John Sykes, the world-renowned guitarist, best known for his work with the likes of Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, passed away at the age of 65 on January 21, 2025.

The English guitarist arrived in the 1980s' New Wave of British Heavy Metal, toting a Les Paul Custom and a vibrato wider than the English Channel

John Sykes, a hard-rock guitarist and singer who played with Thin Lizzy before joining Whitesnake for its smash 1987 album and later forming Blue Murder, has died of cancer. He was 65. The news was confirmed on Sykes’ Facebook page,

John Sykes, the electrifying guitarist who rocked the world in legendary bands Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, has died at 65.

(Gray News) - Guitarist and songwriter John Sykes, who played for Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, has died. Sykes died at the age of 65 after a “hard-fought battle with cancer,” according to a statement on his website.

John Sykes died from cancer at age 65. The guitarist played for both Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake before joining Blue Murder with Tony Franklin and drummer Carmine Appice.

John Sykes, the hard rock guitarist who worked for Thin Lizzy, has passed away at the age of 65. His death was confirmed via a post on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, January 21 however,

John Sykes, the guitarist whose talent helped propel Whitesnake to success, is dead at 65. He also worked with the bands Thin Lizzy and Blue Murder. Dig into all the new Netflix TV shows and movies heading to Netflix this week.

Listed among the greatest heavy metal guitarists of all time, John Sykes has been remembered by stars including Guns N' Roses stars Slash and Steven Adler.

It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer,' a statement on his website read. 'He will be remembered by many as a man with exceptional musical talent but for those who didn’t know him personally,

The music world is in mourning following the heartbreaking news that John Sykes, the legendary guitarist known for his work with Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, has passed away at the age of 65.