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)
Cold Sweat
John Sykes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And headed for the big race
I felt a chill on my backbone
As I hung up the telephone
Stone cold sober and stone cold sweat
Running down the back of my neck
To lose means trouble, to win pays double
Cold, cold sweat
They say chances on the outside
Are looking pretty slim
I've been so lucky on the inside
I feel I'm going to win
Stone cold sober and stone cold sweat
Running down the back of my neck
Take a little money, there's nothing left to lose
And I got me a heavy bet
Cold, cold sweat
I've got me a whole month's wages
I haven't seen that much in ages
I might spend it in stages
And move out to Las Vegas
Stone cold sober and stone cold sweat
Running down the back of my neck
To lose means trouble, to win means double
And I got me a heavy bet
Cold, cold sweat
I put my money in a suitcase
They say chances on the outside
I got a whole months wages
Stone cold sober and stone cold sweat
Stone cold crazy
Place another bet
The song Cold Sweat by John Sykes tells the story of a man who is about to participate in a high-stakes race where he has put a heavy bet on himself. The song starts with the singer putting his money in his suitcase, and he feels a chill in his spine as he hangs up the telephone. His nervousness is evident as he sings about the "cold sweat" running down the back of his neck while being stone cold sober. The lyrics imply that losing would bring trouble, but winning would pay double.
Despite the slim chances on the outside, the singer feels lucky on the inside and believes he will win. He has put a whole month's wages on the race and plans to spend the money in stages, possibly even moving to Las Vegas. He repeats about the cold sweat running down the back of his neck, signifying his increasing nervousness and anticipation for the race.
Line by Line Meaning
I put my money in the suitcase
I gathered all of my money and placed it inside a suitcase.
And headed for the big race
I went to participate in a big competition with my money.
I felt a chill on my backbone
I had a sudden and unpleasant feeling that something bad might happen.
As I hung up the telephone
After having a phone conversation, I experienced that unpleasant feeling.
Stone cold sober and stone cold sweat
I was completely sober but experiencing extreme fear and nervousness.
Running down the back of my neck
I was feeling anxious and afraid, causing sweat to trickle down my back.
To lose means trouble, to win pays double
If I lose, it will cause a significant problem for me, but winning will bring me double the amount of money I bet.
And I got me a heavy bet
I placed a large amount of money as a bet in the competition.
They say chances on the outside
People believe that it is unlikely for me to win the competition.
Are looking pretty slim
It is not expected that I will be successful in the competition.
I've been so lucky on the inside
Despite the expectations, I have been fortunate in other situations.
I feel I'm going to win
I have a strong feeling that I will be successful in this competition.
Take a little money, there's nothing left to lose
I am willing to risk some money because I have already lost a significant amount earlier, and there is nothing much left to lose.
I've got me a whole month's wages
I have saved up an entire month's salary to bet in the competition.
I haven't seen that much in ages
I have not had this much money in a long time.
I might spend it in stages
I am planning to spend the money in parts and not all at once.
And move out to Las Vegas
If I win, I might move to a different city called Las Vegas.
Stone cold crazy
I am extremely focused and determined to win.
Place another bet
I am willing to bet more money on the competition and to take another chance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALFRED JAMES ELLIS, JAMES BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind