At the age of 65, John Sykes, the renowned hard-rock guitarist who played with Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and the Tygers of Pan Tang, tragically passed away. The sad news of his passing on Monday, January 20, 2025, was confirmed by his official website and a post on his official Facebook page. According to the statement: "We share our deepest sadness that John Sykes has lost his fight with cancer. Many people will remember him as a man with extraordinary musical ability, but to others who did not know him personally, he was a kind, considerate, and vivacious individual whose presence brightened the atmosphere. He undoubtedly followed his own path and always spoke up for the weaker side. He expressed his genuine love and gratitude to his admirers for supporting him over the years in his last days. Even though his passing has had a significant impact and the atmosphere is depressing, we hope that the brightness of his memories will drive out the shadow of his absence.”
Known for his wavy blond hair, the powerful performer gained notoriety for his hit singles "Is This Love" and "Still of the Night." These songs were included on Whitesnake's eighth album, which was released in 1987 and contained almost all of the songs he co-wrote. His performance with the band, however, was short-lived, since John Sykes was fired from the group before the record was even published because of his feud with David Coverdale.
According to the magazine Variety, the hard-rock veteran was partly raised in Spain after being born in Reading, England, in 1959. In the late 1970s, he began his career as a teenage guitarist with the band Streetfighter. He eventually became a member of the Tygers of Pan Tang, a legendary band from the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" era, which saw the rise of bands like Iron Maiden. He left the band in 1982, therefore this musical career was likewise brief.
Guitarist Steve Stevens, who won a Grammy Award, honoured Sykes on Monday. "Learning about John Sykes's passing. His work on the Whitesnake record from 1987 was amazing, man. Twelve-year-olds are still learning his stuff on YouTube. "This is so heartbreaking," he posted on Instagram.
Sykes is survived by his two sons and a legion of fans who will forever celebrate his contributions to rock and roll. Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days.
