Phil is not comparable to anyone, completely original. He was talented but it's hard to measure, no one else was like him in the least. Rest In Peace "The Rocker."
having been fortunate to see Thin Lizzy 7 times from Gary Moore to John Sykes I can honestly say they were the greatest live act I have ever seen before or since... RIP Phil and Gary, sadly missed.
Thin Lizzy , in my opinion is one of the best bands in history rock. From their first album to their last, they do folk-rock, blues-rock, hard-rock and finally heavy metal, and all their albums are pure gold. Brian Downey is a beast on drums, he has that groove... The guitars on their history; first Eric bell, passing through Scott gorham, Brian Robertson, Gary Moore, Snowy White, John sykes... Phil on bass and voice.... their lyrics... They've got absolute LP's gems.... I never understand why this band is one of the most underrated bands of rock... Really I dont know. Obviously if you're irish you know is the best irish band ever, even in front of U2
I was lucky enough to meet John Sykes in 89 when he played in my hometown of Toronto with Blue Murder, before he went on he spent at least half an hour talking with my friend and I . Being the punks that we were, all we wanted to know about was Thin Lizzy and he was SO COOL..he told us stories about him and Phil...when the show was over and he was leaving the stage ( it was a small club) he came straight up to my friend and I , put his arms around us and said "PHIL WAS HERE TONIGHT!!" Like I said he was so cool!!! So he's not just an amazing player but a great person as well...and for the record he was about as tall as me and I'm only 5'8"...Hahahaha!!...cheers from Canada!..
TBoys Rocknroll - I had a similar experience with John in ‘94. He told me the story of how he met Phil. It was producer Chris Tsangerides who hooked them up for the song Please Don’t Leave Me (a hit many years later for Pretty Maids). He was the coolest, most approachable dude. Earlier, during the show, he saw me right in front of him in the front row with a Thin Lizzy shirt I screen printed and stuck Black Beauty right in front of my nose and scorched off the solo to Thunder & Lightning! He almost set me ‘ead on fire!!! Ha ha!! (I’m not English, btw). What a night!!!
Crush Everything see...like I said he's SO COOL!!!..😀😀😀.. But seriously, nobody can ever say he's an asshole rock star....he actually TALKS to you..I mean he actually listens to what you have to say!! Not " Well I've sold THIS many records and blah blah blah..." ..I'm sure you know what I mean.
TBoys Rocknroll - Absolutely! He makes you feel like he’s known you for years. I was lucky enough to meet him a few times and not only did he remember me, he was just as cool every time.
Lynott n Downey.....possibly the greatest or at least one of the greatest rhythm sections ever to grace a stage. The thing I love about Phil's bass sound is how it kinda 'rolls out the speakers' if ya know what I mean? Smooth and precise whilst keepin it all rollin' along nicely and at the same time providing the room in the soundscape for the rest of the band to do their stuff, definitely one of the greatest bass players in rock music history! Btw yet another great vlog, keep 'em coming! Peace, good vibes and respect to ya!
@@wingsofpegasus Ya welcome dude, How about reviewing Motorhead.....'Shoot you in the back', There's a great live version from the Stagefright tour on UA-cam, it's got a really cool solo from Phil Campbell in it. Would love to hear your views on one of the most underrated guitarists in rock.
# Hashtag - Absolutely! Many rock musicians are on record touting their love of Lizzy, for example, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Metallica, three of the biggest bands ever. Phil & Co. helped write the book!
Zak Wylde tried. But I knew the second I heard Zak...I was hearing John Sykes..but Zak required lots more distortion to pull it off. John did it with his hands.
Phil Lynott is one of my favourite bass players. I particularly like their early sound such as on the "Vagabonds of the Western World" album when they were a three-piece and Phil's bass is so prominent in the mix. And of course Eric Bell was a great guitarist as well.
Loved Thin Lizzy in all of it's incarnations. John Sykes is possibly the most ferocious and melodic pentatonic stylist/hard-rock shredder ever to wield a Les Paul in my humble opinion.
I can not explain my case to Thin Lizzy. I was born and lived in Yugoslavia (Today Croatia) in the urban city and where the availability of R & R music was a normal thing . Everything that came out of music in England or America today , for 7 days it could have it in its own collection . In my town there were three shops of music albums directly from England or some other Western European country . We also had our own local vinyl publishers but they were not such a sound quality so we'd rather buy it somewhere else . Italy , Austria , Germany , Holland ...... So , me and my friends was knew about Thin Lizzy , we heard Whiskey in the jar , it was popular but , that was all . When we were through , Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, L. Zeppelin, UFO, Budgie and other hard rock bands, we switched to The Mahavishnu Orchestra , Yes , Pink Floyd , Gentle Giant , Gong , Van Der Graf Generator , Kraut rock like Can , Kraan , Amon Duul II , Tangerine Dream , Klaus Shulze and so on. It was all between 1972-75. Today , when I watch Thin Lizzy on PC , and live concerts , Thin Lizzy was a really great band . Phil Lynott was really unique and the other members were good musicians . Anyway , Thin Lizzy is my beautiful discovery of old days . I am 60 old .
