұрын
Tony Iommi🔥🤘🏻
@Sodacake 2 жыл бұрын
People say no one swings like Eddie, which is true, but they should also say that about Sykes. Such a great groove in his playing. He just adds so much "drama", for want of a better word, to songs.
@davidemmons899 2 жыл бұрын
No one swings like Eddie
@jebjebson8743 2 жыл бұрын
Yeah but nobody does swing like Eddie
@mikeg.9238 2 жыл бұрын
Been following Sykes for 40 years and don't know why he's never included in any discussions about great guitarists!
@Sodacake 2 жыл бұрын
@@jebjebson8743 And no one swings like Sykes.
@chrischoir3594 2 жыл бұрын
John Sykes is nothing compared to Eddie. Eddie was a pioneer one of the few.
@joec5962 2 жыл бұрын
To me as a guitar player for 40 years, the 87 Whitesnake album is one of my top 3 guitar tones of all time. John’s solos have the smoothness and sound of a violin. Between his tone and his flawless rhythm and solos, he is only next to Steve Lukather as the most underrated guitar players of all time. Guitar perfection as far as I am concerned!
@scottglasson1957 2 жыл бұрын
The tone is a bit to saturated.. but the playing and songwriting puts it in my top 10 guitar albums
@richardblack3385 Жыл бұрын
@@krillinroshi9312 lmaooooo
@krillinroshi9312 Жыл бұрын
@@richardblack3385 I’ve just reread what I supposedly wrote; and its weird to me because I actually love that album; played it endlessly, so many memories; John Sykes is an absolute maestro of the guitar. Unheralded musical genius; solo for ‘Is this love’ absolutely mesmerising, equal to any lauded lead solo... ??? Not sure what i was meaning in that deleted post; but obviously way off the mark...
@rtaylor1105 Жыл бұрын
agreed
@richardblack3385 Жыл бұрын
@@krillinroshi9312 your a great saiyaman
@chrisleriche 2 жыл бұрын
1987 and Blue Murder are probably the best 1,2 punch as far as guitar albums go at the time. Thank God for Bob Rock who helped John get his tone for Whitesnake, then carried it over to Blue Murder.
@SteveFullerBikes Жыл бұрын
100% agree on this
@BigErnieBrown Жыл бұрын
💯
@Swampster70 7 ай бұрын
Bob is great at blending the tones of a couple of amps to get a huge sound. John had a couple of Mesa Mark 3 coliseum amps. 150watt monsters both set to different tones for that massive wall of sound. I wonder how much of those sessions carried over to what Bob did with Metallica on the Black Album.
@seanyiscubsfan1 3 ай бұрын
@@Swampster70I believe those Mark III Coliseums are 180 watts.
@smackatiger_420 Ай бұрын
Blizzard of Oz and Diary of a madman
@The_Wood 2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely right - John Sykes is indeed one of the most underrated guitarists ever. He is an absolute MONSTER of a player!
@lorettahookano6139 Жыл бұрын
Blue Murder, at his best, running on all cylinders !
@rishz7857 5 ай бұрын
@@lorettahookano6139you need to listen to him with Thin Lizzy (Renegade & Thunder n Lightning albums)
@lorettahookano6139 5 ай бұрын
@@rishz7857 yep, I remember first hearing the Thunder & Lightning album when Tower Record’s was still in business but my favorite remain’s, Tyger’s of Pan Tang Spellbound Album
@DrAL00isin 2 жыл бұрын
I was a frustrated guitar player in the 80s and all the guitarists I knew were very aware of John, guys like him made it clear we should keep our day jobs and just love music and playing for the joy of it.
@ljdsam 2 жыл бұрын
As far as I know, John didn't solo at all on Slide it in, he just added some rhythm parts over the existing recording. The biggest difference is a complete re-mix, where they took down the keyboards, and also did things like took out the echo in the solo for Standing in the Shadow (which IMO was a bad decision). And Neil Murray re-did the bass. However there is a version of that song that was a B-side from the 1987 sessions that might be Sykes. Although I've also heard it could be Dann Huff. What do people think? kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kLyWldZ-kr24gqM.html
@makemoneyrelax 2 жыл бұрын
he aint underrated...he is one of the best
@dougrmoe 2 жыл бұрын
Sykes is a beast ! That Blue Murder stuff is bad ass !
@JDWDMC 2 жыл бұрын
I met Carmine Appice at a drum clinic in late 1988 just before the Blue Murder album was released and he spent ages talking to me and my then girlfriend, now wife, about all sorts of stuff. I'd just started learning to read drum music, so he handed me a copy of Realistic Rock gratis and then we got into the discussion about John. All three of the members of Blue Murder really wanted to do more with that band, but their scheduling was a nightmare at the time, and getting the album done was probably a minor miracle. Carmine was not at all how I thought he would be and had huge respect for Tony and John.
