John Sykes, an English guitarist, best known as a member of Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and Tygers of Pan Tang, died at age 65.
Sykes passed away following a battle with cancer, a statement posted on his verified Facebook page said on Monday (Jan. 20). “It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer. 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. 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 joined the Irish hard rock group Thin Lizzy for their 1983 album Thunder and Lightning. He then joined Whitesnake, with whom he recorded the multi-platinum-selling self-titled 1987 album.
John Sykes, Whitesnake Guitarist, Died at 65
