John Sykes was a guitarist, singer, and songwriter known for his time in the hard rock bands Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake.
- Died: January 2025
- Details of death: Died after fighting cancer at the age of 65.
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John Sykes’ legacy
Born in England, Sykes began playing guitar as a teen, encouraged by his uncle. Within a few years, he had joined his first band, Streetfighter. In the early 1980s, he moved on to the heavy metal band Tygers of Pan Tang, playing guitar on their albums “Spellbound” and “Crazy Nights.” He left with a dream of playing with Ozzy Osbourne, and though he auditioned for the heavy metal great’s band, it wasn’t to be. Instead, he got a chance to join another legendary group of U.K. rockers.
Sykes’ years with Thin Lizzy began with a collaboration on his 1982 solo single, “Please Don’t Leave Me.” Sykes co-wrote the song with Phil Lynott, who also provided vocals and bass on the track. Other members of Thin Lizzy joined in on the recording session, and afterward, Sykes was asked to join the band. He played on their 1983 album “Thunder and Lightning,” for which he co-wrote the single “Cold Sweat.” His influence on the band can be heard in their move toward a heavier rock sound. In the years after Lynott’s untimely death, Sykes occasionally toured with Thin Lizzy’s remaining members, fronting the band as they mostly played their existing songs, though they recorded one new LP, a live album.
After Thin Lizzy’s breakup, Sykes was asked to join the hard rock band Whitesnake. He recorded some tracks on their 1984 album “Slide it In,” then worked with frontman David Coverdale to write their smash hit album, “1987.” The two collaborated on such popular singles as “Is This Love” and “Still of the Night,” and Sykes played guitar and sang backing vocals on the LP. After its release, Coverdale dismissed all of Whitesnake’s members and hired a new band for the tour. Deeply frustrated by the incident, Sykes refused to consider rejoining Whitesnake for later reunions.
After Whitesnake, Sykes formed his own band, Blue Murder. Releasing their first heavy metal album in 1989, they played a sound that was soon to be eclipsed by grunge, and they never found major success. Later, Sykes released several solo albums. Guitar World and Guitar Player both ranked him in their top lists, including “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time” and “50 Unsung Heroes of the Guitar.”
On continuing to tour with Thin Lizzy
“You know we go out and pay our respects to Phil Lynott. He wrote damn good songs. It’s just a great pleasure to go out and play and think of him. Like a group of old veterans, we tell a few lies and have a few laughs. Go and play the tunes and it’s great.” —from a 1999 interview for Melodic Rock
Tributes to John Sykes
Full obituary: Billboard
