Whitesnake Legend Dead at 65
John Sykes, Legendary Guitarist for Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, Passes Away at 65
Reading, England – John Sykes, the electrifying guitarist known for his iconic work with Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, has tragically passed away at the age of 65. The news was confirmed by both bands on social media Monday, with Thin Lizzy announcing that Sykes succumbed to cancer.
“John was with Lizzy for the ‘Thunder and Lightning’ album and tour, bringing a harder edge to their sound,” stated Thin Lizzy on Instagram. “He always sounded fantastic and looked cool on stage. He stayed with the band until the end, a perfect fit with Phil, Scott, Brian, and Darren. He joined @whitesnake after, a perfect foil for David Coverdale.”
David Coverdale, despite a well-documented tumultuous relationship with Sykes throughout their careers, also expressed his condolences on Instagram: “Just heard the shocking news of John’s passing…My sincere condolences to his family, friends & fans.”
A tribute on Sykes’ personal Facebook page described him as “a man with exceptional musical talent” and “a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man whose presence lit up the room.” It continued, “He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always pulled for the underdog.”
Born in Reading, England, in 1959, Sykes honed his skills in bands like Streetfighter and Badlands before joining heavy metal outfit Tygers of Pan Tang in 1980. He recorded two albums with them – “Spellbound” and “Crazy Nights” – before departing in 1982.
Sykes’ career took a significant turn when he was introduced to Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott. He co-wrote the 1982 single “Please Don’t Leave Me” with Lynott and subsequently joined the band, contributing to “Cold Sweat” on their final album, “Thunder and Lightning.” He performed on their farewell tour and final concert in 1983.
Despite Thin Lizzy’s dissolution, Sykes was eager to continue collaborating with Lynott. However, he was recruited by Whitesnake, receiving Lynott’s blessing. He recorded new guitar parts for their 1984 album, “Slide It In,” and embarked on a world tour. He was instrumental in the recording of Whitesnake’s seventh studio album, co-writing hits like “Is This Love” and “Still of the Night.” Unfortunately, disagreements with Coverdale led to his dismissal from the band before the album’s release in 1987.
Following Whitesnake, Sykes formed the heavy metal band Blue Murder with Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice. They released their self-titled debut album in 1989 but disbanded by 1994. In that same year, he reunited with his Thin Lizzy bandmates to form a touring version of the band as a tribute to Lynott, who tragically passed away in 1986 at the age of 36. He toured with them for over a decade before departing in 2009.
Beyond his work with Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, Sykes released four solo albums: “Out of My Tree” (1995), “20th Century” (1997), “Loveland” (1997), and “Nuclear Cowboy” (2000). In 2021, he released the singles “Dawning of a Brand New Day” and “Out Alive,” marking his return to new music after over 20 years.
Sykes is survived by his three sons: James, John Jr., and Sean.