@suprchickn7745 Жыл бұрын
Tony is such a nice guy and he responds to almost every post on his channel.
@rockonbaz 2 жыл бұрын
Sykes is up there with the best of them, come back John ASAP please!!!!!
@rasmadrak 2 жыл бұрын
Criminally underrated guitarist!
@456or7strings 2 жыл бұрын
I hit “Like” before I hit play!
@2760ade Жыл бұрын
Same here, anything with 'John Sykes' in the title gets my like!
@frednava3869 2 жыл бұрын
Crying in the rain solo is amazing.
@BRO77TX 2 жыл бұрын
Sykes is underappreciated… not underrated!!
@bhouse92101 2 жыл бұрын
Agree 100%
@angels77100 2 жыл бұрын
Exactly!
@roymenke1909 2 жыл бұрын
That’s exactly right. In no way is he underrated. If he would put out some freaking music, he’d be more well known.
@danielgoodwin1571 2 жыл бұрын
Can't hardly get him to come out of his house. He is president of rock and roll hall of Fame though. Yeah, I think he has agoraphobia
@wernervanderwalt8541 2 жыл бұрын
Valley of the Kings is an epic song! John is one of my big influences. I got into his playing while listening to Blue Murder. I only found out afterwards that he was responsible for the epic sound of Whitesnake's "1987".
@MrClassicmetal 2 жыл бұрын
And he can sing _Still of the Night_ live!
@aliseddon3273 Жыл бұрын
Asked him for a autograph on Blackpool Pleasure Beach told me to f##k o#f 😂
@erikhelkimo 2 жыл бұрын
The ’Thunder And Lightning’ album blows my mind every time I listen to it. Full of awesome riffs and solos. Seriously underrated guitarist!
@nickhewitt6344 2 жыл бұрын
That whole album is a masterpiece my favorite song is the last one heart attack!
@TV-nm6nl Жыл бұрын
Love the riff to Holy Wars.
@rishz7857 5 ай бұрын
Down on your luck (Hollywood) & Thunder n Lightning solo brings chills to me everytime I hear it. Love that heavy sound.
@theaterdreamer 2 жыл бұрын
I have turned so many of my friends on to Blue Murder. Nobody should be able to shred like that, and have that voice. John is a metal god.
@Wyldwulf 2 жыл бұрын
It was evident on Thunder and Lightning that Sykes had something to prove. Being a Gary Moore fan he came out swinging and no telling where Lizzy would have gone of they had stayed together...and healthy. An aside on Sykes is that Bob Rock has said "he's the best guitarist I've recorded." There's also a YT video recounting his audition for GnR that is well worth the listen.
@ginoames 2 жыл бұрын
John Sykes is so awesome! Agree that he is seriously underrated.
@i5150v1 2 жыл бұрын
Right there with Frank Marino, Dave Meniketti & Nuno Bettencourt
@haggbom72 Жыл бұрын
@@i5150v1 Nuno is hardly underrated, meniketti is however
@jbbluesguitar 2 жыл бұрын
John is also an incredible singer. His live rendition of Still of the Night with Blue Murder is epic. His playing looks so effortless. It took two guitarists to try to replace him in Whitesnake and I don't think they succeeded. Great riffage Ben.
@suprchickn7745 Жыл бұрын
I love Vai but replacing Sykes' flavor in that band is impossible for even him.
@shawntalarico6384 2 жыл бұрын
Was my favorite guitarist growing up! Valley of the Kings! Everyone go listen to that song
@lasamoostang 2 жыл бұрын
Man you have no idea how much joy it brings me to see someone praising Sykes!!! Besides Eddie Trunk, nobody truly gives him the recognition he deserves so this video is a godsend for me! Cheers Ben!!!
@robplante8631 2 жыл бұрын
100% agree...the guy is filthy good and generally overlooked considering his body of work is so well known.
@ericmartin9441 Жыл бұрын
A-men to that bro!!!
@fredericadda 2 жыл бұрын
I love John Sykes! Bad Boys is my favorite song of the 1987 album.
@2760ade Жыл бұрын
Yeah, deffo!
@ChewieEst Жыл бұрын
IMO Bad Boys is a better riff than SOTN.
@paulmiller1803 2 жыл бұрын
“Nothin’ But Trouble” is among the greatest rock albums ever recorded in my opinion. John Sykes could easily have been a name on the tip of every 80’s rock fan’s tongue. Timing and circumstance were not in his favor. But he had the guitar chops to rival anyone, a voice to rival anyone, and the 80’s rocker good looks to have been on every teenage girls bedroom wall. He could have been as huge as Bon Jovi, but he just wasn’t.
