His most well known playing is on the 1987 Whitesnake self titled album, also known simply as 1987. For the Whitesnake record John Sykes used two Mesa Boogie Coliseum heads and his favorite Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar.
Sykes fell victim to Whitesnake's revolving door; he was fired near the end of the 1987 recording sessions, but managed to record all his parts, save for the solo on "Here I Go Again" which was added later by Adrian Vandenberg.
This was Whitesnake's most successful recording, selling over 20 million copies worldwide. Songs like "Still of the Night", "Is This Love", "Give Me All Your Love", and particularly "Here I Go Again" were all hits, with the album reaching #2 on the Billboard Top 200.
Hoping to capitalize upon the success of 1987, Geffen Records signed Sykes to form a new band. After auditioning several vocalists (including Tony Martin and Ray Gillen), Sykes was encouraged to handle vocal duties himself. With fretless bassist Tony Franklin and drummer Carmine Appice, Blue Murder was formed.
Their self titled debut did moderately well, with "Valley of the Kings" receiving substantial airplay on MTV's Headbanger's Ball, the follow-up Nothing But Trouble received no promotion from Geffen and died quickly. A live recording, Screaming Blue Murder, was to be the band's final release.
Sykes has since recorded several solo albums, including Loveland, 20th Century, and Nuclear Cowboy. His latest album is a new live recording titled Bad Boy Live, which covers a large swath of his career, from the Thin Lizzy days through his most recent solo efforts.
In 1999, John Sykes' solo song "Cautionary Warning" was used in the anime series Black Heaven. The footage accompanying the song was rotoscoped from one of Sykes' concerts, which was a very striking statement for use in previews. Sykes' involvement in the series was the key feature of Pioneer USA's marketing.
In 2006, he got his own signature Gibson Les Paul Custom which was modeled after his favorite guitar, and has used it when touring with Thin Lizzy all around the UK and Ireland.
After over a decade fronting the reformed Thin Lizzy, John announced his departure from the band in June 2009.
Solo albums
As Sykes - Out of My Tree (1995)
As John Sykes - Loveland (1997)
As Sykes - 20th Century (1997)
As Sykes - Nuclear Cowboy (2000)
As John Sykes - Bad Boy Live! (2004)
As John Sykes - Sy-Ops (2021)
All Or Nothing
John Sykes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now I see you don't hear a thing
Got to make you see how it's got to be
Yes if it's all right
All or nothing yeah yeah
All or nothing
All or nothing for me
Things could work out just like I want them to
If I could have the other half of you
That's all I would if I only could
Is to say
All or nothing oh yeah
All or nothing if I could I'd say
All or nothing for me
Pa pa pa pa ta pa pa pa ta ta
Pa pa pa pa ta pa pa pa ta ta
I ain't telling you no lie girl
So don't just sit there and cry girl
All or nothing (oh no)
All or nothing (oh yeah)
All or nothing (gotta gotta gotta keep on tryin')
All or nothing
(For me, for me, for me we're not children)
The lyrics of John Sykes's song "All Or Nothing" are about a person who is trying to convince their lover to commit fully to the relationship they have. They feel that their partner is holding back and not fully invested in the relationship. The person is pleading with their lover to listen to their reasoning and realize that it's either all or nothing when it comes to the relationship. They believe that if their lover commits to the relationship wholeheartedly, everything could work out as planned.
The lyrics suggest that the person is willing to give their all to the relationship, and they want their partner to do the same. The chorus of the song emphasizes this point and shows that there is no middle ground when it comes to the relationship. The person is not looking for half-hearted commitment, and they want their lover to know that it's all or nothing.
In conclusion, "All Or Nothing" is about the importance of commitment in a relationship. It's a plea from one person to their partner to fully invest in the relationship and leave behind any reservations or doubts. The person is willing to give their all, and they want their lover to do the same.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought you'd listen to my reason
I believed you would understand my perspective and listen to my explanation
But now I see you don't hear a thing
However, I realize you are not paying attention to me anymore
Got to make you see how it's got to be
I need to make you understand the importance of what needs to happen
Yes if it's all right
Only if you are okay with it
All or nothing yeah yeah
I am determined to have everything that matters to me
All or nothing
I want no halfway measures, only complete commitment
All or nothing for me
It has to be either everything or nothing
Things could work out just like I want them to
It is possible for everything to fall into place as I desire
If I could have the other half of you
If I could have the entirety of your devotion and love
That's all I would if I only could
That is all that I want if it is within my power to attain it
All or nothing oh yeah
Again, I want it to be all or nothing, and I am resolute in that decision
All or nothing if I could I'd say
If given the opportunity, I would wholeheartedly profess my desire for complete commitment
All or nothing for me
There is no room for compromise or mediocrity
Pa pa pa pa ta pa pa pa ta ta
Musical interlude
I ain't telling you no lie girl
I am being honest with you
So don't just sit there and cry girl
Therefore, do not just sit there and weep
All or nothing (oh no)
I am not open to settling for less
All or nothing (oh yeah)
Rather, I want everything or nothing at all
All or nothing (gotta gotta gotta keep on tryin')
I have to keep pushing for all or nothing
All or nothing
Anything less is not acceptable to me
(For me, for me, for me we're not children)
I am a grown-up who knows what I want and need
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Philip James Rice, Richard Guard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@giampaolo21
This is a Tygers of Pan Tang remake from Small Faces song! All songs was 7" or 12" B sides.