Legendary former Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes dies at 65
Share:
Iconic English guitarist John Sykes – known for playing lead guitar for bands including Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Sykes – has died at the age of 65. Earlier today, the following statement was posted on Sykes‘s social media: ‘It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer.
![[(MANDATORY CREDIT Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) Whitesnake, Super Rock 84 photo shoot in Nagoya, Japan, August 1984. (L-R) Neil Murray (bass), John Sykes (guitar), David Coverdale (vocals), Cozy Powell (drums). (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236732977-7d00.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘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.
![[(MANDATORY CREDIT Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) John Sykes (guitar) of Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, photo shoot at a hotel in Tokyo, Japan, 23rd May 1983. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236732862-0d6e.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘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.’. Sykes is perhaps best known for joining the Irish hard rock group Thin Lizzy for their 1983 album Thunder and Lightning.
He became a member of the band Whitesnake shortly after, with whom he recorded the multi-platinum-selling self-titled 1987 album. He then went on to form his own group Blue Murder with whom he made two albums and a live record before deciding to try out a solo career.
Sykes was admired by many music aficionados, many of whom ranked the guitarist among the best of the 80s. He was known for his fast alternate-picking style and tendency to use pinch harmonics and was named to Guitar World’s list of 100 greatest heavy metal guitarists in 2004.