@sinbad2247 2 жыл бұрын
2:59 Love Don’t stay / Crazy Nights 3:15 Raised on Rock / Crazy Nights 3:26 GangLand / Spellbound 3:39 HellBound / SpellBound 3:52 Uncle Ben Speaks 4:18 Cold Sweat / Thunder and Lighting 4:46 Uncle Ben Speaks 5:21 Slide It In / Slide It In 5:38 Give Me More Time / Slide It In 6:14 Uncle Ben Speaks 7:20 Crying in the Rain / WhiteSnake 7:33 Bad Boys / Whitesnake 7:59 Still Of The Night / WhiteSnake 8:20 Give me All Your Love / WhiteSnake 8:43 Children Of The Night / WhiteSnake 8:58 Here I Go Again / WhiteSnake 9:27 Your Gonna Break My Heart Again / WhiteSnake 9:45 Uncle Ben Speaks 10:06 Riot / Blue Murder 10:22 Blue Murder / Blue Murder 10:38 Black Hearted Woman / Blue Murder 10:57 Uncle Ben Speaks 11:25 We All Fall Down / Nothin’ But Trouble 11:44 Cry For Love / Nothin’ But Trouble 12:01 Love Child / Nothin’ But Trouble 12:24 Uncle Ben Speaks 12:35 Soul Stealer / Out Of My Tree 12:52 Black Days / Out Of My Tree 13:07 The Way You KISS Me / 20th Century 13:27 Uncle Ben Speaks Link to playlist with all songs kzfaq.info/sun/PLBXA-0q87bHcKk6XJ1I4gPkqyEePW_RRW
@lueyteledeluxe7457 Жыл бұрын
"Slide it in/slide it in →Give me more time/slide it in" ☝️😧 😌 Hmmmm... So, what......he's Tryna dikk her down, but he can't get it up...??! 🙆♂️ Is that what it is ..?? 😆 Because I defy anyone to try and explain that that means anything other than EXACTLY THAT!! 🙆♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ It's sooo cringe-tastic, I'm sure it busted the cringe-O-metre !
@stevehawthorn8733 2 жыл бұрын
Proud to say John and I are from the same town, Reading in England, and he is a huge influence on me as a guitarist, and although sadly never met him, I'm friends with one of his cousins. My town also proudly produced Kate Middleton, Kate Winslet, Mike Oldfield and Ricky Gervais who I was at school with
@jfo3000 2 жыл бұрын
Sounds like a wonderful town to be in!
@alexhigh5363 Жыл бұрын
Hi Steve I’m reading also. Any idea when he left Reading? Can’t find much info on it
@stevehawthorn8733 Жыл бұрын
@@alexhigh5363 here's the link to John's bio on his official site
@1allspub 21 күн бұрын
Man, what’s in the water in that town? 😂
@atrain670 2 жыл бұрын
John Sykes has always been an axe god in my eyes. His hair has a separate god-tier…
@2760ade Жыл бұрын
Massive jealousy! Mine has departed☹But I can still play guitar😀
@Jasx1x 2 жыл бұрын
Ben, just like Yngvie Malmsteem, Dave Mustain, Zakk Wyde and the legend himself, Eddie Van Halen, John Sykes defined my High School and College music play list. I love his licks and rhythms. These men defined a generation of music for all of GenX'rs. And made music that we still enjoy and made us pick up the guitar and wanted to play them. Thank you for showcasing his great work.
@2760ade Жыл бұрын
Who the fuck are Dave Mustain and Zakk Wyde? Learn to spell please before making any meaningful comment!
@zabelius1 2 жыл бұрын
I am aware of John since Tygers of Pan Tang. He is jawdropping awesome. Later on I even met him while I was recording. He was very nice. So let's face it: He plays killer, sings killer, looks great, is nice....damn, such kinda guys can make one sick. Just kidding. Great video Uncle Ben.
@timpierceguitar 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Ben for all the great execution, you're playing feels great.... These riffs all sound great in your hands... And Sykes is quite the music maker... I need to listen to more of his work
@Locknar77 2 жыл бұрын
In addition to being a triple threat, having had the chance to hang with him before and after multiple Thin Lizzy shows, he's not only a super nice dude, but as you'd expect. his hair smells terrific! Thanks for shining a spotlight on this underrated icon. Perhaps this could be a series? If so, I'd like to nominate the late great Criss Oliva for consideration.
@BenEller 2 жыл бұрын
Love that idea!!!
@hazardeur 2 жыл бұрын
Criss Oliva deserves this so much. Still one of the greatest ever to pick up a 6 string. He had that technical crazyness but combined it with his organic/swinging playing style and his crazy tapping melodies. so much intensity. listen to any of his solos on edge of thorns, streets, gutter ballet, hall of the.....well, basically ANY one of his solos. unparalleled
@kili1985 2 жыл бұрын
Yeah Ben, you have do something about Criss Oliva!
