John Sykes, the renowned guitarist of Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, has passed away at the age of 65 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. A statement issued by his family announced that he would be remembered as a kind, charismatic man whose presence lit up the rooms he entered.
Sykes’ musical career spanned multiple genres, including rock, metal, and blues. He joined Thin Lizzy in 1982, playing guitar on their final album Thunder and Lightning, before being pursued by Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale to join the band. Sykes debuted on Slide It In in 1984, which brought them US success.
However, a feud between Sykes and Coverdale led to the dissolution of the group in the late 1980s. Sykes later formed Blue Murder with session musicians Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice, releasing two unsuccessful albums before pursuing a solo career. He released four studio albums during his solo tenure.
Sykes was married to Jennifer Brooks Sykes from 1989 until their divorce in 1999. He is survived by three sons: James, John Jr., and Sean. Tributes poured in from fellow musicians, including Coverdale and Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/21/thin-lizzy-whitesnake-guitarist-john-sykes-dies