Mon Jan 20 20:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Legendary Guitarist John Sykes Dead at 65
**LOS ANGELES, CA – January 20, 2025** – Renowned guitarist John Sykes, known for his work with Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Blue Murder, and his solo career, passed away today at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer. The announcement was made via his social media.
Sykes’s career spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on the hard rock and heavy metal landscape. He achieved mainstream success as a member of Whitesnake, co-writing and performing on their massively popular self-titled 1987 album, which featured hits like “Is This Love” and “Here I Go Again.” This album alone sold over eight million copies in the US.
Despite this success, Sykes’s relationship with Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale was famously acrimonious, culminating in Sykes’s dismissal from the band before the album’s release. In later interviews, Sykes expressed bitterness over the situation, disputing Coverdale’s account of the events and their creative contributions.
Beyond Whitesnake, Sykes’s contributions to Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, and his own band Blue Murder solidified his reputation as a highly skilled and influential guitarist. At the time of his death, Sykes was working on a new solo album, *Sy-Ops*, from which two tracks, “Out Alive” and “Dawning of a Brand New Day,” were released in 2021.
His social media statement highlighted not only his musical talent but also his kind and charismatic nature. The statement also mentioned his gratitude for his loyal fans who supported him throughout his career. Sykes’s planned tour with former Blue Murder bandmates Tony Franklin and Fred Boswell Jr. will not take place.
The music world mourns the loss of this gifted and complex musician, whose legacy will continue to inspire generations of guitarists.
First Piper 