I agree . In that era my friends and I listened to a lot of prog , kraut and electronic music . Especially Klaus Schulz , Ash Ra Temple , Tangerine Dream , Tontos Expeading Head Band ....... We also loved jazz-rock fusion . Brand X was the number one for us . Miles Davis after Bitches Brewed to ........, I do not know ..., there was a lot of it . Thousands of bands went through our ears . Later came new wave with Joy Division , Bauhaus , Cure , Talking Heads and others . Today I love bands who play space and psychedelic music such as Samsara Blues Experiment , Oresund Space Collectiv , Lamp of the Universe , Space Debris , My Sleeping Karma ...... and lots of bands similar to them . All my life I listen to music that has not flirted with mainstream . Basically , music is endless .
We didn't know anything about Ist Europe rock. Maby Omega and Lokomotive GT from Hungaria and it was that . Nothing more . German kraut rock was incredible . In some ways , it was better than English and American rock . It wasn't commercial and I liked that . There was really a lot of kraut rock bands and it's hard to count them all . I agree with you, there were plenty of quality Scandinavian bands . Sweden and Norvay scene was a very , very quality .
From top to bottom, pick any line up you want, without doubt the greatest ever band never to reach the top. Bad luck played its part but why America never saw what the rest of the world did I will never know. As for Phil Lynott, he was someone we will never see the like of again.
I love that Phil's bass is so loud in this mix. It's so sad that Phil sadly left us. Thin Lizzy's early albums are really taking a place in my heart as I go through my high school years currently. I love Suicide, Rosalie. Such great tracks! Also, with Sykes MONSTER tone, high gain but not buzzy. Gotta love the Les Paul Custom too. I have a LP Studio but a Custom like Randy Rhoads' would be great. Great video :)
Phil was so modest about his ability to play the bass but he was actually great at playing and singing at the same time on stage. I saw this line-up of Lizzy during their farewell tour and they were fantastic ! Not too long after that gig I saw John Sykes performing with Whitesnake and that was another brilliant gig ; the band featured Jon Lord and also Cozy Powell who was such a presence on stage !
I'd heard that Journey opened for Thin Lizzy in the late '70s and realized the needed something that would kick a$$. They wrote Anyway You Want It as a result.
Wings of Pegasus. Howdy Fil!. I guess this is as good a place to tell a story as any, I'll try to keep it from rambling too much. : ) Anyways i grew up near Cleveland, Ohio as a teenager in the 70's. It was a very hot spot at the time for rock and roll. We were too young to really drink in many bars so concert going was our favorite activity. Tickets were cheap among other things if ya know what I'm saying. Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, AC/DC and Thin Lizzy at Cleveland Stadium playing on a summer day/night and we were pumped! I had of course heard some of Thin Lizzys songs on the radio and appreciated their stuff but i had no idea! These guys came out to play, daytime no lights, and absolutely blew everyone away. I could not believe my ears. Just an all out kick ass assault! That was 40 yrs ago and of the literal 100's of bands I've seen they still stick out in my memory. What a suprise! Bonus: i got to shake Bon Scott's hand later that evening. Big deal for a kid! LOL. Love this show, i dont play, just a lifelong fan of music. Keep up the great work please. You rock! ✌
John is the man. This video reminds me... I still need to get a black LP Custom and put some black humbuckers in it. One of my favorite signature axes. To have a Sykes black LP and a Rhoads white LP hanging on the wall would be awe-inspiring.
John Sykes was in a band called Tygers of Pan Tang before lizzy and he sounded exactly like this. He developed a great sound and technique very early. top player!!
Phil's voice still gives me thrills after all these years ! Thin Lizzy is the most underrated band in rock history, sadly. That's why Phil burnt his life...
It's really nice to see Lizzy's last line-up appreciated (although it's sad they didn't make another album, with John Sykes fully integrated). The previous line-up, with Snowy White, gets an even harder time critically, but to me Thin Lizzy NEVER lost their credibility. And let's hope John Sykes comes to prominence again soon. What a talent.
Thanks a lot for doing this video, never expected you'd do it.... and that quick ! Man, you rock ! I just love how Sykes did his own thing, not trying to be a copycat of Gary Moore ... so much more interesting !
Sykes has always been my favourite guitarist. My dad used to play the 1987 constantly and that tone of a gibson into a mesa stack with chorus has just stayed with me
Sykes has the absolute best fret hand vibrato in music. Sykes and Gary Moore have/had incredible vibratos. Big, wide and even shakes. Vibrato adds so much more musical expressiveness to your guitar playing.
