Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes dies at 65
British rock guitarist John Sykes, who worked with Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, has died at the age of 65.
A statement on Sykes’ website said Sykes “passed away after a difficult battle with cancer.”
The report described him as a “thoughtful, kind and charismatic man whose presence lit up a room” and said that in his final days he expressed “genuine love and gratitude to his fans” .
Sykes appeared on two of Whitesnake’s albums and co-wrote some of the band’s best-known songs, including “Still Of The Night” and “Is This Love.”
He began his career in 1980 with the heavy metal band Tygers Of Pan Tang, recording two albums before joining Thin Lizzy in 1982.
He performed on the 1983 release Thunder and Lightning and later toured Europe with frontman Phil Lynott and an independent band called The Three Musketeers.
In 1984, he joined Whitesnake at the invitation of founder and frontman David Coverdale to record parts for their Slide It In album, and later for their 1987 album of the same name, which was a critical and commercial hit. achieved success.
After leaving Whitesnake, he released two albums with his own band Blue Murder and later formed a touring version of Thin Lizzy, which disbanded a few years before Lynott’s death in 1986.
A statement on Sykes’ website read: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of John Sykes after a difficult battle with cancer.
“Many will remember him as a man of extraordinary musical talent, but for those who did not know him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, charismatic man whose presence lit up a room.
“He really marched to the beat of his own drum, always fighting for the underdog. In his final days, he spoke of his genuine love and gratitude for the fans who had supported him all these years.
“While the impact of his death is profound and the mood is somber, we hope that the light of his memory will extinguish the shadow of his absence.”
To pay homage to X, Coverdale shared several photos of him and Sykes together during Whitesnake’s heyday.
“Just heard the shocking news that John has passed away…” he said.
“My sincere condolences to his family, friends and fans…”
Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash shared a photo of Sykes performing and simply wrote: “RIP.”
