John Sykes, the guitarist known for his work with Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake in the 1980s, has died following a battle with cancer. He was 65.
A statement posted Monday on Sykes’ verified Facebook page confirmed his death.
“It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer,” the statement read. “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.”
The post also noted Sykes’ gratitude to his fans: “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.”
David Coverdale, Sykes’ former bandmate in Whitesnake, paid tribute to him on social media. “Just heard the shocking news of John’s passing… My sincere condolences to his family, friends & fans,” Coverdale wrote Monday on X, formerly Twitter, alongside photos of Sykes.
A Storied Career
Born in Reading, England, in 1959, Sykes began playing guitar as a teenager. He joined the bands Streetfighter and Tygers of Pan Tang before embarking on a prolific career.
Sykes co-wrote and recorded the 1982 single “Please Don’t Leave Me” with Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott. He later joined Thin Lizzy as a guitarist, contributing to their final studio album, Thunder and Lightning (1983), and co-writing the track “Cold Sweat.” Reflecting on the album in a 2008 interview, Sykes said, “It was a little heavier, and I think that was something that I’d brought to the table.”
After Thin Lizzy disbanded in 1983, Sykes joined Whitesnake, recording new guitar parts for the U.S. version of the band’s Slide It In album. He also played a key role in the group’s self-titled 1987 album, which became their most commercially successful release.
The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and spent 76 weeks on the chart. Sykes co-wrote several tracks, including “Is This Love,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “Still of the Night,” a fan favorite bolstered by its MTV music video.
Despite the album’s success, Sykes was fired by Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale before its release. In a 2023 interview with Metal Edge, Coverdale acknowledged the split, saying, “Our musical chemistry was great, but it didn’t work personally.”
Sykes offered his perspective in a 2017 interview with Rock Candy, claiming, “David said nothing to any of us about having decided to kick us out of the band,” and that he learned the news from Geffen Records executive John Kalodner.
Post-Whitesnake Projects
After Whitesnake, Sykes formed the band Blue Murder, releasing two studio albums and one live album in the early 1990s. He later focused on a solo career, releasing five albums between 1995 and 2004, including Bad Boy Live!
In 2021, Sykes released two singles, “Dawning of a Brand New Day” and “Out Alive,” which would be his final recordings.
Sykes is remembered as a pioneering guitarist whose contributions left a lasting impact on rock music.