Two of my all time favorites! John plays some ferocious leads but to me it’s his incredible vibrato that sets him apart from any other guitar player. So glad to hear he’ll be putting out some new music soon! Wish Phil was still here to sing with him.
Jailbrake was one of the very first records i owned. Got it for Christmas in 76 when my parents got me my first very own stereo. Remember those? Great great album fro an most awesome band. Being a bass player Phil was one of my very first influences.
Fil!! Man you’re on some voodoo or something!!! I’ve been listening to The Mighty John Sykes for almost a week straight and was going to send a link lol you beat me to it!!! You Rock brother!!
As a guitarist it is really nice to have someone comment on the instrument and musicians who actually understands both; not surprisingly, the average person does not really understand a pinched harmonic! I like this.. Fil clearly understands what is going on here.. fun and entertaining to watch. Keep it up.. and thanks for not writing off all the old guys ;-)
Love your analysis Fil because you are always positive and pointing out individuals or bands great techniques. That's why I don't understand when people say your rating people good , bad or mediocre. That's not my experience watching your videos. Your analysis are always highly positive and instructional .
First time I heard Whitesnake's first album.. couldn't believe how great the guitar sounded (and album) and there it was.. John Sykes all over it. An amazing piece of work by him
This concert was broadcast on BBC TV in 1983 with a stereo simulcast on BBC Radio 1 FM. However, all the copies I've have had of this on DVD have been in mono, as well as UA-cam uploads. The Regal Theatre in Hitchen was demolished in late-1985 and an office block called Regal Chambers was built on the land in 1986.
John Sykes , I think everything with him is attitude. Cocky, brash and just kick @$# playing! I saw an interview with him about being in Whitesnake , it was obvious his playing matches who he is. He just kicks @$& with his playing. Watching him play is like a Bradley tank mauling it's way through traffic. Great band!
Hi,Fil...! I Come back to this great moment...this band i love .Phil, carries the fire.! The drummer ..! And John Sykes , an archangel on stage...and ..you as handsome as a fairy tale prince..i have tears in my eyes .!..moment of ecstasy..thank you dear Fil.✨💌
Great to see Phil so happy here both he & John Sykes were the real deal & I was fortunate to witness them live twice in 83!!! SYKES had Graduated with honours from the Gary Moore school of Rock !!!! RIP PHIL & GARY THANKS FOR THE GOOD TIMES!!!!
Hey Fil Thin Lizzy one of my favorite songs by them is "southbound". Say have you ever heard of a blues man named Sonny boy Williamson. I saw him play on one E.C. crossroads events
I love it, you make the same faces as me everytime he throws a screamer in the mix...can't help but smile and chuckle at the sheer awesomeness of Sykes.
hi Fil. Thin Lizzy were always a great band no matter what line up they had going at the time. when they went to the 2 guitar set up they took over the rock world and everybody loved them. Phil Lynott was a great lyricist on top of his bass playing skills. Lynott used to introduce Scott Gorham as the next president of the USA and it's clear Scott and John Sykes had a great style together. peace man
Yet again the backbone of Lynott and Downey! Add Phil’s very easily recognized voice and a couple of great guitarists and voilà - Thin Lizzy! Saw them five times i Stockholm, central band when I grew up. 😊👍
John Sykes WOW.... !!!!!! And Phil Lynott!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!! Hey Fil really great vid, John, the man can play and sing..... ! Lost for words!!!! Enormous sound and frightening guitar work!!! Love his playing in Whitesnake , Tygers of Pan Tang and his band Blue Murder!!!! Phil my god what a sad loss, the guy was brilliant!!!! My youth coming back to me.... Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great choice Fil,I was gonna ask you to give us a breakdown of Thin Lizzy with John James Sykes a month ago but I know you already have a full list of artists you're doing. Thanks for this one! Yeah Sykes has CRAZY wide vibrato!! Phil Lynotts singing and playing is amazing. Count this face as melted!
Thin Lizzy was one of the great bands that peaked when I was taking a break from live concerts. My loss. Thanks for the analysis. I was wondering about the line-up in this video, and then caught a glimpse of Scott. I almost didn't recognize him.
From Thunder And Lightening produced by Chris Tsangarides. That was a monster album. This live bit was from one of the final tours. Sykes did wonders for Lizzy and Whitesnake. Phil was a poet no doubt. I had his solo album Solo Down In Soho. I first heard Thin Lizzy in 1974's Nightlife on a radio station in Chicago called WXRT made it a point to get it that week. The critics say that Phil was an "ersatz" Springsteen but I think that Springsteen stole some style from Phil. Check Sykes' solo on Crying In The Rain live Rock In Rio.
