John Sykes passed away : John Sykes guitarist dead at 65 : Cause of death?
Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes has died..
Legendary guitarist John Sykes passed away yesterday at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer. John is known for his work with Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and Blue Murder, as well as solo work. Here is a song he wrote with Phil Lynott in 1982, leading to Sykes being asked to join Phil’s band Thin Lizzy.
John Skykes Has Passed Away R.I.P.
Statement on Social media
‘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.
Rest In Peace John Sykes 🙏🏻🎸 pic.twitter.com/XbLhcfFDjg
— 🎸 Rock History 🎸 (@historyrock_) January 20, 2025
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.’
Who was John Sykes?
Guitarist John Sykes, known for his work with Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, has passed away aged 65 after battling cancer. A statement described him as talented, charismatic, and deeply grateful to his fans.
Sykes joined Thin Lizzy in the early 1980s, performing on Thunder And Lightning, before playing alongside Phil Lynott. Later, he joined Whitesnake, co-writing hits like Still Of The Night and Is This Love.
After Whitesnake, he returned to the UK and formed Blue Murder, a supergroup with Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice. Sykes’ legacy as a musician and kind-hearted individual remains profound.
RIP John Sykes, amazing guitarist form Whitesnake, Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Blue Murder, solo & more. That list of bands alone is an amazing endorsement! He was 65.
Here he is with Thin Lizzy, after his stint with Tygers, back in 1983 at the Regal Theatre, UK
RIP, legend pic.twitter.com/qIHaWFm4LY
— Punt Road (@punt_rd) January 20, 2025
Extremely devastated to wake up to the news of John Sykes passing away. An absolute legend and one of the greatest musicians of all time. A man who never compromised and always served the song. He will be missed.
Thoughts and prayers
Rest in peace 😭🙏🏾