Tony Franklin • Plays & Discusses Blue Murder's Heaviest Song 

To see you, Carmine, and John reunited for a jam, even if ONLY for RU-vid, would bring SO many people profound joy and happiness.

Tony, I know the original BLUE MURDER was only a brief supernova but we, the fans, and admiring musos, can never thank you three musketeers enough for making this album. An absolutely incredible piece of art!

That's crazy, I didn't realize John was already writing the Blue Murder stuff before the '87 WS album even came out. So he didn't even know the success that the WS album was going to have before he started this. Somehow, that makes the Blue Murder stuff even better to me.

Saw Blue murder when they opened for Bon Jovi in Atlanta during the New Jersey tour. I was 3 rows back and became an instant proponent for this awesome trio

Blue Murder was on of the best bands ever, very unique style and off the charts musicianship! Thanks for sharing this with us

One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands. I’m a sucker for anything with Sykes on it. Me and my friends would absolutely LOVE to see John Sykes play out and release that new sy-ops album he’s hiding.

Thanks Tony for the play through & back story, what an awesome killer line up Blue Murder was. 😀👍

I fell in love with Johns playing style when he was in Tygers, then of course Thin Lizzy and then IMO he took Whitesnake from a heavy blues-rock band with famous musicians to one of the BIGGEST bands in the world with his writing and playing on the Whitesnake album. After he left i lost track of him (i was stationed in Spain) and stumbled upon a Blue Murder cassette in a Madrid record shop and bought it for about $3US not even knowing it was John, you Tony freekin Franklin from The Firm, and Carmine..... As soon as i put it in the Blaupunkt i had in my Spanish Ford Fiesta and heard the first guitar part in RIOT, i knew i had stumbled on a masterpiece! I absolutely love the chemistry between you and John!!

I loved that album as soon as I heard it Tony and 34 years later nothings changed. Superb musicianship and incredible energy!! Thank you Tony, always.

This album is amazing. Had it on vinyl. Metal with a fretless made it so different. Love it.

Thank you for being you, and for being involved in the musical & emotional chapters of the soundtrack of my life.

Excellent Tony to play Bass with Cozy must have been incredible..🤘🏻

Ptolemy 🔥 Smokin’ 🔥🔥 vocals, instrumental, stage performance 🔥🔥🔥🔥 I could only find one live performance, found it live in Tokyo… Ty, Tony for sharing 🤘🎸🎶✌️❤️

Blue Murder such a killer band!!! Just wanna say thank you for being part in that band! It wouldn’t be the same without you! And hey are you ever gonna get that same hairstyle back that you had in the 80s? Haha

Quite a lot of history with the band, as well as just the song alone! Always love to see it!

Thanks Tony, from Chile, you are a friend, thanks for sharing. You are a legend!!!

So cool that you shared a Blue Murder story, Tony. I love BM and it´s kind of frustrating that we have little info about John Sykes, one of my fave guitar players. So, please share more stories in the next videos.

Impossible not to sing !!! Very melodical and super heavy!!!!

Mystical indeed... I always wondered where John's inspiration came from for Ptolemy & Valley of the Kings. So out there as the themes for a rock song. You and John and Carmine, truly a match made in Rock Heaven🎸🌟🤩 Still dreaming of Blue Murder reunion...💙💙💙

Man, thanks for sharing this piece. Ptolemy is by far my favorite song from the album, and it is so... Unbelievably awesome... to see and hear this from you 33 years later. Much appreciated! Keep shredding!

I absolutely love your fretless style Tony i loved it with Blue Murder and The Firm and i still love it now

I love Blue Murder so much it hurts.

This song is one of my favorites from the album along with Valley of the Kings and Billy. It's such a dark & foreboding groove! I thought it was even more underrated than some of John's other songs.