I was there in 1977/78 and saw Lizzy in my Dutch hometown. I think it was the Chinatown tour. It was out of this world. The line up was with Snowy White as the second guitarist. They hit the town really hard. One of the best concerts I've ever seen. In the first decade of 2000 i saw Lizzy refurbished with John and Scott. And the Black Star Riders who dit a very good job in 2012 with three original Lizzy memebers including Brian Downey n drums. Was a trip to memory lane.
John Sykes is one of the best Six String Slingers in Rock, yet he can never seem to Stay in a band, he does an album or two maybe a Tour then it's on to the next project
Spot on again! Great job! Still In Love With You by Thin Lizzy - same lineup, same show - is a perfect example of what you mentioned as John’s ability to straddle all aspects of emotion and range as a player. Also a great example of Phil’s songwriting and vocal ability.
You should react to John on Cryin In The Rain Rock In Río 85 during the solo. Id like to see you commentin on that! Sykes was the reason the 87 Whitesnake album was what it is today. Then founding Blue Murder and makin its debut album sound like the follow up to 1987. He's insanely good.
thanks lots for this one...Thin Lizzy with as you said, the legend that was Phil Lynott one of the greatest r 'n r bands of all times and one of my all time favourites
He does a lot of major 3rd(2 whole tones) from the minor 7 to the minor 9 in this tune anyway. Steve Lukather uses the same thing in Hold the Line with Toto. I use the major 3rd hard bend a lot in my playing. I picked it up from Luke more than John but a cool technique just the same.
Late comment, but this for me is a great example of how the bass does not have to follow the main guitar riff - and it's all the better for it. That driving/pumping F# bass note under the guitar is so simple yet so effective.
Phil is not comparable to anyone, completely original. He was talented but it's hard to measure, no one else was like him in the least. Rest In Peace "The Rocker."
Amen. He was just super cool and one of a kind.
He was peerless as a lyricist ; certainly from within the hard rock scene.
having been fortunate to see Thin Lizzy 7 times from Gary Moore to John Sykes I can honestly say they were the greatest live act I have ever seen before or since... RIP Phil and Gary, sadly missed.
I believe you have spoken the whole truth. ROCK ON, truthful person.
Thin Lizzy , in my opinion is one of the best bands in history rock. From their first album to their last, they do folk-rock, blues-rock, hard-rock and finally heavy metal, and all their albums are pure gold. Brian Downey is a beast on drums, he has that groove... The guitars on their history; first Eric bell, passing through Scott gorham, Brian Robertson, Gary Moore, Snowy White, John sykes... Phil on bass and voice.... their lyrics... They've got absolute LP's gems.... I never understand why this band is one of the most underrated bands of rock... Really I dont know. Obviously if you're irish you know is the best irish band ever, even in front of U2
I saw John Sykes with Whitesnake in the early 80s...maybe 84 or 85 or so.
Sykes was incredible.
I did, too! Excellent shows!
Cool!
I was lucky enough to meet John Sykes in 89 when he played in my hometown of Toronto with Blue Murder, before he went on he spent at least half an hour talking with my friend and I . Being the punks that we were, all we wanted to know about was Thin Lizzy and he was SO COOL..he told us stories about him and Phil...when the show was over and he was leaving the stage ( it was a small club) he came straight up to my friend and I , put his arms around us and said "PHIL WAS HERE TONIGHT!!" Like I said he was so cool!!! So he's not just an amazing player but a great person as well...and for the record he was about as tall as me and I'm only 5'8"...Hahahaha!!...cheers from Canada!..
Haha cool!
TBoys Rocknroll - I had a similar experience with John in ‘94. He told me the story of how he met Phil. It was producer Chris Tsangerides who hooked them up for the song Please Don’t Leave Me (a hit many years later for Pretty Maids). He was the coolest, most approachable dude. Earlier, during the show, he saw me right in front of him in the front row with a Thin Lizzy shirt I screen printed and stuck Black Beauty right in front of my nose and scorched off the solo to Thunder & Lightning! He almost set me ‘ead on fire!!! Ha ha!! (I’m not English, btw). What a night!!!
Crush Everything see...like I said he's SO COOL!!!..😀😀😀.. But seriously, nobody can ever say he's an asshole rock star....he actually TALKS to you..I mean he actually listens to what you have to say!! Not " Well I've sold THIS many records and blah blah blah..." ..I'm sure you know what I mean.
TBoys Rocknroll - Absolutely! He makes you feel like he’s known you for years. I was lucky enough to meet him a few times and not only did he remember me, he was just as cool every time.
Lynott n Downey.....possibly the greatest or at least one of the greatest rhythm sections ever to grace a stage.
The thing I love about Phil's bass sound is how it kinda 'rolls out the speakers' if ya know what I mean? Smooth and precise whilst keepin it all rollin' along nicely and at the same time providing the room in the soundscape for the rest of the band to do their stuff, definitely one of the greatest bass players in rock music history!
Btw yet another great vlog, keep 'em coming!
Peace, good vibes and respect to ya!
