Guitarist John Sykes, who performed with rock bands together with Suppose Lizzy and Whitesnake, has died aged 65.
A press release on the musician’s web site mentioned he died after a “hard-fought battle with cancer”.
A press release revealed underneath a picture of a black guitar and single purple rose learn: “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 definitely marched to the beat of his personal drum and at all times 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.
“Whereas the affect of his loss is profound and the temper somber, we hope the sunshine of his reminiscence will extinguish the shadow of his absence.”
Stars to pay tribute included Slash from Weapons N’ Roses, Whitesnake founder member David Coverdale and rock drummer Carmine Appice.
Sykes started his profession in 1980 with heavy steel band the Tygers Of Pan Tang.
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After two years of albums and excursions, Sykes grew to become lead guitarist with Irish rock band Skinny Lizzy, alongside Scott Gorham.
He carried out on the Thunder And Lightning album within the early Nineteen Eighties, earlier than he joined frontman Phil Lynott on his tour of Europe with a band dubbed The Three Musketeers.
Picture:
Sykes enjoying the UK tour of Skinny Lizzy stay in 2005. Pic: PA
Sykes was headhunted by British singer David Coverdale to hitch Whitesnake, showing on the Slide It In album in 1984 in addition to co-writing a self-titled album three years later with hits together with Nonetheless Of The Night time and Is This Love.
Regardless of being their most commercially profitable album, all band members apart from Coverdale disbanded forward of its launch.
After leaving Whitesnake and returning to the UK, Sykes fashioned the supergroup Blue Homicide that includes Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice.
In 2004 he was included on Guitar World’s checklist of the 100 Biggest Heavy Steel Guitarists Of All Time.
Sykes is survived by his three sons, James, John Jr and Sean.