'We were just on a trajectory, goin' somewhere, and we weren't gonna stop until we felt like comin' back!" -- Tony Franklin, describing the early days of "Blue Murder." Well, Tony, we long-suffering fans are still waiting for John Sykes to come back and finish what you started all those years ago. At this point, I'd crawl on my belly across broken glass if it would help John see the long-promised "new" album through to fruition. But certainly you all don't necessarily the occasion of new material to justify hitting the road to play a few sell-out dates. Sigh!

I remember the song, I've just not heard it in so long I'm going to look it up and listen! I do recall my old drummer Steve and I, our jaws dropped. And then Steve looked at me and said "looks like your going to need a fretless bass!"

Thank you for being so nice to a couple of 15 year old kids in Little Rock, Arkansas. You, John, and Carmine truly meant so much to us. You were all so welcoming and encouraging!

That is such a fantastic song. One of my favorites on the album.

That was always my favorite track on the album. I just heard it on the radio the other day. What a great song! What a great bass tone. You da man, Tony!

Smokin’ Not only did go, you ran with it 🔥🔥🤘🤘 Awesome. Ty, for the ride 🤘🎸🎶 you’re always amazing…. now I’m gonna go look up the song, give it a listen. Rock on Tony 🤘🎸🎶✌️❤️

Funny, Tony pops up on my RU-vid now. Last night a shit load of Carmine Appice vids came and he commonly was talking about Blue Murder and then some really cool Blue Murder vids popped up. Carmine, Tony & John are gods and that Blue Murder album was epic and forever in our hearts/ears. It’s a sad way that the three of you are not making new material and touring together, but we all know that’s on John. He’s pulling a Vito Bratta (Guitarist/White Lion) and being reclusive. Tony, your playing is one of a kind. Thank you for being active With your great playing and continuing to be relevant and out on the road. God bless 👍🏼🙏🏼✝️

I will never forget the first time that I heard the album I was blown away by what you guys created, amazing.

Love Ptolemy...never saw Blue Murder but played the hell out of that cassette. These guys were so good.

Valley of the Kings is still one of my top songs to listen to

Love Blue Murder. 3 extremely talented artist. Love watching your video's. John's playing and singing incredible.

I feel SO incredibly fortunate to have seen Blue Murder live in a small club in New Haven CT (Toad's Place) and no shit you guys blew the fucking roof off that place! I can still vividly hear your hilarious bass solo where you broke into "If I only had a Brain" from The Wizard of Oz haha

Thanks for sharing this.and as always your playing is on another level. another

Loved this album when it came out. Me n my bro listened and dissected every song. Ptolemy was for the solo junkies no doubt about it...haha. I personally liked the title track Blue Murder, had a nice crunchy riff, felt great to play and the harmonics were a nice touch. Thks for this vid man, luv ur style, brings back awesome memories

AWESOME AWESOME ...TONY IS THE MAN, WHEN YOU WANNA HEAR SOME REALLY GOOD FRETLESS STUFF WHICH HAS DEPTH, PUNCH, CHARACTER AND ORIGINALITY...

Dam now you make me want to piece together a fretless PJ. Thanks for breaking down the mechanics of that one.

I remember when you in The Firm. That's what caught my attention to your playing. Of course, when Blue Murder came out and I got to listen to it, I was blown away. Blue Murder was lightening in a bottle. I love that whole album. It's fire. This song is a crusher for sure. I love John's playing. I think he is a very underrated guitar player. I also think you should receive more recognition for your work. You're incredible. I love Jellyroll as well. When the song breaks down to the love can break your heart section, you play some of the most beautiful bass lines.

Way to go Mr. Franklin. Keep on rocking. Blue Murder were amazing. Your bass lines on "It's too late" demo are epic. R.I.P. Cozy Powell and Ray Gillen.

Just went back and listened to it, what a great riff and band. I would love t see you guys do it today!!!

Absolutely killer!!! You are truly an inspiration , love seeing your videos! Killer tone!

