Things You Can Learn From… John Sykes

ENGLISH ROCK GUITARIST

John Sykes has worked with a number of different bands through the years – Streetfighter, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Phil Lynott, Whitesnake and Blue Murder – and from 1994 to date he has worked under his own name as a solo artist. His long-awaited new solo album, A Brand New Day, is set for release this year.

Stylistically, I’d describe John as a player who has great classic rock/blues feel and who is also a very accomplished composer and vocalist. He always plays with tons of attitude and passion and has a highly evolved technique that covers the whole range from slow and soulful to super-frantic and intense. His fast alternate picking – often heard in his rapid, nearly tremolo-picked soloing and also – and also his wide fret-hand vibrato are models that are well worth aspiring to.