John Sykes, the legendary guitarist known for his work with Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, has sadly passed away at the age of 65 after battling cancer
London: It’s a tough day for rock fans. John Sykes, the incredible guitarist, has passed away. He started his journey in 1980 with Tygers Of Pan Tang, recording a couple of albums before joining Thin Lizzy in 1982.
He was part of the band during the release of their 1983 album, Thunder and Lightning. After that, he toured Europe with Phil Lynott and a group called The Three Musketeers.
In 1984, he joined Whitesnake, thanks to David Coverdale. He recorded for their Slide It In album and the self-titled 1987 release, which really took off.
After his time with Whitesnake, he put out two albums with his band, Blue Murder. He even formed a touring version of Thin Lizzy after they disbanded following Lynott’s death in 1986.
His website shared a heartfelt message about his passing, mentioning his battle with cancer. It highlighted his musical talent and described him as a kind and charismatic person who truly lit up a room.
In his last days, he expressed deep love and gratitude for his fans who stood by him. The statement ended on a hopeful note, wishing that his memory would shine bright despite the sadness of his loss.
David Coverdale paid tribute on X, sharing some great photos of them together during their Whitesnake days. He expressed his shock and offered condolences to Sykes’s family, friends, and fans.
Even Slash from Guns N’ Roses shared a picture of Sykes performing, simply saying, “RIP.” It’s a huge loss for the music world, and he will be missed.
