Legendary Guitarist John Sykes of Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy Dies at 65

John Sykes, the acclaimed British rock guitarist known for his work with Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, has died at the age of 65 after a courageous battle with cancer.

A statement on his official website paid tribute to Sykes, describing him as a “thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man whose presence lit up the room.” The message also shared his heartfelt gratitude to his fans, whom he cherished deeply in his final days.

Sykes began his career in 1980 with the heavy metal band Tygers of Pan Tang, recording two albums before joining Thin Lizzy in 1982. His work with the band culminated in the 1983 album Thunder and Lightning and a European tour with Phil Lynott in The Three Musketeers.

In 1984, Sykes joined Whitesnake, contributing to their Slide It In album and later co-writing hits such as “Still of the Night” and “Is This Love” on their self-titled 1987 release, a landmark album in rock history.

After parting ways with Whitesnake, Sykes formed the group Blue Murder and released two albums before creating a touring version of Thin Lizzy, honoring the band’s legacy following Lynott’s death in 1986.

Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale expressed his sorrow, sharing photos from their days together:
“Just heard the shocking news of John’s passing… My sincere condolences to his family, friends & fans…”

Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash also paid tribute, sharing an image of Sykes performing with the simple caption, “RIP.”

Sykes’s family and representatives shared a heartfelt statement:
“It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer. While the impact of his loss is profound and the mood sombre, we hope the light of his memory will extinguish the shadow of his absence.”