John Sykes vs Vivian Campbell?

John Sykes or Vivian Campbell ?

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    15
mosiddiqi

mosiddiqi

The Curry Master
Staff member
Who? why?

Just curious as they're both obviously disciples of Gary Moore (who I like more than either of them) and have that ultra speedy right hand picking thing going on. I think I prefer Sykes but there's not much in it.
 
This is a tough one.

On the one hand, I want to say Viv, because he's a great guitarist and has had a long career. When you think about it, though, both are best known for albums done in the 80s.

So, for managing to keep a career going: Viv
For his hand in creating one of the best albums ever: Sykes. Whitesnake was just a killer album from start to finish.
 
Sykes is a bit faster, and plays the notes cleaner.

Probably a better writer too. I'm not sure I've heard much of anything Campbell has wrote. Dio wrote all the music in Dio….not sure what he writes in Def Leppard.
 
Sykes resume is less impressive for me as Whitesnake was a high point and it doesn't hold up for me. I think the stuff that Viv did with Dio has more lasting appeal, but I don't listen to it. My favorite thing from either guys was the first Riverdog album that Viv was producing and then at the band's need and request he took over as the guitarist. Great rock album. The first Blue Murder disc was decent, but it didn't hook me I like the Riverdogs.

I think John is the more proficient player, but it's about the music. So I go with Viv who I also think has/d a more unique voice overall...too bad about Def Leppard though. I know it's a steady high profile gig, but he's not shining in that band nor are they creating anything new worth listening to.

If only their careers could have been illustrious as mine. We can't all be legendary and forever creative.
 
Sykes, Sykes, a thousand times Sykes!!!
Thin Lizzy
Tygers of Pan Tang
Whitesnake
Blue Murder
He was abusing pinch harmonics (but in an awesome way) before anyone had heard of Zakk Wylde. He wrote incredible songs. He played the snot out of that fucking black LP. Aaaaand he can sing like a motherfucker too.
Plus (and I know JJ is gonna come down on me for this), Viv had some questionable landings at the end of some of those Dio-era solos. Just sayin'.
 
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oh yea.....and if you have seen Sykes doing some of his own stuff (include the songs he wrote with whitesnake).....he CAN sing....nearly as well as Covergirl.....maybe that's why he got canned....he could do Whitesnake WITHOUT Covergirl.

don't know about Viv's singing.
 
If you got rid of everything Sykes has ever played on except for the self titled Whitesnake album, I would still take him. I loved Holy Diver, but I can't remember the guitar standing out. All I remember is RJD's voice.
 
Wow, the Whitesnake is getting too much love for me in this thread and Viv too little appreciation for his uniqueness and the fact that he was a seamless part of Dio...for whom he and to a lesser extent Jimmy Bain wrote all the songs.
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
Wow, the Whitesnake is getting too much love for me in this thread and Viv too little appreciation for his uniqueness and the fact that he was a seamless part of Dio...for whom he and to a lesser extent Jimmy Bain wrote all the songs.
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I like both quite a bit.

If you were starting a band, and your final two were Skykes and Campbell, it would be a hard choice.
 
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