Thanks Stuart!
@@wingsofpegasus
Ya welcome dude,
How about reviewing Motorhead.....'Shoot you in the back',
There's a great live version from the Stagefright tour on UA-cam, it's got a really cool solo from Phil Campbell in it. Would love to hear your views on one of the most underrated guitarists in rock.
Thin Lizzie was always recognizable on FM radio in the 70s. They laid a lot of pavement for future rockers!
👍
# Hashtag - Absolutely! Many rock musicians are on record touting their love of Lizzy, for example, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Metallica, three of the biggest bands ever. Phil & Co. helped write the book!
Love John Sykes! One of my favorites! His tone is just amazing. No one sounds like him.
👍
and he got wicked vibrato !!!!!!
Zak Wylde tried. But I knew the second I heard Zak...I was hearing John Sykes..but Zak required lots more distortion to pull it off. John did it with his hands.
Sykes always over played
Phil Lynott is one of my favourite bass players. I particularly like their early sound such as on the "Vagabonds of the Western World" album when they were a three-piece and Phil's bass is so prominent in the mix. And of course Eric Bell was a great guitarist as well.
👍
Steve Hunter he is my fave ❤️
That's my favourite Lizzy album!
How did I miss this one. John and phil were the best. This song is so much fun to play.
Loved Thin Lizzy in all of it's incarnations. John Sykes is possibly the most ferocious and melodic pentatonic stylist/hard-rock shredder ever to wield a Les Paul in my humble opinion.
👍
Love your sentence
Thats so right!
Totally agree. My favorite thing that Sykes does is that solo ending slide up and down the low e string, like a lion’s roar.
I can not explain my case to Thin Lizzy. I was born and lived in Yugoslavia (Today Croatia) in the urban city and where the availability of R & R music was a normal thing . Everything that came out of music in England or America today , for 7 days it could have it in its own collection . In my town there were three shops of music albums directly from England or some other Western European country . We also had our own local vinyl publishers but they were not such a sound quality so we'd rather buy it somewhere else . Italy , Austria , Germany , Holland ...... So , me and my friends was knew about Thin Lizzy , we heard Whiskey in the jar , it was popular but , that was all . When we were through , Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, L. Zeppelin, UFO, Budgie and other hard rock bands, we switched to The Mahavishnu Orchestra , Yes , Pink Floyd , Gentle Giant , Gong , Van Der Graf Generator , Kraut rock like Can , Kraan , Amon Duul II , Tangerine Dream , Klaus Shulze and so on. It was all between 1972-75. Today , when I watch Thin Lizzy on PC , and live concerts , Thin Lizzy was a really great band . Phil Lynott was really unique and the other members were good musicians . Anyway , Thin Lizzy is my beautiful discovery of old days . I am 60 old .
Cool!
I agree . In that era my friends and I listened to a lot of prog , kraut and electronic music . Especially Klaus Schulz , Ash Ra Temple , Tangerine Dream , Tontos Expeading Head Band ....... We also loved jazz-rock fusion . Brand X was the number one for us . Miles Davis after Bitches Brewed to ........, I do not know ..., there was a lot of it . Thousands of bands went through our ears . Later came new wave with Joy Division , Bauhaus , Cure , Talking Heads and others . Today I love bands who play space and psychedelic music such as Samsara Blues Experiment , Oresund Space Collectiv , Lamp of the Universe , Space Debris , My Sleeping Karma ...... and lots of bands similar to them . All my life I listen to music that has not flirted with mainstream . Basically , music is endless .
You have the same surname as Klaus . Accidentally or Family ?
We didn't know anything about Ist Europe rock. Maby Omega and Lokomotive GT from Hungaria and it was that . Nothing more . German kraut rock was incredible . In some ways , it was better than English and American rock . It wasn't commercial and I liked that . There was really a lot of kraut rock bands and it's hard to count them all . I agree with you, there were plenty of quality Scandinavian bands . Sweden and Norvay scene was a very , very quality .
Fair play to you! I've been a Lizzy fan since 1980..Im from Ireland, enjoy Thin Lizzy my friend!
I remember going to Thin Lizzy, They always played good live , The Bass is Awesome in this !
Amen!
From top to bottom, pick any line up you want, without doubt the greatest ever band never to reach the top. Bad luck played its part but why America never saw what the rest of the world did I will never know. As for Phil Lynott, he was someone we will never see the like of again.
Amen.
I love that Phil's bass is so loud in this mix. It's so sad that Phil sadly left us. Thin Lizzy's early albums are really taking a place in my heart as I go through my high school years currently. I love Suicide, Rosalie. Such great tracks! Also, with Sykes MONSTER tone, high gain but not buzzy. Gotta love the Les Paul Custom too. I have a LP Studio but a Custom like Randy Rhoads' would be great. Great video :)
Yeah its a cool mix!
