John Sykes, the iconic hard-rock guitarist known for his work with Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and the Tygers of Pan Tang, has sadly passed away at the age of 65.

The news was confirmed on his official website and Facebook page on Monday, January 20, 2025. The statement shared reads: “With heavy hearts, we announce that John Sykes has left us after a brave fight against cancer. He will be remembered for his incredible musical talent, but to those who knew him, he was also a kind, thoughtful, and charismatic person who could light up any room.

“He truly marched to the beat of his own drum and always supported the underdog. In his last days, he expressed deep love and gratitude for his fans who stood by him throughout the years. While his loss is deeply felt and the mood is heavy, we hope that the light of his memory will help ease the pain of his absence.”

John Sykes was most famous for…

The dynamic artist, known for his signature wavy blond locks, gained fame with popular tracks like “Still of the Night” and “Is This Love,” both from Whitesnake's self-titled seventh album released in 1987, which showcased most of his co-written material. Unfortunately, his time with the band was short-lived, as John Sykes was kicked out before the album even hit the shelves due to a conflict with David Coverdale.

Who was John Sykes? Detailed career path

The hard-rock legend was born in Reading, England, in 1959 and spent part of his childhood in Spain, according to Variety. He started his music journey as a teenage guitarist with a band called Streetfighter in the late '70s. Later, he became a member of the Tygers of Pan Tang, a key player in the “New Wave of British Heavy Metal” scene that saw the rise of bands like Iron Maiden. However, his time with them was brief, as he left the band in 1982.

Sykes' big break with Thin Lizzy came after he didn't land a spot in Ozzy Osbourne's band. Thanks to Tygers producer Chris Tsangarides, he met Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy. Unfortunately, the band split in 1983 due to Lynott's struggles with heroin addiction, which took a toll on both him and the group.

In early 1984, he joined Whitesnake, but tensions with David Coverdale created issues for the whole band. Going solo, John Sykes formed Blue Murder with legendary drummer Carmine Appice and bassist Tony Franklin, but that project only produced two albums. He also briefly filled in for the late Steve Clark in Def Leppard. After that, he pursued a solo career until his passing and became the face of Thin Lizzy without Lynott for many years.

Sykes almost had a shot with Guns N' Roses, but his audition in 2009 didn't go as planned.

People are sending in their tributes

Grammy-winning guitarist Steve Stevens shared his condolences for John Sykes on Monday. He expressed on Instagram, “Just heard the news about John Sykes. His work on the 1987 Whitesnake album was absolutely amazing. Even 12-year-olds on YouTube are still trying to master his riffs. This is such a heartbreaking loss.”

Guitarist Marty Friedman also took to X to say, “I’m really saddened to learn about John Sykes’ passing. His contributions to Tygers of Pan Tang were definitely my favorite from the NWOBHM era. A truly remarkable guitarist.”

Adrian Vandenberg, who is well-known for his time with Whitesnake in the late '80s, shared, “Wow… John Sykes is gone… such a talented and influential musician. Like many rock fans, I always hoped he’d make a comeback with an epic album and hit the road again. We crossed paths musically a few times, but sadly never met face to face. Damn cancer… Rest in peace.”

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