“When [guitarist] Snowy White decided to leave Thin Lizzy, John was the natural choice to join us. While Snowy brought a laid-back, bluesy feel to the band, John introduced a heavier, more intense element that Phil Lynott absolutely embraced.

The English guitarist arrived in the 1980s' New Wave of British Heavy Metal, toting a Les Paul Custom and a vibrato wider than the English Channel

Legendary guitarist John Sykes lost his battle with cancer and succumbed to death on Monday, January 20, aged 65.

John Sykes, the guitarist whose talent helped propel Whitesnake to success, is dead at 65. He also worked with the bands Thin Lizzy and Blue Murder.

John Sykes, a guitarist who played in bands like Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, died of cancer at age 65. He cowrote some of Whitesnake's biggest hits, like "Still of the Night" and "Is This Love."

Tributes have flooded in for Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes, who has died at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer

British guitarist John Sykes, best known for his work with rock bands Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, has died aged 65 “after a hard fought battle with cancer,” according to a statement on his website.

The rocker co-wrote several of Whitesnake's biggest hits, including "Is This Love" and "Still of the Night." John Sykes, the electrifying guitarist who rocked the world in legendary bands Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy,

The English guitarist co-wrote Whitesnake's 'Is This Love,' one of the defining power ballads of late-'80s hard rock.

The death of John Sykes, whose contributions to Whitesnake spurred them to become one of the biggest-selling bands of the eighties, has been confirmed

Revered hard rock guitarist John Sykes, best known for his work in Thin Lizzy and the multi-platinum selling glam rock outfit Whitesnake, has died at age 65