Guitarist John Sykes, former member of Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, dies at 65
John Sykes, who played guitar for the likes of Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and Tygers Of Pan Tang, has passed away at the age of 65 from cancer.
News of his death was confirmed via his Facebook page on 20 January. A statement reads, “It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer. He will be remembered by many as a man with exceptional musical talent but for those who didn’t know him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man whose presence lit up the room.
“He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always pulled for the underdog. In his final days, he spoke of his sincere love and gratitude for his fans who stuck by him through all these years. While the impact of his loss is profound and the mood somber, we hope the light of his memory will extinguish the shadow of his absence.”
It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer. He will be…
Posted by John Sykes on Monday, January 20, 2025
Sykes began his music career in 1980 with Tygers Of Pan Tang. He recorded two albums with the heavy metal group before joining Thin Lizzy in 1982, in which he played on their final 1983 record, Thunder and Lightning.
In 1984 he then joined Whitesnake, where he remained for a long tenure. He was instrumental in the creation of their 1987 self-titled album, co-writing nine songs alongside David Coverdale for the release. It went on to become their most successful album both critically and commercially, and was certified 8x platinum in the US. By the time the album landed however, Sykes was out of the band due to strains with Coverdale. He then released two albums with his own group, Blue Murder.
Since the new of his passing, fellow musicians and industry figures from across the guitar community have come forward to share their tributes, including his former bandmate Coverdale. You can read them below:
Just heard the shocking news of John’s passing…My sincere condolences to his family, friends & fans… pic.twitter.com/Y6WU3NtdMg
— David Coverdale (@davidcoverdale) January 20, 2025
We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of legendary guitarist, John Sykes.
Known for being a member of Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Tygers of Pan Tang & Blue Murder, John Sykes was considered a guitar hero to players all around the world.
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/gi80ZMDJ9X
— Andertons Music Co. (@andertonsmusic) January 21, 2025
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