@SashaGarcia 2 жыл бұрын
I love his "larger than life" tone, full of gain , high mids, and ambience.
@israelmalveira9992 2 жыл бұрын
Mr. Sykes is a true beast. Great to see people apreciating that
@sixtring73 2 жыл бұрын
Loved this. John is so underrated. That first Blue Murder album is absolute gold!
@DarthV506 2 жыл бұрын
The first Blue Murder album was amazing, never knew there was a second. Guess I know what I'll be streaming this afternoon.
@Lance37a 2 жыл бұрын
It's not as good as the first one but it isn't bad.
@shawntalarico6384 2 жыл бұрын
It's different from the first one. The production isn't as full and monstrous sounding. But the songs are great. The playing and singing is great too
@nahnotsomuch2292 2 жыл бұрын
I'd kind of disagree that 'it's not as good', but it's definitely far more varied stylistically from song to song. Most of his solo albums are the same way. The self titled disc was mostly a straight up hard rock album. 'Nothin' But Trouble' was also mostly a victim of timing. By the time that record was released (1993) grunge had decimated the 80's rock scene, so it unfortunately never got the airplay and attention it was worthy of.
@nahnotsomuch2292 2 жыл бұрын
John also put out a new tune last year. Apparently he's got an entire album in the can (according to Eddie Trunk), but he has seemingly gone off grid again since. So, who knows if the thing will ever see the light of day. But, here's the new song from last year: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aZhdodWUz9nbhmg.html
@joerobinson2538 2 жыл бұрын
I actually prefer the second album (Nothing But Trouble) over the debut album. To me it has more of the Whitesnake 87 album feel. Coverdale was so dumb to fire him-he was the sound of 80’s era Whitesnake.
@TheMusicalSchizo 2 жыл бұрын
Always thought Sykes' tone was BUTTER. And his riffs were as good as anyone's. Great tribute, Uncle Ben!
@47279J 2 жыл бұрын
Sykes is one of the greatest shredders of all time. I still remember when I heard Cold Sweat's live version when I was a kid and it blew my mind. It still does. On top of the shredding, the guy looks great, has a great singin voice and can write great songs. And he can play piano.
@kamikazi777 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this. He’s truly in a league of his own. There’s never enough homage paid to this undeniable Monster of Rock. All hail John James Sykes!
@alexb6566 2 жыл бұрын
So happy to see you giving Sykes his dues Uncle Ben. One of my all time favourites. Sykes put out a couple of new songs last year on KZfaq. The second one has an insane solo and is just classic John Sykes. His playing on the recent Gary Moore tribute is beautiful also.
@gamezharks 2 жыл бұрын
John Sykes is such a massively underrated complete package of a guitarist, he can shred, riff, write killer hooks and even sing, such a great ace of all traits. As a sidenote I hadn't heard of Blue Murder before this video and HOOOOLY SHIT!
@joemartucci4786 2 жыл бұрын
Awesome isn’t it. I’ve heard that Sykes was supposed to be the guitarist in the winery dogs before Ritchie Kotzen got the gig. Love Richie but Sykes with Sheehan & Portnoy Holley crap!
@leebarlow2125 2 жыл бұрын
@@joemartucci4786 Agreed!
@illxs 2 жыл бұрын
Sykes is amazing, a real guitar hero! Even with the limited time he was in Thin Lizzy he had a great impact on their style and of course in Whitesnake he became iconic!
@wmot206 2 жыл бұрын
Love his playing on the "Still Got the Blues" song/tribute!
@micwalt 2 жыл бұрын
Sykes is one of my all-time faves. I wore out my cassette copies of Slide it In and Whitesnake ('87) in high school. And the Blue Murder albums were in constant rotation throughout my 20s.
@billytremoloband7456 2 жыл бұрын
When listening to John Sykes riffs all I hear is someone who loved EVH ….! Which is always a good thing!
@trillrifaxegrindor4411 2 жыл бұрын
but he didnt sound anything like him,which was odd but great
@johnmcmahonBXLA 2 жыл бұрын
“Feel your love tonight”… the riff that keeps on giving
@HighGainsDrifter Жыл бұрын
Crying in the rain's solo is my favorite of all time. All that emotion!
@deckert618 2 жыл бұрын
Sykes wrote some of my favorite riffs from the 80s and 90s, and I never realized until now. Thanks, Uncle Ben. My Nether regions are somewhat engorged.
@Gee-no 2 жыл бұрын
John Sykes is a badass. Love his songwriting, singing, guitar playing. The White snake album turned me on to him. I saw him with Blue Murder in Chicago and got to meet him and the band. Real cool guys. I am also puzzled that hardly anyone knows him. Soulful leads and badass riffs.
