John Sykes: The Rise and Retreat of a Rock Guitar Icon

He co-wrote Whitesnake’s biggest hits. He reignited Thin Lizzy’s final chapter. He formed Blue Murder. And then he slowly vanished. In this exclusive conversation with filmmaker Damian Kolodiy, we reveal the highs, lows, and lasting mystery of the guitar legend. We explore Sykes’ meteoric rise in the 1980s, his stunning creative output, the betrayal that pushed him out of the spotlight, and the final unreleased album that fans still hope to hear. Based on Kolodiy’s new two-part documentary John Sykes: His Words, His Music, this episode offers a deep dive into the life and legacy of a rock icon whose influence runs deep, yet whose story has remained largely overlooked. 00:00: Introduction to Damian Kolodiy 00:47: Discovering the Legacy of John Sykes 03:04: Unraveling the Mystique of John Sykes 06:25: Building the Documentary 10:59: Researching John Sykes from the Ground Up 16:07: Early Career with Tygers Of Pan Tang 18:41: Reigniting Thin Lizzy with a New Edge 21:59: Phil Lynott Friendship and Creative Bond 24:53: Reviving Thin Lizzy to Honor Phil 27:32: Success and Controversy of the Whitesnake Era 32:42: The Rise and Fall of Blue Murder 34:26: Going Solo and Navigating the 90s 39:53: Final Years, Abandoned Projects, and the Lost Album 45:09: Documentary Premier and Viewing Details Metal Mayhem ROC: https://metalmayhemroc.com/ Damian Kolodiy / NYC Rocks TV: https://www.youtube.com/@NYCRocksTV #JohnSykes, #Whitesnake1987, #ThinLizzy, #BlueMurder, #HardRockLegends, #RockDocumentary, #GuitarHeroes, #MetalMayhemROC, #RockHistory, #LostRockIcons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices