Oli Sykes

Early life

Sykes was born on 20 November 1986, in Ashford, Kent, England. As an infant, he moved to Australia with his parents, Ian and Carol Sykes, living between Adelaide and Perth during a period of about six years. The family returned to the United Kingdom when Sykes was about eight, settling in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. As a teenager, he attended Stocksbridge High School then Barnsley College.

Career

Womb 2 Da Tomb, Purple Curto and Olisaurus pseudonym (2000–2004)

In early 2000, while still in school, he began crafting compilation CDs and short tracks under the name Quakebeat. He also played in the mock hip-hop band "Womb 2 Da Tomb" with his brother Tom Sykes and fellow Bring Me the Horizon member Matt Nicholls, and in metal band "Purple Curto" with Neil Whiteley, as the drummer/vocalist under the pseudonym "Olisaurus", which he would later use when releasing solo material.

Bring Me the Horizon (2004–present)

In 2004, Sykes formed Bring Me the Horizon. The band released their debut EP This Is What the Edge of Your Seat Was Made For in 2004, then releasing their debut studio album, Count Your Blessings in 2006. In 2007, a female fan accused Sykes of urinating on her and accused him and his bandmates of assaulting her. He was put on trial and pleaded not guilty. The fan took a photo of her face, which appeared to be covered in blood. An employee of venue Rock City in Nottingham, England said: "After the gig, two girls tried to get on the tour bus. Later on, the singer, Oliver Sykes, tried it on with one of the girls. When she said no, he called her a dyke and first pissed on her before him and the rest of the band threw her and her friend off the bus. Once off the bus, someone within the band threw an empty bottle of Jagermeister at the girl's head". Sykes strongly denied the allegations. According to record label Visible Noise Records, "numerous versions of the alleged incident have been posted online". Charges against Sykes were dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Their second studio album, Suicide Season, was released on 29 September 2008. During a tour in 2008, Bring Me the Horizon and the British metalcore band Architects filmed two videos. The first showed a fight between Sykes and Architects' lead singer Sam Carter, while the second showed an ambulance with Sykes supposedly inside. The videos were uploaded to YouTube, leading to outrage from many Bring Me the Horizon fans, and resulting in hate mail and death threats being sent to Carter. However, it was later revealed that the videos were a stunt staged by both bands, and that they are in fact good friends. Sykes said, "All-day events can get boring very fast so we conjured up the first idiotic thing we could think of and made it as unbelievable as possible."

Their third studio album There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret. was released on 4 October 2010, followed by fourth studio album Sempiternal on 1 April 2013, which features the new member Jordan Fish and Sykes playing rhythm guitar for the album. In June 2013, Sykes and Bring Me the Horizon were sued by the parents of a 12-year-old girl due to injuries received in the mosh pit while watching the band's performance during the Warped Tour 2013. This led to Sykes announcing via Twitter that legally he was no longer able to start any form of moshing activities during his concerts. However, Sykes later stated that the suit had been dropped and that moshing was not going to be banned.

The band released their fifth studio album That's the Spirit on 11 September 2015, and their sixth album Amo on 25 January 2019. On 27 December 2019, they released their commercial release Music to Listen To.... On 30 October 2020, they released another commercial release, Post Human: Survival Horror.

Collaborations and musical projects

Sykes has been featured on You Me at Six's "Bite My Tongue", Architects' "Even If You Win, You're Still a Rat", Admiral's Arms' "Dawn of the New Age" and Deez Nuts's "If You Don't Know, You Know Now". He is also featured in a music video that accompanied "All I Want", a song by American rock band A Day to Remember.

In 2017, Sykes was featured as guest vocalist on the song "Silence Speaks" with English metalcore band While She Sleeps. Sykes was briefly featured in the music video for Charli XCX's 2017 song "Boys" along with other artists including Brendon Urie, Denzel Curry, Charlie Puth and Stormzy.

Sykes has also collaborated with DJ Skrillex as the backing vocals of the song "Visions", featured on the Bring Me the Horizon album There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret.. Skrillex has also remixed a Bring Me the Horizon song "The Sadness Will Never End" off Suicide Season which the remix was featured on the Cut Up! version of the album. On 27 October 2017, Sykes performed with Linkin Park at Linkin Park and Friends: Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington. He performed the song "Crawling" with DJ and record producer Zedd on percussion.

Other ventures

Sykes is the founder and owner of the alternative clothing line Drop Dead Clothing (stylized as DROP DEAD). On 1 February 2013, Sykes launched Kickstarter project to fund a graphic novel created by him and Drop Dead Clothing artist Ben Ashton-Bell, entitled Raised by Raptors. With a £15,000 goal, the project exceeded its target within weeks of launching, attaining a final total of £39,223. In July 2018, Sykes opened a vegan restaurant/bar in Sheffield called "Church - Temple of Fun". The restaurant has an arcade and live music.

Influences and legacy

Sykes has cited Glassjaw, Pantera, Black Flag, Misfits, Linkin Park, Simple Plan, Every Time I Die, Skycamefalling, Poison the Well, Norma Jean, Slipknot and The Dillinger Escape Plan as influences.

In 2006, when asked about the lyrics of Count Your Blessings, as they had been criticised for their content fixated on heartbreak or other themes that were called "shallow and meaningless", he responded "My life's never been that bad so I've not got that much to talk about". Sykes said in 2012 interview that lyrics have a strong feeling of catharsis for him. He mainly draws from personal experience and has likened the band's live performances to being therapeutic.

The main character of 2016 French film A Taste of Ink is an admirer of Oliver Sykes and Bring Me the Horizon. He is a post-hardcore singer and wears as a tribute to Oliver Sykes a Michael Jordan black jersey. The French title Compte tes blessures is inspired by the first album of the band Count Your Blessings.

Personal life

Since the age of 12, Sykes has suffered from a form of night terrors known as sleep paralysis, which is the inability to move or speak while falling asleep, or upon waking.

Sykes became a vegetarian in 2003 at age 16 after watching a documentary about animal cruelty online: "When I saw how animals are tortured on factory farms, I couldn't justify being a part of that cruelty." He went on to become one of the faces for PETA, eventually designing charity T-shirts with the slogan "Meat Sucks" via his Drop Dead Clothing line. He turned vegetarian at age 16 before turning vegan 15 years later. His passion for veganism can be seen in his venture 'Church', an arcade bar with a fully vegan menu, opened in 2018 and based in Sheffield's Kelham Island.

Sykes is an outspoken atheist, stating "I don't believe in God. I was asked to believe in him when I was in a shitty place. I couldn't understand why I needed a god or, in my opinion, something that doesn't exist." In an interview with Radio.com in 2013, he also stated "In my opinion, I don't think believing in God is a victimless crime. It's not that I'm right and everyone else is wrong. If it was just people believing in God had no effect on the world, then it wouldn't matter. Then you can believe in what you want, if you want an imaginary friend that lives in the clouds that's fine. But it's the fact that it does have an effect on other people and other things and the whole world is in turmoil mainly because of religion, at least a massive part of it."

After receiving the Album of the Year award at the first Alternative Press Music Awards in 2014, Sykes revealed a history of addiction and abuse of the drug ketamine. Addressing the crowd, he said "My band wanted to kill me, my parents wanted to kill me, my fucking brother wanted to kill me," and also admitted, "I went to rehab for a month, and you guys were sending me texts and e-mails. When I got out of that rehab, I didn't want to scream anymore, I wanted to sing from the fucking rooftops."