Phil was so modest about his ability to play the bass but he was actually great at playing and singing at the same time on stage. I saw this line-up of Lizzy during their farewell tour and they were fantastic ! Not too long after that gig I saw John Sykes performing with Whitesnake and that was another brilliant gig ; the band featured Jon Lord and also Cozy Powell who was such a presence on stage !
Awesome!
I don't know music per say but that band has it together!
Thank you, Phil was the king more,people should listen to Thin Lizzy 13 years and they never missed a gig
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I was lucky enough to see thin lizzy back in the late 70's. Aerosmith had to follow them. Poor guys. LOL. What a fantastic live band!
I'd heard that Journey opened for Thin Lizzy in the late '70s and realized the needed something that would kick a$$. They wrote Anyway You Want It as a result.
Awesome!
I saw them in '78. They opened for Styx. They were awesome. Styx was lame.
august west- i'm sooooooo, jealous. that is one band i WISHED i could've seen. i luv me some thin lizzy!!!!
Wings of Pegasus. Howdy Fil!. I guess this is as good a place to tell a story as any, I'll try to keep it from rambling too much. : ) Anyways i grew up near Cleveland, Ohio as a teenager in the 70's. It was a very hot spot at the time for rock and roll. We were too young to really drink in many bars so concert going was our favorite activity. Tickets were cheap among other things if ya know what I'm saying. Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, AC/DC and Thin Lizzy at Cleveland Stadium playing on a summer day/night and we were pumped! I had of course heard some of Thin Lizzys songs on the radio and appreciated their stuff but i had no idea! These guys came out to play, daytime no lights, and absolutely blew everyone away. I could not believe my ears. Just an all out kick ass assault! That was 40 yrs ago and of the literal 100's of bands I've seen they still stick out in my memory. What a suprise! Bonus: i got to shake Bon Scott's hand later that evening. Big deal for a kid! LOL. Love this show, i dont play, just a lifelong fan of music. Keep up the great work please. You rock! ✌
Love John Sykes!
Ditto! 🤘
Then we are three ; )
RacerXou1 : 4 😀
John is the man. This video reminds me... I still need to get a black LP Custom and put some black humbuckers in it. One of my favorite signature axes. To have a Sykes black LP and a Rhoads white LP hanging on the wall would be awe-inspiring.
John Sykes was in a band called Tygers of Pan Tang before lizzy and he sounded exactly like this. He developed a great sound and technique very early. top player!!
👍
Phil's voice still gives me thrills after all these years ! Thin Lizzy is the most underrated band in rock history, sadly. That's why Phil burnt his life...
Amen.
It's really nice to see Lizzy's last line-up appreciated (although it's sad they didn't make another album, with John Sykes fully integrated). The previous line-up, with Snowy White, gets an even harder time critically, but to me Thin Lizzy NEVER lost their credibility. And let's hope John Sykes comes to prominence again soon. What a talent.
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John Sykes has released a single, that I know of...he is FAR from over.
Thanks a lot for doing this video, never expected you'd do it.... and that quick ! Man, you rock !
I just love how Sykes did his own thing, not trying to be a copycat of Gary Moore ... so much more interesting !
No problem!
Sykes has always been my favourite guitarist. My dad used to play the 1987 constantly and that tone of a gibson into a mesa stack with chorus has just stayed with me
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John's greatest solo and in fact, one of the best ever is with Whitesnake - Crying in the rain - Live at Rock in Rio 1985 WOW!
Sykes has the absolute best fret hand vibrato in music. Sykes and Gary Moore have/had incredible vibratos. Big, wide and even shakes. Vibrato adds so much more musical expressiveness to your guitar playing.
Sykes' work on Thunder and Lighting was incredible. He was another Gary Moore.
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I don't think so.
Sykes is very underrated.
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I just learned the Is This Love solo. And it was extremely challenging. Those bends are brutal...
Two of my all time favorites! John plays some ferocious leads but to me it’s his incredible vibrato that sets him apart from any other guitar player. So glad to hear he’ll be putting out some new music soon! Wish Phil was still here to sing with him.
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Well that was wicked! First time I’ve watched a Thin Lizzy video... thanks for sharing!
No problem!
Thanks fil for showing the uninitiated john sykes awesome style.
Sykes and Gary are the best shredders all around ! and my fav, no need a floyd rose tremolo :)
Jailbrake was one of the very first records i owned. Got it for Christmas in 76 when my parents got me my first very own stereo. Remember those? Great great album fro an most awesome band. Being a bass player Phil was one of my very first influences.
Cool!
I had a cheap record player in the seventies, eighties. Listened to let there be rock, first album I had. Judas priest
love john Sykes always plays great wish he would reform blue murder
🤘👍
What an amazing guitarist !!!!! Love this Thin Lizzy album! Think it’s one of their best!
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You nailed this one. Well done.