Hi Tony...loved your work w this & The Firm. I saw you when Blue Murder & Kings X played w Billy Squier in late '89 at the Brady Theater in Tulsa. Great show, both you & King's X waaaay solid!!!! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

That was totally awesome! Cheers, Tony! 👍👍✌️

Good sound Tony ..! It's a very busy song and think that's what makes it soo killer ..thank you sir...

Such a unique style. You are an incredible talent Tony. You bring something special to every situation you enter.

Thank you for the upload. By the time Blue Murder came around, I was so deep into King's X, I couldn't see anything else. "Ptolemy" kicks ass! John has such a great voice, one would think it would be enough he's such an awesome guitarist. Sorry for missing Blue Murder the first time around. (I've been a fan of you since The Firm.) :D

such a shreddy song, very awesome bass playing.

Best bassist ever ! Loved the Firm and loved Blue Murder ! First album was simply incredible! Cheers from Ukraine

Tony, thanks. Happiest Holidays from NY! Great playing. Rocknroll!

An absolute favorite from the record!! 🔥🔥

I have been listening to John's playing and style since Thin Lizzys Thunder & Lightning album in 1983 and the Live Life album from the same year. Even though he came on the scene with Tygers of Pan Tang in 81, those albums didn't have the same sound that he's known for now, the song Cold Sweat just blew me away the first time hearing it, to be honest I wasn't a huge TL fan but he changed my opinion of that group so when everyone got word that he joined Whitesnake , every guitar fan was thrilled to hear about this but at the time all I could think of was it's bad enough having one ego in one band but now there's three (John, David, and Cozy) I knew this wasn't going to last long and eventually my instincts were right. When Ptolomy was my favorite track off the first Blue Murder album not just for powerful way it was written but the unusual timing like you said here and I wish you would convince John to come back together with you and Carmine and make another Blue Murder recording or at least release the one he's had on the shelf for years now, did Tony play on that album?and

Love every song on the album amazing band.I have to ask did you play with appear on the Video for Give Blood? Playing with Pete Townsend and Simon Phillips?The Deep end.

Hi Tony! I'm a drummer not a bass player. When I was a kid in the late 80's my friend had the BM cd and I listened to it but never really got into it. I guess I was too wrapped up in other bands at the time. Anyway for whatever reason I recently started learning note for note (and all the awesome little ambiances if you will) the tune "Blue Murder." I've always dug Carmine's playing and that song is killer... But bro... Your bass playing!!! Off the fucking hook man! I'm pretty sure you're my new favorite bassist! Incredible player and incredible showmanship! Plus you seem like a chill dude as well! Just wanted to say cheers from a new fan! Really dig your stuff bro! Cheers!

I have learned (after 50 yrs.) the players that make their playing look simple are the best of all. You have some awesome tricks that are not easy on top of that.

Incredible album!

Tony baby!!!! I just found this gem!! Im off twitter an face book...i unplugged permanently...great to see you playing baby blue still!!!! Ill chime in again from time to time...missed being on your friends list..always a pleasure mate!!! Chow🇺🇲🇬🇧😎✌️💪

Good thing is alway there. Tony, please put them all together. I’m begging you with true mind.

Fantastic Tony!

Ptolemy is an awesome song, like so many off that album!

Was just learning Ptolemy on guitar and I'm going to say the main riff is not as straightforward as it seems, at least I was hearing it slightly differently in my head. And then went to learn and listened closely and was like "ooooh" :) Should I try learning it on a fretted bass, hmm? Can't play fretless to save my life 😂 Thank you so much Tony for these videos!

Baby Blue sure has to some amazing harmonics. I just got a 5 string Dingwall Super J, a fretted bass. And I absolutely love it!

Tony, did you play with fingers or a pick on the album for this tune? Thanks!

Ya man. Realy cool , this is Majortom formerly of Miss crazy , sounds great ,

New subscriber & bassist here. Always loved your playing very distinctive. Blue Murder was such a great band. You make playing a fretless so effortless lol I can usually tell if you're on a track or not. Anyway what kind of strings are you using & are there position markers on your basses on the side of the neck?

