8-bit Coding, Game Music, and a Life in Sound
Back in the early 80s, I was working in Dublin for an American company, helping code and compose the music for early Atari games. These were the days of 8-bit magic, where I wore two hats - part coder, part musician. Because I could play music, I was also handed the responsibility for the game soundtracks. It was exciting, experimental, and honestly, a little wild. I was even offered a chance later to do music for the Amiga, but by then I had taken a sharp turn into the world of military coding - another strange but defining path in my life.
An Unexpected Encounter on the Streets of Dublin
That same autumn, Dublin was buzzing with energy. Thin Lizzy was playing that evening - a band that had a profound impact on me as a young musician from Greenland. I was out wandering the city before the concert when I noticed a familiar face. It was none other than John Sykes himself, Thin Lizzy's guitar wizard, just casually walking down the street.
Without thinking twice, I walked up, said hi, and to my surprise - he stopped. We shook hands. He looked at me for a second and said, "You don't look Irish."
I laughed and told him, "I'm from Greenland." That raised an eyebrow. I explained how Thin Lizzy had inspired me to pursue music more seriously, despite being so far from the world where rock legends lived and played. He smiled warmly when I mentioned that, even though he joined the band later, one of my favorite albums was Thunder & Lightning - and of course the iconic Live and Dangerous from '78.
We were roughly the same age - well, he was a couple of years older, but who's counting? It felt like talking to a kindred spirit, someone who understood the fire that music can ignite in a person.
A Chilly Joke and a Heartwarming Moment
He grinned and told me he had flown over Greenland before. "It looked too cold for me," he joked. I laughed, saying, "Yeah, stone cold!" We both chuckled like two old friends sharing a private joke.
Before we parted ways, he told me, "Say hi to Greenland when you get home," and wished me well. It was a short encounter, but it left a long-lasting imprint. John Sykes, one of my all-time guitar heroes - even though I’m a keyboard player - took a few minutes of his day to chat with a stranger. That meant the world to me.
The Show and a Missed Pick
That night at the concert, something magical happened. Somewhere between the soaring solos and the roaring crowd, he recognized me from earlier. He looked straight at me and threw a guitar pick in my direction. I reached... and missed it. But the gesture? Unforgettable.
Of course, this was long before we had phones in our pockets. Taking pictures wasn’t easy, and frankly, we weren’t thinking about photos - we were there to watch and listen, to live in the sound and soak in every note.
Still One of My Favorite Stories
Even today, decades later, that brief meeting in Dublin remains one of my most cherished memories. Not just because I met a rock legend, but because it reminded me that music really does connect people - from the frostbitten coasts of Greenland to the electric streets of Dublin.
This song does have lots of inspiration from John Sykes - This song is dedicated to Ronnie Atkins, Pretty Maids, but has the distinct sound I learned from ear back then.
Another of my songs, Happy Birthday, is also very much inspired by John Sykes - I wish that I had been able to tell him about it. You can find that video here: Happy Birthday (YouTube).
Rest in peace, warrior!