Guitarist John Sykes of Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy Dies
John Sykes, a guitarist with the rock bands Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, has died aged 65. A statement said his death followed “a hard-fought battle with cancer”.
It added: “He will be remembered by many as a man with exceptional musical talent but for those who didn’t know him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind and charismatic man whose presence lit up the room.
He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always pulled for the underdog.
“In his final days, he spoke of his sincere love and gratitude for his fans who stuck by him through all these years.
While the impact of his loss is profound and the mood sombre, we hope the light of his memory will extinguish the shadow of his absence.”
Sykes was born on 29 July 1959 in Reading, Berkshire.
His family spent three years living in Ibiza but returned before Sykes’ teenage years, when he became obsessed with playing guitar.
He cited guitarists including Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore as influences.
He joined his first band, Street fighter, after the family moved to Blackpool.
Sykes then formed the band Blue Murder with lauded session musicians Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice.
Their 1989 self-titled debut was not successful, nor 1993’s Nothin’ But Trouble, made after Franklin and Appice’s departures. Sykes subsequently pursued a solo career and released four studio albums.
Paying tribute, Appice said: “I loved him like a brother.”
Sykes married Jennifer Brooks Sykes in 1989. They divorced in 1999. He is survived by his three sons, James, John Jr and Sean.
The Guardian
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