John Sykes, legendary hard-rock guitarist, dies at 65

John Sykes, the renowned hard-rock guitarist who played with Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and the Tygers of Pan Tang, passed away at 65. His official website and a post on his Facebook page confirmed the news on Monday, January 20, 2025.

A statement read: “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 for his exceptional musical talent, but for those who knew him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man whose presence lit up every room. He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always rooted for the underdog. In his final days, he expressed sincere love and gratitude for his fans who stood by him over the years. While his loss is profound, we hope the light of his memory will overcome the shadow of his absence.”

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Tributes poured in from fellow musicians. Grammy-winning guitarist Steve Stevens reflected: “Hearing that John Sykes has passed. Man, his work on the 1987 Whitesnake album was incredible. You’ve got 12-year-olds on YouTube still learning his stuff. This is just so sad.” Guitarist Marty Friedman wrote on X: “Very sad to hear of John Sykes passing. His work with Tygers of Pan Tang was my favourite of the NWOBHM era. A wonderful guitarist.” Adrian Vandenberg, a former Whitesnake guitarist, posted: “Damn… John Sykes passed away… a fantastic, talented, and influential player. Like many rock lovers, I hoped he’d return with a killer record. F**k cancer. RIP.”

Born in Reading, England, in 1959, Sykes began his career in the late 1970s with Streetfighter before joining Tygers of Pan Tang, a key band in the “New Wave of British Heavy Metal” era.


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