80s Rock Icon John Sykes Dies at 65 'An Incredible Talent

John Sykes, the legendary guitarist known for his work with Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, has passed away at 65 following a battle with cancer. Fellow musicians and fans mourn the loss of an exceptional talent who left an indelible mark on rock music in the '80s.

Jan 21, 2025 - 06:06
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80s Rock Icon John Sykes Dies at 65 'An Incredible Talent
Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes is pictured in an undated photo.

Rock fans and peers are mourning the loss of a musician whose influence peaked in the 1980s.

John Sykes, the English guitarist renowned for his work with Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, passed away following a courageous battle with cancer, his official Facebook page confirmed on Monday. He was 65.

He will be remembered by many for his exceptional musical talent, but for those who knew him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic individual whose presence illuminated any room, an official statement read. He marched to the beat of his own drum and was always an advocate for the underdog. In his final days, he expressed heartfelt love and gratitude toward the fans who supported him throughout the years. While his loss is deeply felt, we hope his memory will continue to shine brightly, easing the weight of his absence.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Sykes contributed to Thin Lizzy's final album, Thunder and Lightning (1983), alongside late frontman Phil Lynott, before joining Whitesnake. He played on two of their albums, including the iconic 1987 self-titled release that produced hits like Here I Go Again, Is This Love (co-written by Sykes), and Still of the Night.

Just heard the shocking news of John’s passing, Whitesnake singer David Coverdale shared on X and Facebook. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

Sykes also performed with Tygers of Pan Tang, fronted the band Blue Murder, and released several solo albums. He once recorded songs with Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy and Mr. Big’s Billy Sheehan for a project that, unfortunately, was never released.

Absolutely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of the great John Sykes, said Portnoy. We worked together in 2011 when we planned a new band. We demoed 12 of his songs and even appeared on That Metal Show to announce the project. Sadly, it never came to fruition, but I have so many great memories from working with him. He was an incredible talent, and it was an honor to collaborate with him. Such a tragic loss.

Sykes was named one of Guitar World’s 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time in 2004. Two years later, Gibson released a limited edition of John Sykes Signature Les Paul guitars, modeled after his 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom.

Tributes from fellow rock icons include Guns N’ Roses’ Slash, Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy, and Poison’s Rikki Rockett.

So sad to hear John Sykes passed away, Kennedy wrote. He had a profound impact on me and my friends when we were young. He wrote amazing riffs and songs, could sing, and looked cool as hell doing it. What a lead player. Great tone, phrasing, technique, and that wide vibrato! His work with Whitesnake, Blue Murder, and Thin Lizzy contains some of my favorite guitar moments to this day.

I'm deeply saddened by the loss of my bandmate, John Sykes, said Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge and Blue Murder. We shared great music and unforgettable times together. Check out Blue Murder 1 and The Cry of Love albums. John's playing, writing, and singing were extraordinary, and I loved him like a brother.

John was a brilliant guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, wrote Lita Ford's guitarist Patrick Kennison. His work beyond the legendary Whitesnake album, in Thin Lizzy and Blue Murder, is truly exceptional. Rest in peace, John.

Words can't capture how I feel about John’s guitar playing. He was truly a phenomenon, said Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple. Rest in peace, dear one. The angel is now in heaven. Love you.

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