@brianswelding 2 жыл бұрын
Listen to the UK Slide it in album... then listen to the U.S. version. HUGE difference with JS. I'm 50, when that album came out we were all like, "Who is this guitar player!?" Been a fan ever since. Great to see he is still appreciated by newer generations. Yes he is grossly underrated not just for his playing and vocals but the writing. Any fellow musicians out there know how difficult it is to write a really good song, let alone a whole bunch of 'em. Thanks for the video!
@jfo3000 2 жыл бұрын
Exactly. The writing of great songs. Those songs are the vehicles that give a shredder his magic carpet to fly on and be heard be the public.
@haggbom72 Жыл бұрын
its remixed, with sykes added but he plays the same riffs so should not be given credit for those
@kinkinmyslinky967 2 жыл бұрын
If there’s ever an underrated hall of fame, John would be the undisputed king.
@Ravelle17 2 жыл бұрын
Ty Tabor says hi
@thehoppo 2 жыл бұрын
This is not the Greatest Les Paul in the world, This is just a Tribute
@al3d35 2 жыл бұрын
Actually the cheapest
@MauricioCaran 2 жыл бұрын
who cares...
@bobbyruggs808 2 жыл бұрын
Uncle Ben can make a squier affinity sound like a Suhr.
@ronedelbrock8570 2 жыл бұрын
🤣🤣🤣
@fishstickkitty8068 2 жыл бұрын
Lol classic
@dougkenyon381 2 жыл бұрын
My top three: John Sykes, George Lynch and Eddie of course -- since the 80s. I've always wished Blue Murder would get back together.
@chrispetersen4863 2 жыл бұрын
Add Vito Bratta from White Lion and Michael Schenker and you have my top 5 right there! (and somewhere in there is Warren DiMartini as well... So yeah, 6 in my top 5, hehe
@bucknaked311 2 жыл бұрын
John is great but top 3 anything. Nope
@rickw5024 2 жыл бұрын
@@chrispetersen4863 Drom Schenker and add Jake E Lee. that's my tops
@chrispetersen4863 2 жыл бұрын
@@rickw5024 * facepalm * How could I have forgotten Jake!! Just add Jake to the list! Keep Schenker as well!
@rishz7857 5 ай бұрын
Scott Gorham & Theodore Nugent are totally cool.
@mesaeddie 3 ай бұрын
I met John and Scot at the Portland Airport the day after show 20 some years ago. Both very approachable John stuck his hand out to shake as soon as I told them I had been to the great show the night before. Damn I wish I could have met Phil .
@dkpitt3912 2 жыл бұрын
I love John Sykes! That blue murder album is a masterpiece for that time. His playing is ridiculously good. He certainly is underrated. Let me correct that, he’s not underrated he’s just under acknowledged. Which brings me to my next point uncle Ben. Why are you vehemently against spotlighting Schenker? He’s influenced most of your 80s heroes and he’s an unbelievable talent, and really one of the most signature stylists ever. It makes absolutely no sense to me.
@brettdiaz 2 жыл бұрын
This takes me back to 1987. Thanks Mr. Eller.
@pcbullets8726 2 жыл бұрын
John Sykes is a legend, one of the best all around players. Just an amazing talent and criminally underrated. Great video Ben!
@crazysnarfy861 2 жыл бұрын
The guitar solo for "Crying in the Rain" is easily in my top 10 for greatest guitar solos of all time!
@394pjo 2 жыл бұрын
No one ever talks about John's hair? His flaxion mane set new standards of coiffure and bouffant amongst guitar players the world over. Those 4 ply feathered layers with highlighted blonde streaks were leagues ahead of his contemporaries like the dutch farm boy Adrian Vandenberg, who's gouda inflected wisps of dolly pubes were completely outclassed.
@perpetualbystander4516 2 жыл бұрын
Dived deep into a lexicon it seems...
@glennwhitlock1272 2 жыл бұрын
Agree. But that's history now. Only Coverdale has managed to maintain the mane.
@trillrifaxegrindor4411 2 жыл бұрын
fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkking awesome....my hair still looks like this,only loaded with grey
@DevinRyanVitek 2 жыл бұрын
This fucking comment is amazing
@alexb6566 2 жыл бұрын
Comment of the day!
@RyanNutick 2 жыл бұрын
Blue Murder - We All Fall Down!!! Have loved that song FOREVER! Didn't realize just how much guitar from my teens was John Sykes!
