A second posthumous single from the late JOHN SYKES has been released, titled "Believe In Yourself," issued by Australia's Golden Robot Records from recordings made before the legendary guitarist's passing in January 2025.
The track previews a forthcoming four-track EP featuring Sykes' final studio recordings. According to the label, the single "captures everything fans have long admired about Sykes' artistry — soaring vocals, electrifying guitar work, and a deeply personal lyrical message." It follows "My Guitar," the first posthumous single, released in February 2026.
The release has not been without controversy. Sykes's family issued a statement making clear they had "not authorised, entered into, or agreed to any arrangement with Golden Robot Records for his unfinished material." Golden Robot countered that the release is "fully permitted under John's recording agreement" and that the music represents legitimate finished work.
JOHN SYKES was one of the most revered guitarists in the British hard rock and heavy metal tradition. Born in Reading in 1959, he rose to prominence with TYGERS OF PAN TANG before pivotal stints with THIN LIZZY and then WHITESNAKE. His creative partnership with DAVID COVERDALE produced defining moments of 1980s rock: the guitar work he contributed to WHITESNAKE's legendary 1987 self-titled album — including "Still of the Night" and "Is This Love?" — remains a benchmark of the era.
He later formed power trio BLUE MURDER, which produced two acclaimed albums in the early 1990s, before embarking on a long solo career and eventually signing with Golden Robot Records in 2019.
Sykes died in January 2025 following a battle with cancer, at age 65. The question of who controls an artist's unfinished recordings — and what obligations that entails — has become one of the most contested issues in the modern music industry. The dispute over Sykes' legacy is a painful reminder of how often these questions are left unresolved.