Valley of the Kings

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning "Valley of the Kings" by Blue Murder from their self-titled debut album, firing up the Zoo Freaks in the audience. This epic track, clocking in at nearly eight minutes, is a standout for its heavy, dramatic sound, which some fans on X have described as so powerful it feels like it couldn’t possibly come from just a trio. One post raves about the “overwhelming” presence of John Sykes’ guitar, Tony Franklin’s fretless bass, and Carmine Appice’s drums, calling it a “dramatic masterpiece.” The song draws inspiration from Egyptian culture, with lyrics evoking pharaohs and pyramids, and was co-written by Sykes and former Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin, who claimed in an interview that he contributed to much of the album but wasn’t fully credited.

Behind the scenes, “Valley of the Kings” had a rocky road to release. According to drummer Carmine Appice, choosing it as the first promotional single and music video was a misstep. The track was deemed too long and not commercial enough for MTV, and since it wasn’t available for purchase as a single, bassist Tony Franklin noted it struggled to gain traction. The video, directed by Mary Lambert and costing a reported $150,000, got some airplay and was even named MTV’s “Hip Clip of the Week,” but the band’s push for more promotion backfired. Fans on Reddit’s hairmetal community have debated this, with some recalling the song’s heavy rotation on Headbangers Ball, while others felt the label, Geffen Records, didn’t fully support the band, hoping instead to reunite Sykes with Whitesnake’s David Coverdale. Despite these hurdles, the song’s progressive rock vibe and Franklin’s fretless bass work have made it a cult favorite, with one review praising its “epic” qualities.

Blue Murder was the brainchild of guitarist-vocalist John Sykes, formed in 1987 after his dramatic exit from Whitesnake. Sykes, born in Reading, England, in 1959, began his career in the early 1980s with the band Streetfighter before joining Tygers of Pan Tang, where his guitar skills started turning heads. His big break came with Thin Lizzy, playing on their 1983 album Thunder and Lightning, which honed his knack for blending bluesy hard rock with metal. After Thin Lizzy, Sykes joined Whitesnake, contributing to their massively successful 1987 self-titled album, but tensions with frontman David Coverdale led to his firing in 1986. Returning to Blackpool, England, Sykes started writing new material, determined to create his own band. He recruited bassist Tony Franklin, formerly of The Firm, and initially worked with drummer Cozy Powell and vocalist Ray Gillen, though both left early on. Carmine Appice, a veteran drummer from Vanilla Fudge and Rod Stewart’s band, joined after a jam session in Blackpool, and Sykes took on vocal duties himself after struggles to find the right singer.

You can keep up with Blue Murder’s legacy through their official website, though the band has been inactive since the mid-1990s following Sykes’ passing in 2025. Their Facebook page remains a hub for fans, sharing throwback photos and memories, while the Instagram account occasionally posts vintage performance clips. On X, the band’s account hasn’t been active recently, but fans like Tony Franklin keep the spirit alive, with Franklin reminiscing about the album’s release in 1989. For fan communities, the Blue Murder Fans Facebook group is a lively spot where Zoo Freaks and others swap stories, rare photos, and vinyl finds. Another great resource is the fan-run site John Sykes’ official website, which doubles as a tribute to his career, including his Blue Murder days, with detailed discographies and archived interviews.