Happy New Year 2024. I wish all best.

Valley of the Kings is still, to this day, one of my favorite songs!

I like to sing along with John and the band to keep my vocal chops up lol. Great album!!!

Ptolemy was my favorite song on that album. I used to play to it all of the time. Turn up the distortion, flip on the chorus, and get a nice, beefy rhythm guitar sound. Blue Murder was one of my favorite groups at that time. I forgot all about frickin' Whitesnake when I discovered Tony and Carmine had joined up with Sykes. Whitesnake had two good albums (Slide it in and 87), and after that they sounded pathetic). Blue Murder had all the gravitas, sound, and talent. It's a shame that it'll never be again.

I worked a blue murder show, they opened for Bon Jovi . John Sykes was in catering, had a nice conversation with him. He showed me his little acoustic he was using for warming up . Got all 3 guys autographs. Carmine and Tony were just as friendly as John . Only other person like that was Billy Duffy of the Cult . Super nice man.

Stupid good! Absolutely luv Blue Murder!🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

Sykes took those moments that Jimmy Page had in Zeppelin like "Kashmir" and turned them up to 11. The middle part of "Still of the Night" is another example. I really love the fretless in hard rock, too... I play fretless and the things you did really inspired me and opened me up to doing things like using a pick when the song called for it.

Awesome!!

Sounds great! love the north Arab / moorish kind of thing around 5:27 ish. Really great lines Tony. You boys as Blue Murder deserved more than you got, I think. A fair bit of mismarketing perhaps?

Killer bassist! Love Blue Murder

Hi Tony, I recently got myself a fretless. Are there any fretless basslines you reckon I should try out?

Fantastic....Tony Franklin is a master of the fretless bass... Great band... Great Songs Great players......most bands,just don't have the chemistry the original Blue Murder had......

Fantastic man. I want a fretless just so I can do those sliding harmonics!!

I know blue Murder will Not reunite, At least we have the memories and the music..😎🎸🎼🤎

Tony Franklin good luck. Благодарю за рассказ и отличное исполнение. Всех благ Вам.

Rock On!!!

Ultra cool !!

Please tell me, Tony, do you ever keep a time piece on how long you spend on average playing and practicing by the day?

Love Blue Murder!!

Tony, enjoyed the vid. Quick question: of all the guitarists you have played with who was the loudest. Cheers!

Do you now wear shoes? 😂 Would love to see a reunion of blue murder.

" Something like that 😀 " 😀💙💙💙💙💙

Tony Long Time Don't see!!! Hope all is well !! Cheers Mate!!! 🌠🌠🌠🔥🎸🎸🎸🎧

You and mick karn were the premeire go to bassists of 80s/90s. Is your bio on the fast track fir release. Any blue murder reunion is an event

Hi Tony, since you're on the topic of Blue Murder, I've always wondered which songs on Blue Murder's second album were played by you. I'm pretty sure 'Save My Love' and 'She Knows' are you, but I could be wrong. Thanks!

I love it! I have played my best fills saving the groove! (and my ass!)!

Maestro!!!...what great bass lines for great songs...what happened to Sykes????...being such a great guitarist, singer and songwriter, I would have expected a more prolific career.

Cadillac with The Firm 🔥🔥🔥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥great song and album, John read this and get off the toilet and do this

No discussion, monster it , master it

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember buying The Firm on cassette shortly after graduating from high school, and wearing it out in my old Chevy pickup. Blue Murder came out while I was in college, but bought that one on CD. Great music and memories. Thank you Tony, you seem like a humble person!

What is stopping these 3 guys from coming together again??????

Blue Murder inspired me to go fretless as a metal bassist. I was gonna take the frets off my Steinberger L-2 but I found a trade-in deal on the same model minus the frets, PLUS a string so I traded an L-2 for a fretless L-2/5.