Guitarist John Sykes Dead At 65 After Battling Cancer

Legendary guitarist John Sykes has died at 65. Syke’s death was announced via an official statement on social media.

In his lifetime, he was a member of the English rock band Whitesnake, the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, and the English heavy metal band Tygers of Pan Tang.

Sykes also fronted the hard rock group Blue Murder and has been hailed by many after news of his death made headlines.

The statement began, “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.”

The post continued, “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.”

It concluded, “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.”

Many fans commented under the post announcing Syke’s death and expressed sadness at his passing.

One fan exclaimed, “I never saw this one coming.”

Another fan wrote, “Shocked. I remember him blasting away with ‘Streetfighter’ in Jenks bar Blackpool.”

A third person shared, “Crap! What a great guitarist! Loved him with Thin Lizzy!”

Meanwhile, a fourth fan added, “Never knew he had cancer… He will always be one of the musicians whose music stayed with me. Blue Murder… life changing. RIP Sir… thank you for all you gave.”

Another person gushed, “John was an unbelievable player. His tone was so unique to himself. I always wish that Blue Murder had kept going. Amazing singer and guitarist. I remember seeing him live with Thin Lizzy. The dude was unreal.”

Many of Sykes’ fans on X also paid tribute to him after learning of his death.

One fan recalled Sykes’ greatness, writing, “RIP John Sykes. His work on Thin Lizzy’s Thunder & Lightning, Whitesnake 1987 and the Blue Murder debut album has cemented his reputation and given him a table of the gods.”

Another fan gushed, “From Tygers of Pan Tang to Whitesnake to Thin Lizzy to Blue Murder.. John Sykes was just one bad-ss guitarist. Godspeed sir.”

A third person added, “RIP to John Sykes, one of my favorite guitarists of all time, who played with countless of my favorite bands. From Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and Blue Murder, and then onwards, he will always be remembered as one of the best players and songwriters of his time.”

John James Sykes was born in Reading, Berkshire, on July 29, 1959. He started his music journey inspired by Eric Clapton’s guitar licks. After stints in bands like Streetfighter and Tygers of Pan Tang, Sykes joined Thin Lizzy, contributing significantly to their 1983 album “Thunder and Lightning.”

He later revitalized Whitesnake’s sound, co-writing their hit 1987 album. Following his firing, Sykes formed Blue Murder. The group achieved moderate success with its debut album but faced challenges sustaining momentum.

Sykes launched a solo career in the 1990s, releasing albums like “Out of My Tree” and “Loveland.” Despite attempts to reunite Blue Murder and collaborate with other artists, his focus shifted to his long-awaited solo album, which was delayed but highly anticipated.

His career highlights include his contributions to hard rock and heavy metal, earning him a lasting legacy. Sykes’s influence on bands like Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake remains pivotal, showcasing his exceptional talent and versatility as a musician. Even today, he is celebrated as a transformative figure in rock history.

John Sykes was married once in his lifetime. He tied the knot with Jennifer Brooks-Sykes on April 10, 1989. They reportedly stayed married until 1999.

The pair had lived together for four years before deciding to get married.

Sykes and Jennifer shared three sons, James, John Jr., and Sean.