On 12 July 2015 in Tuscany, Italy, Sykes married model and tattoo artist Hannah Pixie Snowdon. In 2016, Sykes announced that he and Snowdon had separated. In May 2019, Sykes alleged that their relationship ended due to Snowdon's infidelity, and referred to her as his "ex-wife". Snowdon had admitted to being unfaithful, but alleges abuse and infidelity from Sykes as well. Sykes was accused of domestic violence by his former wife Hannah Pixie Snowdon on Instagram in 2016, alleging that Sykes "slapped and spat" on her. Snowdon also alleged that she "wasn't the first girl this entire pattern happened to."

On 22 July 2017, Sykes married Brazilian model Alissa Salls. In March 2021, Sykes shared a photo on Instagram confirming he stayed in Brazil with his wife for the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic to that point, that he had acquired a CPF number, and had bought a house in the city of Taubaté, countryside of the state of São Paulo, where he was living with her. In March 2023, Sykes got his Brazilian National Migration Registry card as a permanent resident of the country. In May 2025, Sykes and Salls revealed through their personal Instagram accounts, that she was expecting twins, a girl and a boy, alongside a gender reveal video. On 18 July 2025, Salls announced that she had given birth to their son and daughter.

Discography

Bring Me the Horizon

Main article: Bring Me the Horizon discography

• This Is What the Edge of Your Seat Was Made For (EP) (2004)
• Count Your Blessings (2006)
• Suicide Season (2008)
• There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret. (2010)
• Sempiternal (2013)
• That's the Spirit (2015)
• Amo (2019)
• Music to Listen To... (2019)
• Post Human: Survival Horror (2020)
• Post Human: Nex Gen (2024)

Singles featured on

Music videos

Accolades

Bibliography

As writer

• Raised by Raptors (2013–present)

Notes

References

References

1. (1 December 2022). "Bring Me The Horizon: Oli Sykes And Mat Nicholls On How The Band Chose Their Names". [[The Project (Australian TV program).
2. Schaffner, Lauryn. (20 November 2020). "See Photos of Bring Me the Horizon's Oli Sykes Through the Years".
3. Patashnik, Ben. (28 September 2010). "Inside The Mind of Oliver Sykes". [[Rock Sound]].
4. Alleva, Dan. (18 September 2022). "Bring Me the Horizon Vocalist's High School Hustle Was Selling Bootleg Nü-Metal Compilations".
5. Kessler, Sebastian. (19 March 2009). "Bring Me The Horizon Interview".
6. Mason, Stewart. "Bring Me the Horizon".
7. Patashnik, Ben. (October 2012). "We Were So Clueless". Freeway Press.
8. Welch, Ben. (6 April 2016). "Bring Me the Horizon: Heavy Sounds from the Steel City". [[John Blake (journalist)#Publishing.
9. (15 April 2007). "Bring Me The Horizon Vocalist Accused Of Urinating On Fan". [[Blabbermouth.net]].
10. Gourlay, Dom. (11 April 2007). "Bring Me The... head of the person that did this.". [[Drowned in Sound]].
11. Diver, Mike. (4 September 2007). "Bring Me the Horizon frontman: charges dropped". Drowned in Sound.
12. (28 July 2008). "September Is 'Suicide Season'". mibba.
13. (25 January 2008). "Oli Sykes Gets Pwned". [[Architects (British band).
14. (25 January 2008). "Oli Sykes gets taken off in an ambulance". [[Architects (British band).
15. (12 February 2008). "BMTH fans send Architects singer death threats". Dan.
16. "Bring Me the Horizon: There Is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven, Let's Keep It a Secret. (2010)". [[HMV]].
17. Heaney, Gregory. "Sempiternal – Bring Me the Horizon: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". [[AllMusic]].
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19. (25 June 2013). "Update: Bring Me the Horizon Not Getting Sued, Moshing Not Banned At Warped Either". Kriston McConnell.
20. Monger, James Christopher. "That's the Spirit". [[AllMusic]].
21. Yeung, Neil. "Bring Me the Horizon Amo". [[AllMusic]].
22. Mair, Rob. "You Me At Six - Sinners Never Sleep". Big Cheese Publishing Ltd..
23. Biddulph, Andy. (8 August 2018). "5 Awesome Oli Sykes Guest Vocals".
24. Morton, Luke. (23 February 2017). "The story behind While She Sleeps' new song Silence Speaks".
25. Kile, Meredith B.. (27 July 2017). "Meet All 75 Swoonworthy Guys in Charli XCX's 'Boys' Video – From Joe Jonas to KAYTRANADA". Entertainment Tonight.
26. "There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret. - Album by Bring Me the Horizon".
27. "Suicide Season Cut Up - Album by Bring Me the Horizon".
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29. Rock Sound No. 174 p.63
30. (2 February 2013). "Oli Sykes (Bring Me The Horizon) launches Kickstarter for graphic novel".
31. "Kickstarter of Raised By Raptors comic". Oliver Sykes & Ben Ashton-Bell.
32. (27 June 2018). "Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes to open a new bar".
33. Rauf, Raziq. (6 November 2006). "Bring Me The Horizon: "It's just party music"". [[Drowned in Sound]].
34. Sterdan, Darryl. (18 November 2010). "Horizon broadens for young band". [[Canoe Inc.]].
35. Hopewell, John. (22 September 2016). "'A Taste of Ink's' Morgan Simon: 'There Is Clearly a New Energy in France'".
36. "''Alternative Press'', Taylor Markarian, 2 February 2017".
37. (25 January 2014). "The Untold Story of Kerrang!: Bring Me The Horizon". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
38. (30 October 2008). "Kerrang! Oli Sykes joins animal rights campaign".
39. Jones, Richard. (17 May 2022). "Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes on His Vegan Journey and Staying Healthy While Touring". inForm.
40. "About".
41. Florino, Rick. (20 May 2013). "Oli Sykes of Bring Me The Horizon Talks "Sempiternal", Movies, and More". ARTISTdirect.
42. "Interview: Bring Me the Horizon Live Through Addictions, Religious Zealots to Bring Metal to the Masses".
43. (7 October 2014). "Bring Me the Horizon Live Through Addictions, Religious Zealots to Bring Metal to the Masses". Radio.com.
44. (22 July 2014). "Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes accepts APMA for Album of the Year with speech about his addiction". [[Alternative Press (magazine).
45. Morton, Luke. (20 November 2016). "Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes: 'I Didn't Care If I Lived Or Died.'". Metal Hammer.
46. (13 July 2015). "Oli Sykes marries his girlfriend".
47. Siegert, Suzi. (30 August 2016). "Oliver Sykes & Hannah Pixie Snowdon Packen Über Ihre Trennung Aus - Vor Über 2,5 Mio Instagram-Followern - Impericon Magazin". Impericon Magazin.
48. (3 May 2019). "Bring Me the Horizon's Oli Sykes: 'Being cheated on makes you think the worst of people'". Independent Print Limited.
49. (29 August 2016). "Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes 'slapped and spat' estranged wife". Female First.
50. "Oliver Sykes & Alissa Sals Got Married". Metalcore News.
51. (18 March 2021). "Vocalista de Bring me The Horizon compra casa no Brasil e tira até CPF".
52. "Thankyou @glebkostin for my @bjork knit.".
53. Teixeira, Lara. (21 March 2023). "'Eu sou brasileiro agora': Oliver Sykes (BMTH) celebra após receber novo documento".
54. Pilley, Max. (11 May 2025). "Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes and partner Alissic reveal they are expecting twins". [[NME]].
55. Skinner, Tom. (18 July 2025). "Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes and partner Alissic welcome twins". [[NME]].
56. Whitt, Cassie. (27 December 2013). "2013 Readers Poll: Vocalist Of The Year".
57. (7 February 2013). "Raised by Raptors: a new graphic novel by Oliver Sykes and Ben Ashton-Bell".