@danielabilez3619 2 жыл бұрын
Since none of us will approach their level in this lifetime. Play with heart. So many greats. Learn from them
@ArtChannelAKA 2 жыл бұрын
Rediscovered Sykes during lockdown after seeing that incredible Tommy Aldridge footage at the drum clinic playing Crying in the Rain. After that it was the '87 album and then its true sequel, the Blue Murder debut, that i listened to for the rest of 2020 and into 2021.
@andrewbettis4247 2 жыл бұрын
Well thanks for that trip down memory lane that 87 white snake album and the blue murder album as well were pivotal in my development as a young guitar player... honestly I probably spent more hours in front of a mirror playing air guitar to those records than anything else lol John Sykes vocals on the blue murder album deserve honorable mention as well
@bhouse92101 2 жыл бұрын
I like that you mentioned him as a "triple threat" because his vocals were just as amazing as his riffs and leads. When Nothin' but Trouble came out and I heard "Save My Love", I was amazed at his vocal range. That album was released around the time that Boyz II Men were VERY popular and I told my friend that if he asked those guys to record a version of "Save My Love", it would have been a #1 hit at the time! NO DOUBT!
@BenEller 2 жыл бұрын
Dude is just too talented
@sn95_mustang_garage 2 жыл бұрын
The reason why I took up guitar and own a Les Paul.....John Sykes. My favorite guitarist. I was 16 when the 1987 Whitesnake album hit. I went to see Whitesnake on tour finally in 1990 and it was Steve Vai. I know...I know...people like him more but I'm just a Sykes fanboy.
@Bona19646 2 жыл бұрын
Vai’s tone has always been too thin, in any band he has been in.
@satchrules101 Жыл бұрын
Not when vai was using Bogner heads .
@konstantinosxanthios2124 2 жыл бұрын
This video was awesome! Sykes is incredibly underrated. John Norum would be a great player for one of these videos, another underappreciated player.
@metaldownm 2 жыл бұрын
So beautiful Uncle Ben. John Sykes is a genius, singing and playing those complex riffs at the same time. Like Mustaine.
@waynefaircloth3423 2 жыл бұрын
I gotta tell ya Ben. Whenever I have watched anything about John, no one ever talks about Tygers of Pan Tang or even try an touch on the BLISTERING Thin Lizzy CD, Thunder and Lightning. My hidden fav off that CD for a frenzied lead is on the song Someday She's Going to Hit Back. That right there is shredding for all John is worth. Also, the lead John play's in the song he recorded with Phil Lynott called Please Don't Leave me. That solo is AMAZING. Current favs from John is the song Cautionary Warning. That riff he is singing across is bad ass. If you get and chance, and you can somehow find a copy of it, try and find the band called The Three Musketeer's. The only things I have found are live concerts. It's Phil Lynott on Bass, Brian Downey on Drums and John on Guitar. THAT........is filled with shredtastic guitar. Thanks for including Tygers and Thin Lizzy in this Retrospective :-)
@davidjames4442 2 жыл бұрын
Thunder and Lightning is just beyond incredible. This was Phil’s requiem….
@marcomcbreed8153 2 жыл бұрын
❤️
@JonManProductions 2 жыл бұрын
It's nice to see the Sweetwater Guitar Gallery, it's how I bought both a Epiphone SG Classic with P-90's and a Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder in the past two years, I picked both from their pictures and they were also setup by the fantastic guitar techs there as well, something that really can make or break any guitar, no matter the price-point. That Tribute looks absolutely at home in the hands of a shred-lord like yourself Ben! I kinda wish they would re-make the BFG guitars from my childhood, I've always loved how gnarly the unsanded rough tops looked on them.
@meteor09 2 жыл бұрын
John Sykes is awesome. Thunder and Lightning is so kickass and way underratted. Riff Retrospective is great!
@ricopaxton 2 жыл бұрын
Yes, it slowly starts, that people recognize the great John Sykes, thx for making that compilation, Ben! His albums "Atomic Cowboy" and "20th Century" run in heavy rotation a while now on my fav list - I didn't know the guy myself until I watched an episode of the channel "Late Night Sessions", which I can highly recommend, Dave Brewster is a great guitarist and teacher himself!
@JamesMinchew 2 жыл бұрын
My favourite Thin Lizzy song is Cold Sweat. It's not "Classic Lizzy" but it's nasty and angry and will cut you with a broken pint glass for looking at it funny. Top work, Uncle Ben.
@rishz7857 5 ай бұрын
Down on your luck (Hollywood) & Thunder n Lightning tracks. Renegade album too.
@nedaCFilms 2 жыл бұрын
One of the most under appreciated rock guitarist. He had his own sound. Only a handful of legends can achieve that.
@davidjames4442 2 жыл бұрын
To me, the Thunder and Lightning album is the pre-eminent opus for Sykes. His solos on the title track, Someday She’s Going To Hit Back, and the trade offs he does with Gotham on This is The One are beyond incredible. This album does not get the credit it deserves because it’s one of the heaviest albums of the 80’s, full stop.
@briandennehy6380 2 жыл бұрын
Facts
@petermontgomery8707 Жыл бұрын
@@briandennehy6380 for me you’ve got to get hold of his performance at reading rock festival recorded and broadcast by the bbc at the time.The sun goes down is on another level to the studio version
@petermontgomery8707 Жыл бұрын
@@briandennehy6380 in fact kzfaq.info/sun/PLMUnB4vc6zhXzUZyrJehEYrpp2R20S7mj
@rishz7857 5 ай бұрын
Scott Gorham & John Sykes with Phil Lynott in Thin Lizzy in early 80's was terrific.
@chrisman3965 2 жыл бұрын
Sykes is killer! More videos like this please 👍
@jamesmccormick875 Жыл бұрын
John is one of my idols. My introduction to him was the White Snake album. I was 11 and just started to play guitar. The first song I learned when I started lessons was In the Sill of the Night. John, Randy Rhoads, Slash, Zakk and SRV are my biggest influences.
@theaterdreamer 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Ben. John is a freaking god, and turning more people on to his greatness is wonderful thing.
@HurtboxTV 2 жыл бұрын
John Sykes, the man who basically redefined how I looked at writing riffs. So many people just don't understand how good of a songwriter he is. Also shoutouts to the anime Black heaven for using Cautionary Warning as their opening song lol
@patrickbarnes9343 2 жыл бұрын
Fabulous video !! Sykes is a beast
@KCCheez 2 жыл бұрын
On top of all that riffage is the best vibrato I’ve ever heard. Broad, even, and so smooth!
@hunter757 2 жыл бұрын
Commenting before I've even got into the first riff, John is my favourite guitarist of all time, has possibly the greatest tone of all time and something I'm still trying to emulate till this day. Looking forward to more John sykes stuff from you, always good 👌👍
@elitecombatfitnesscentral6170 2 жыл бұрын
In my book. One of the Best songwriter/guitarists. Smart business man as well.
@theguitargeezer878 2 жыл бұрын
I knew John was a killer guitar player as well as a great singer first time I heard him in his band Blue Murder, Song Valley Of The Kings way back in the day of HeadBangers Ball
@vitob5898 2 жыл бұрын
That 1987 album brings back memories of the best summer ever!!
@jeffyoung8726 2 жыл бұрын
This was a great video dude! FINALLY, somebody does justice to the man's music! Really appreciate that you touched on so much of the songs, and as far as I am concerned there are no bad ones! Been a Sykes fan since "Thin Lizzy" and still am to this day...
@EJH-jn6mo 2 жыл бұрын
1987 is one the best rock albums of all time! Not an average song on that album.
@TheCjbowman 2 жыл бұрын
Sykes is a beast, no doubt about it. Shame what Coverdale did to his career... Wish he would've stayed more active. 🤘😎🤘
@KaiserSoze-vx6vo 2 жыл бұрын
I was in high school and a friend was grooving on his walkman. I asked what was he listening to, and he was nice enough to let me hear 'Slow and Easy' for the first time. I was blown away, and bought the album that weekend. John Sykes guitar sound playing made the self titled album be the EPIC audio experience it was. It is still one of my faves and I bought the Red, White Blue remastered greatest hits as well. Great job exploring one most under-rated guitar heroes.
@scottglasson1957 2 жыл бұрын
Bad boys might be the loudest and most beastly riffs to ever kick off a rock song-the energy of this song is crazy
@thomasbianchino3116 2 жыл бұрын
The Slide It In album was already recorded when John joined (the UK version). His contribution is significant with the heavy rhythm overdubs and smoldering Sykes solos, although some original solos were left. Also, not sure how familiar you are with pre-Sykes Whitesnake, but they re-recorded a number of older tunes with Mr Sykes to “Sykes them up” as it were: Crying In the Rain, Fool For Your Loving, and of course Here I Go Again.
@94xjrgodown2 2 жыл бұрын
Spot On Thomas!!
@mikep9984 2 жыл бұрын
Fool for your loving was on slide it in. Steve Vai
@Mindfreak5150 2 жыл бұрын
@@mikep9984 No, the original and best, imo, version of Fool For Your Loving was with Marsden & Moody (who both co-wrote it) on Ready an' Willing. The Vai version was on Slip of the Tongue, while Sykes only ever played it live and didn't do any studio overdubs or re-recording of the track.
@johnstahl6726 2 жыл бұрын
Love Sykes but mel galley did a better job
@ronr7905 2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely. I am a Les Paul guy -- which means I will put up with a lot of crap because the reward is that sound. And being that guy, I always liked Sykes as the LP is a guitar that really defines his sound and look. Great riffs, solid lead player. Good singer too. Thanks for this one.
