Year : 1995 (Japan Edition)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 95 mb
Bio:
John James Sykes (born 29 July 1959-2025) was an English rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder. Sykes co-wrote the majority of the songs on Whitesnake's 1987 self-titled album with David Coverdale.Sykes is also a successful solo artist.Sykes joined Tygers of Pan Tang in 1980, and played guitar on the albums Spellbound (1981) and Crazy Nights (1982), as well as participating on two tracks for their 1983 release, The Cage.In 1982, John Sykes was recruited by former Uriah Heep frontman John Sloman, for his new band Badlands, alongside his future Whitesnake bandmate Neil Murray. This was to be short-lived however, as Badlands broke up shortly after formation. No music has ever been officially released, although bootlegs of rehearsals do exist. Sykes also auditioned, unsuccessfully, for Ozzy Osbourne's band following the death of Randy Rhoads.Sykes also auditioned for Ronnie James Dio's new band, Dio, to record on 1983's Holy Diver album but was unsuccessful, as Dio instead chose Sweet Savage guitarist, Vivian Campbell.At the age of 23, Sykes was asked by Phil Lynott to join Thin Lizzy, filling the spot left by previous guitarist Snowy White. He participated in the recording of the band's final studio album Thunder and Lightning, and contributed the track "Cold Sweat".Sykes toured with the band until the autumn of 1983 to promote Thunder and Lightning, from which the live album Life was recorded. Following the tour, Thin Lizzy disbanded.Sykes joined Phil Lynott for Lynott’s solo tour of Europe in a band dubbed The Three Musketeers featuring Lynott, Brian Downey, Scott Gorham, Darren Wharton, and Sykes.David Coverdale hired Sykes to join Whitesnake following the release of Slide It In in 1984. He re-recorded some guitar tracks for the US release, and toured in support of the album, culminating with the 1985 Rock in Rio festival.Sykes co-wrote the majority of the songs on Whitesnake's 1987 self-titled album with David Coverdale, and recorded the guitar as well as some backing vocal tracks. Near the end of the 1987 sessions Coverdale fired the entire band (allegedly because of personality clashes and matters of ego) and brought in Adrian Vandenberg to record the solo on "Here I Go Again".This was Whitesnake's most successful album, peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over eight million copies in the United States alone. It contained the hit singles "Still of the Night", "Is This Love", "Give Me All Your Love", and "Here I Go Again" (the last was not a Sykes composition).After Coverdale fired the 1987-era band, Sykes went on to form Blue Murder with Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice and The Firm bassist Tony Franklin.After a demo was recorded with Ray Gillen on vocals, A&R executive John Kalodner encouraged Sykes to handle the vocal duties himself.Their self-titled debut album was a moderate success, but the 1993 follow-up Nothin' but Trouble did not fare as well. After two studio albums and a live recording, Blue Murder was put to bed and Sykes began recording and touring under his own name.In the years following Blue Murder, Sykes recorded several solo albums: Out of My Tree (1995), Loveland (1997), 20th Century (1997) and Nuclear Cowboy (2000). A song from 20th Century, "Cautionary Warning", was used in the anime series Black Heaven. The footage accompanying the song was rotoscoped from one of Sykes' concerts. Sykes' involvement in the series was the a feature of Pioneer USA's marketing.In 2004, the live album Bad Boy Live! was released, covering a number of "greatest hits" from Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Blue Murder, and his solo work.Sykes has made rare guest appearances on the Hughes Turner Project debut album on the track "Heaven's Missing an Angel", and later on keyboardist Derek Sherinian's 2004 solo album "Mythology", playing alongside Zakk Wylde on the track "God of War".
Album:
John SYKES own band ‘SYKES’ debut album titled “Out Of My Tree“.The CD came with OBI that has 日本先行発売 characters which translates to “released in Japan prior to elsewhere”. Well, mid-90s were difficult time for this kind of classic hard rock, and eventually “Out Of My Tree” was released in Japan only.John Sykes, a phenomenal guitar player, singer and songwriter, king of sustain, helped propel bands like Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake to fame in the 1980s. After Whitesnake, Sykes formed awesome group Blue Murder with drummer Carmine Appice until 1994, then launched a solo career and formed his band “SYKES”.“Out Of My Tree” is an album where Sykes was fully involved, from songwriting to production – a true ‘solo’ album. And a killer one.Take as example opener “Soul Stealer”: a pretty simple, straight-forward hard rock song with one of the most ferocious guitar solos Sykes ever recorded. Next “I Don’t Wanna Live My Life Like You” it’s one of his best-known solo songs. The title says it all, the lyrics are rebellious and musically with a some Thin Lizzy flavor.When you hear this album there’s a sense of timeless melodies. “Out Of My Tree” hasn’t become old a bit. It’s fresh as the day it came out. It’s fabulous, and hard rock like none is gonna make it anymore. Not with this feeling.The songwriting is excellent regarding hard rock music, the riffs are killers and John plays and sings like a master. The band is John, Marco Mendoza bass, Tommy O’Steene drums. A tight unit.All over, Sykes lets loose with authority. The midtempo “She’s All Action” is a bass dominated track, which segues into the Jimi Hendrix inspired bluesy, four-minute “Standing at the Crossroads” which arrangement allows Sykes to breakout various effects, while “Black Days” carries a cool Deep Purple vibe.“Jesus & Mary Jane” is anchored by a tight groove, and the short “Do or Die” is a lean ‘n’ mean rocker. The laid back “Sleep On” brings this rocking CD to a melodic close.“Out Of My Tree” is simply a splendid album and some of the best from John Sykes impressive – and underrated – career.Timeless, never-boring impressive record. Hard to find CD but worth every cent.
Line-Up:
John Sykes – guitar, vocals (Ex-Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder) (R.I.P. 2025)
Marco Mendoza - vocals, bass
Tommy Osteen - drums, backing vocals
Jim Siterly (tracks: 5, 6, 9) - strings
Production:
Distributed By – Mercury Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – PolyGram Records, Inc.
Design [Art], Illustration – Jim Fitzpatrick
Engineer [Engineered By] – Alex Woltman
Mastered By – Kevin Reeves
Mixed By – Alex Woltman, John Sykes
Written-By, Arranged By, Producer [Produced By] – John Sykes
Tracklist:
01. Soul Stealer
02. I Don’t Wanna Live My Life Like You
03. She’s All Action
04. Standing At The Crossroads
05. I Don’t Believe In Anything
06. Black Days
07. Jesus & Mary
08. Do Or Die
09. If You Ever Need Love
10. Sleep On
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
