Legendary English guitarist John Sykes (TYGERS OF PAN TANG, THIN LIZZY, WHITESNAKE, BLUE MURDER, SYKES) has parted ways with Golden Robot Records without releasing a single record through the label. Sykes's partnership with the Australian company was first announced in January. At the time, John promised that his his first album in 19 years would arrive before the end of 2019. However, things apparently went south shortly after the signing, with Sykes now accusing the label of making "little attempt to move things forward despite our best efforts and patience." On Saturday (November 16), John released the following statement via his official web site: "Dear John Sykes fans. We regret to announce that our partnership with Golden Robot Records has ceased. "Unfortunately after the signing, contractual agreements were unfulfilled by Golden Robot Records and there was little attempt to move things forward despite our best efforts and patience. When written contracts revert to unfulfilled verbal promises all integrity in a company becomes lost. We simply cannot work this way. "We want the fans to understand that we are fully aware of the frustration this will cause. We now feel that the best course of action is to release the album under our own control." Sykes's as-yet-untitled new disc (its previously announced title of "Sy-Ops" has now apparently been scrapped) is expected to include such tracks as "Dawning Of A Brand New Day", "Believe In Yourself", "My Guitar" and "Out Alive". Speaking to Reality Check TV at this past January's Hall Of Heavy Metal History event in Anaheim, California, Sykes stated about his absence from the rock scene: "I'm looking forward to getting out on the road and playing again. I kind of go underground and stay there for a while. I don't know, man. Sometimes I just take off and shut it all down. But I'm getting the itch, I've been having the itch to get back out and play, so I'm looking forward to that." Asked about the musical direction of his new record, Sykes said: "It's kind of got flavors of old and new. But I think it'll be pleasing to a lot of people to hear it. I think it'll touch a fair few people if they check it out. It's a good, solid album — it's not just a couple of tracks and a load of fillers." Sykes's band for his upcoming tour is expected to include his onetime BLUE MURDER bandmate Tony Franklin (bass) and Fred Boswell Jr. (drums), both of whom are pictured with John below. John's best-known work was when he joined WHITESNAKE and co-wrote the band's self-titled seventh studio album, released in 1987. It produced a major power ballad hit, "Is This Love", along with the No. 1 hit "Here I Go Again". The album was a major crossover hit, eventually selling over eight million copies in the U.S. alone. Sykes announced his departure from THIN LIZZY in July 2009, explaining that "I feel it's time to get back to playing my own music."
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