Fil!! Man you’re on some voodoo or something!!! I’ve been listening to The Mighty John Sykes for almost a week straight and was going to send a link lol you beat me to it!!! You Rock brother!!
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“Crying In The Rain”, one of the GREATEST solos of all time!
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As a guitarist it is really nice to have someone comment on the instrument and musicians who actually understands both; not surprisingly, the average person does not really understand a pinched harmonic! I like this.. Fil clearly understands what is going on here.. fun and entertaining to watch. Keep it up.. and thanks for not writing off all the old guys ;-)
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Love your analysis Fil because you are always positive and pointing out individuals or bands great techniques. That's why I don't understand when people say your rating people good , bad or mediocre. That's not my experience watching your videos. Your analysis are always highly positive and instructional .
Thanks Sandra! Yeah some people don't know what an analysis is, they think it's a critique!
Truth
Good job, man. Watching your videos here in Porto Alegre, south of Brazil. And playing guitar!
First time I heard Whitesnake's first album.. couldn't believe how great the guitar sounded (and album) and there it was.. John Sykes all over it. An amazing piece of work by him
Love that line up. That whole show was great.
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John Sykes is sadly like Neil Geraldo a very underatted almost forgotten axe monster.
Fil, I've listened to your songs and u r every bit as awesome as the guitarists you analyze
Thanks!
This concert was broadcast on BBC TV in 1983 with a stereo simulcast on BBC Radio 1 FM. However, all the copies I've have had of this on DVD have been in mono, as well as UA-cam uploads. The Regal Theatre in Hitchen was demolished in late-1985 and an office block called Regal Chambers was built on the land in 1986.
Thin Lizzy one of the best rock bands ever.
What hair! Man I loved Thinn Lizzy....Boys in the bad room!
Love thin Lizzy been a fan since I was in my teens I'm now 58 Great band live met all this band at some point in my life lovely people fabulous band
John Sykes is sick! White Snake was elevated to higher greatness because of his playing!
John Sykes is one,of the best guitarist from the 80s thin,lizzy was a great band too
Right on Fil. The bass lines are unreal. Great choice of video!
Thanks!
Sykes' pick scrapes and glisses are pure gold.
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What a brilliant performance from two legends. May Phil Lynott rest in peace.
Amen.
Thank you very much from Florida!
One of the most under rated guitar players.
Lizzy finally nominated for the R&R hall of fame.
John Sykes , I think everything with him is attitude. Cocky, brash and just kick @$# playing! I saw an interview with him about being in Whitesnake , it was obvious his playing matches who he is. He just kicks @$& with his playing. Watching him play is like a Bradley tank mauling it's way through traffic.
Great band!
Yeah!
You describe the master of rock Phil & Tin Lizzy in a very brilliant understandable way. You do a great job
Thanks!
The bass and drums are completely in lock and sonically they are sitting perfectly.
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Hi,Fil...! I Come back to this great moment...this band i love .Phil, carries the fire.! The drummer ..! And John Sykes , an archangel on stage...and ..you as handsome as a fairy tale prince..i have tears in my eyes .!..moment of ecstasy..thank you dear Fil.✨💌
I saw Thin Lizzy in the early 2000's with John on vocals (and lead guitar, of course) - he can sing almost exactly like Phil.
Cool!
Great to see Phil so happy here both he & John Sykes were the real deal & I was fortunate to witness them live twice in 83!!!
SYKES had Graduated with honours from the Gary Moore school of Rock !!!! RIP PHIL & GARY THANKS FOR THE GOOD TIMES!!!!
Sykes, Sykes, Sykes!!
Hey Fil Thin Lizzy one of my favorite songs by them is "southbound". Say have you ever heard of a blues man named Sonny boy Williamson. I saw him play on one E.C. crossroads events
I'll check him out!
Brian Robertson was my favourite Thin Lizzy guitarist.Amazing tone and phrasing.
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The robbo years were the best ,and created all the classics.. emerald , still in love with you ,suicide, jailbreak,etc
THREE AMIGOS Yes,awesome times!
I love it, you make the same faces as me everytime he throws a screamer in the mix...can't help but smile and chuckle at the sheer awesomeness of Sykes.
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Phil is great on bass,doesn’t miss a note while singing.
hi Fil. Thin Lizzy were always a great band no matter what line up they had going at the time. when they went to the 2 guitar set up they took over the rock world and everybody loved them. Phil Lynott was a great lyricist on top of his bass playing skills. Lynott used to introduce Scott Gorham as the next president of the USA and it's clear Scott and John Sykes had a great style together. peace man
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Great band, Great song, great guitarist
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Philip...miss you so much...whatta skill set♥️💯
Yet again the backbone of Lynott and Downey! Add Phil’s very easily recognized voice and a couple of great guitarists and voilà - Thin Lizzy! Saw them five times i Stockholm, central band when I grew up. 😊👍
Touchdown! Homerun! Goal! TL is one of my all time favs. John is the Man! Great analysis as always, Fil
Thanks!
