John Sykes, Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy Guitarist and Co-writer of ‘Still of the Night' and ‘Is This Love,' Dies at 65

He struggled with cancer for many years and was 65 years old.

Sykes, a charismatic and skilled guitarist with a distinctive wavy blond hair, is most famous for his work on Whitesnake's self-titled 1987 seventh album. He was heavily involved in its creation, writing nearly every song on it, including the huge hits "Still of the Night" and "Is This Love", and played all the guitar parts. Unfortunately, he had already been let go by the band before the album's release, and his contributions were subsequently performed by other guitarists in the music videos and on-stage with lead vocalist David Coverdale during the band's peak years.

The post on his page reads: "It is with deepest sadness that we announce the loss of John Sykes to cancer after a courageous and difficult fight. Many will remember him as an incredibly gifted musician, but for those who had the privilege of knowing him personally, he was a caring, gentle, and charming individual whose radiance lit up any room he entered."

He uniquely carved his own path and consistently rooted for the underdog. As he neared the end of his life, he expressed his genuine affection and appreciation for the fans who remained loyal to him throughout his journey. Although his passing leaves a lasting effect and a melancholic atmosphere, we wish the warmth of his memory would dispel the darkness of his departure.

Sykes was born in Reading, England in 1959 and grew up partly in Spain. He started playing guitar as a teenager and moved to Blackpool in the north of England to pursue a music career with the group Streetfighter in the late 1970s. With Streetfighter, he eventually transitioned to the Tygers of Pan Tang in the early 1980s, a time when bands associated with the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" like Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and others were gaining popularity.

After auditioning for Ozzy Osbourne's band, Sykes didn't make the cut, but producer Chris Tsangarides stepped in to hook him up with Phil Lynott, the frontman of the super-popular Thin Lizzy. At that time, Thin Lizzy had an opening for a second lead guitarist since their lineup was always changing. The band's members worked on a solo single that fulfilled Sykes' contract, and they then invited him to join the band.

The band's final album, "Thunder and Lightning", had a heavy metal sound that didn't sit well with some fans, as the band was already struggling and on a downward spiral due to Phil Lynott's fight with heroin addiction, which would ultimately contribute to his passing in 1986, and the band disbanded in 1983.

Instead of teaming up with Thin Lizzy, Sykes decided to join Whitesnake in the beginning of 1984. He contributed guitar work to their album "Slide It In" and took their music on tour internationally. However, after the self-titled album came out, Coverdale replaced the entire band and recast it with musicians from past associations such as Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, and Vandenberg. Whitesnake's successful tour and videos driven by songs co-written with Sykes turned the album into a huge commercial hit, turning the band into a major force for two years straight. Although they followed this up with a new album, it failed to meet the same level of success.

Sykes formed a band called Blue Murder with Carmine Appice on drums and Tony Franklin on bass, but the group only released two albums. After that, he was considered as a possible replacement for Def Leppard's guitarist Steve Clark, who had passed away, although the role ultimately went to Vivian Campbell. Campbell had previously taken over for Sykes in Whitesnake. Sykes then pursued a solo career and worked with a version of Thin Lizzy that didn't include singer Phil Lynott.

Sykes also auditioned for Guns N' Roses in 2009, but was unsuccessful, and additionally continued working on his solo material until his death.

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