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Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake Guitarist John Sykes Dead at 65, Cause of Death Revealed

CultureCelebs
By Craig Garrett
January 21, 2025 | 11:14 a.m. CST
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Image via Facebook / John Sykes

John Sykes, the veteran hard-rock guitarist known for his time with Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and the Tygers of Pan Tang, has passed away.

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The musician died “after a hard-fought battle with cancer,” according to a statement on his website.

“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,” the statement added.

A skilled guitarist and powerful vocalist, Sykes is best known for his contributions to Whitesnake’s iconic 1987 self-titled album. Sykes co-wrote nearly every song on the album, including the hit singles “Still of the Night” and “Is This Love.” He also played all the guitar parts, according to Variety.

However, Sykes was fired from the band before the album’s release following disagreements with frontman David Coverdale. As a result, two other guitarists mimed his parts in the music videos and toured with the band during its 1980s peak.

Sykes launched his music career in 1980 with the British band Tygers of Pan Tang. His talent soon earned him the role of lead guitarist for the legendary Thin Lizzy following a successful audition.

By the time Sykes joined the classic rock band in 1982, they had already reached the height of their fame. He contributed to their final two albums, Thunder and Lightning and Life, and performed on their year-long farewell tour, marking the end of an era for the group.

John Sykes Helps Propel Whitesnake to a Worldwide Hit Band

In early 1984, he joined Whitesnake, contributing guitar work to their Slide It In album and embarking on a world tour with the band. However, after recording their self-titled album, Coverdale dismissed the entire lineup. He then rebuilt the group with musicians from Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, and Vandenberg.

With songs co-written by Sykes and supported by music videos, the album became a worldwide hit, driving Whitesnake’s success for the next two years. However, their momentum slowed when the next album (without Sykes) didn’t connect with fans.

Sykes went on to form the band Blue Murder alongside seasoned drummer Carmine Appice and bassist Tony Franklin. Although the group garnered attention, it released only two albums before disbanding.

Sykes was later considered as a potential replacement for the late Steve Clark in Def Leppard. However, the position ultimately went to Vivian Campbell—ironically, the same guitarist who had previously replaced Sykes in Whitesnake.

Sykes later shifted his focus to a solo career. He spent several years leading a version of Thin Lizzy after the group’s original frontman, Phil Lynott, died in 1986.