@CorSmit 2 жыл бұрын
You've captured the essence of John Sykes' tone perfectly. The chunky riffs, the piercing squeals - everything! I've had the good fortune of working with Mister Sykes on several occasions between 1998 and 2007, when he toured with different incarnations of Thin Lizzy, and your video puts me right back in those concert halls. To anyone who isn't familiar with John's Thin Lizzy, listen to One Night Only (2000) - it represents the renewed Lizzy formula in ultimate form!
@theolajide 2 жыл бұрын
you forgot valley of the kings, but I'm glad you did a video of such an overlooked and underrated musician
@prashantsarkar821 2 жыл бұрын
I first heard of him from his song "Cautionary Warning" that was in the anime "Black Heaven". That riff is still one of my all time favorites.
@greekfreak1980 2 жыл бұрын
John Sykes is an amazing songwriter/guitar player/ vocalist. Sadly, he´s apparently some sort of perfectionist to a degree that borders on obsessiveness. He was supposed to be the vocalist/guitarist for what eventually became The Winery Dogs but that whole thing ended rather unceremoniously. According to Portnoy, he was constantly reworking their songs over and over and over again, to the point that he & Billy Sheehan told him: "Dude, the songs a great. Let us finally record them and get the album out." And then he left the project and they got Richie Kotzen instead. He also has delayed his new studio album more times than anybody remembers. It´s like he wants to brake Axl Rose´s record for the delay of "Chinese Democracy" or something. Personally, I´ve given up on ever hearing this new John Sykes album in our lifetime.
@nahnotsomuch2292 2 жыл бұрын
Close as I'm guessing we'll get for a while: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aZhdodWUz9nbhmg.html
@axchisler 2 жыл бұрын
Sounds more like Portnoy than Sykes 🤔
@greekfreak1980 2 жыл бұрын
@@axchisler Sykes is supposed to release a new solo album, "it's coming and it's gonna be great and will be epic and everything.... " It's over a decade since he announced it and the only thing he released is a single, which is basically an old, reworked Blue Murder song from the late 90's. Made out of it what you want....
@richardblack3385 2 жыл бұрын
I see what portnoy has done with later d.t. tracks Sykes was probably right
@PlayFloyd_IN 2 жыл бұрын
The first time I heard of John Sykes was on the song 'Please don't leave me'. Ever since, I've been hooked.. My #7 favourite guitarist of all time.
@MikeSmith-pz5vl 2 жыл бұрын
I have wondered for many years who's style I played more like and this blew my mind, this is my style. But I never heard it quite as clear until now. I mean I know sykes is an amazing guitarist and have always admired him, but I am just realizing that he was a bigger influence on me than I knew. Thank you for this video.
@yanossnicklefritz7064 2 жыл бұрын
John Sykes writing and playing on the 1987 Whitesnake album is what drove me to start playing as a kid. An amazing player and writer. At the same as I'm a singer besides guitarist, David's singing had an incredible influence on me even though the 90's came just after I got into it and killed all the wave of awesome hard rock from the eighties with the depressing, heroine induced, sludge of nineties alternative. Great hard rock and metal basically took a nose dive at that point with a few shining groups, but leading to the utter crap that is modern rock and metal today.
@Xplora213 2 жыл бұрын
Things moved on. Metallica kinda drew a line under heavy music with the Black tour by actually caring about the fans and music. AiC and Nirvana had to move sideways. Unfortunately we lost good singers and upbeat songs along the way. I like death metal but the gigs are a sausage fest 😂
@jeffreyhaley991 2 жыл бұрын
Still no Queensryche Ben!!
@TheMetalVagabond 2 жыл бұрын
Nice of you to cover John Sykes, he's not as famous as he should have been, but more rock fans are appreciating his talent.
@RichHughes 2 ай бұрын
Vibrato! One of the greatest things about John’s playing is his incredible sense of vibrato during his solos. The solo at the end of Blue Murder’s ‘Jelly Roll’ is absolutely beautiful. The vibrato is not in time. His bends are behind the beat and full of emotion. He does this frequently. I think he’s literally the best I’ve ever heard when it comes to holding notes out and finessing the vibrato.
@bradfordknights7554 2 жыл бұрын
Ok, from someone who used to hand write letters to the Blue Murder Fan Club, this video made me so happy. THANK YOU. You did the riffs justice, and picked a great tone to cover his overall catalog. Now can you do the vocals? 😆 Ok, maybe not. But not many people can. He got a little political with his last few leaked songs, but I will always return to 1987 and Blue Murder ST as two of the greatest riff rock albums of all time. Since we won't be seeing the vocal tribute to JS from you, how about your top 5 favorite JS solos? 😃
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