I got to catch John with both
Whitesnake & Blue Murder.
Outstanding performances!
It's ashame he doesn't perform
live anymore-
Cool! That's a shame!
That was amazing! I love Thin Lizzy and this is such a great song! RIP Phil!
Amen.
John Sykes WOW.... !!!!!! And Phil Lynott!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!! Hey Fil really great vid, John, the man can play and sing..... ! Lost for words!!!! Enormous sound and frightening guitar work!!! Love his playing in Whitesnake , Tygers of Pan Tang and his band Blue Murder!!!! Phil my god what a sad loss, the guy was brilliant!!!! My youth coming back to me.... Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Love Sykes guitar work. He just manhandles the Les Paul. His vibrato sounds like he's playing with a tremolo. Fricken sweet!
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Great choice Fil,I was gonna ask you to give us a breakdown of Thin Lizzy with John James Sykes a month ago but I know you already have a full list of artists you're doing. Thanks for this one! Yeah Sykes has CRAZY wide vibrato!! Phil Lynotts singing and playing is amazing. Count this face as melted!
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Thin Lizzy was one of the great bands that peaked when I was taking a break from live concerts. My loss. Thanks for the analysis. I was wondering about the line-up in this video, and then caught a glimpse of Scott. I almost didn't recognize him.
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Phil and Gary Moore has a love/ hate relationship. But when the were together what beautiful music was played and songs written. God rest them both
From Thunder And Lightening produced by Chris Tsangarides. That was a monster album. This live bit was from one of the final tours. Sykes did wonders for Lizzy and Whitesnake. Phil was a poet no doubt. I had his solo album Solo Down In Soho. I first heard Thin Lizzy in 1974's Nightlife on a radio station in Chicago called WXRT made it a point to get it that week. The critics say that Phil was an "ersatz" Springsteen but I think that Springsteen stole some style from Phil. Check Sykes' solo on Crying In The Rain live Rock In Rio.
Cool!
Phil met The Boss once at a hotel, by the pool and it was Springsteen who was starstruck. True story and as it should’ve been!
Agree
I was there in 1977/78 and saw Lizzy in my Dutch hometown. I think it was the Chinatown tour. It was out of this world. The line up was with Snowy White as the second guitarist. They hit the town really hard. One of the best concerts I've ever seen. In the first decade of 2000 i saw Lizzy refurbished with John and Scott. And the Black Star Riders who dit a very good job in 2012 with three original Lizzy memebers including Brian Downey n drums. Was a trip to memory lane.
John Sykes is one of the best Six String Slingers in Rock, yet he can never seem to Stay in a band, he does an album or two maybe a Tour then it's on to the next project
My first ever gig was on this very tour, will never, ever forget it. It was in Glasgow. Or was it Edinburgh. Maybe Aberdeen. Or was it Aerosmith.
Spot on again! Great job!
Still In Love With You by Thin Lizzy - same lineup, same show - is a perfect example of what you mentioned as John’s ability to straddle all aspects of emotion and range as a player. Also a great example of Phil’s songwriting and vocal ability.
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You should react to John on Cryin In The Rain Rock In Río 85 during the solo. Id like to see you commentin on that! Sykes was the reason the 87 Whitesnake album was what it is today. Then founding Blue Murder and makin its debut album sound like the follow up to 1987. He's insanely good.
I was lucky to see this tour in Manchester back in the day many bands was playing every week great days.
Cool!
John Norum, who is a world class guitarist himself, borrowed those wide bends from Sykes and Moore.
As you know Fil I've always loved Sykes. Still a regular listener to his solo albums as well. Review Blue Murder live in Tokyo from late 80s
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Phil picked his guitarists very well, he was boss.
thanks lots for this one...Thin Lizzy with as you said, the legend that was Phil Lynott one of the greatest r 'n r bands of all times and one of my all time favourites
No problem!
The squeal... Sykes was paving the road for Zakk Wylde to spam that technique.
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Love it great song, Sykes kills it...
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Saw Lizzy at Reading festival in 83 and strange fact I knew a Drummer who lived in Reading Berkshire in a terraced house and his cousin was John Sykes
Saw Thin Lizzy in Germany a few times back in the 70's (once with Robin Trower) - one of the best straight-ahead live rock bands ever.
He does a lot of major 3rd(2 whole tones) from the minor 7 to the minor 9 in this tune anyway. Steve Lukather uses the same thing in Hold the Line with Toto. I use the major 3rd hard bend a lot in my playing. I picked it up from Luke more than John but a cool technique just the same.
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Late comment, but this for me is a great example of how the bass does not have to follow the main guitar riff - and it's all the better for it. That driving/pumping F# bass note under the guitar is so simple yet so effective.