Musicians such as David Coverdale (Whitesnake), Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), and Carmine Appice (Blue Murder, Vanilla Fudge) have expressed their condolences on social media following the passing of legendary English guitarist John Sykes, known for his work with Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Blue Murder, and his solo career. These tributes reflect the deep impact Sykes had on the rock and metal community.
Sykes, 65, died on January 20 following a battle with cancer, as confirmed by a statement posted on his verified Facebook page. The message read:
“It is with great sorrow that we share John Sykes has passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He will be remembered for his exceptional musical talent, but for those who knew him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man who lit up any room he entered. He marched to the beat of his own drum and always supported the underdog. In his final days, he expressed deep love and gratitude for the fans who stood by him throughout the years.”
The statement also highlighted that while the loss is profound, Sykes’ memory would continue to shine brightly, helping to overcome the shadow of his absence.
In July 2021, Sykes released the official music video for the song “Out Alive,” produced by Parker Thibault. The track, which was recorded several years earlier, was set to be featured on his long-awaited solo album, Sy-Ops. This was the second song from the album to be released, following “Dawning Of A Brand New Day,” which was also produced by Thibault, with additional footage contributed by Natasha Gregory and James Sykes.
Despite signing with Golden Robot Records in January 2019 and announcing plans to release his first album in two decades by the end of that year, Sykes parted ways with the label in 2020 without releasing any records. He had expressed frustration with the label’s lack of support, despite his best efforts.
Sy-Ops was expected to include tracks such as “Believe In Yourself” and “My Guitar.” In 2019, Sykes shared with Reality Check TV his excitement about returning to the music scene, stating, “I’m looking forward to getting out on the road and playing again… I’ve been having the itch to get back out and play.”
Sykes’ band for his planned tour was to include former Blue Murder bandmate Tony Franklin on bass and Fred Boswell Jr. on drums.
Sykes’ most iconic work was with Whitesnake, where he co-wrote the band’s self-titled seventh studio album in 1987, which included major hits like “Is This Love” and “Here I Go Again.” The album sold over eight million copies in the U.S. alone, becoming a massive crossover success.
Sykes left Thin Lizzy in 2009, explaining that he felt it was time to focus on his own music. In 2012, he withdrew from a planned collaboration with Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy and Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan, despite recording over a dozen demo tracks. Portnoy had described the music as blending Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath with a touch of Pink Floyd and Deep Purple.
In 2017, Sykes admitted to being “very bitter” about his departure from Whitesnake, recalling that he was never informed by David Coverdale about his dismissal from the band before the album’s release. Sykes described confronting Coverdale at the studio, only to have the singer flee in his car to avoid the confrontation.
Sykes also dismissed Coverdale’s claims of writing most of the guitar parts on the 1987 album, saying, “When I knew him, David could barely play the guitar.” He further ruled out the possibility of any future collaboration with Coverdale, stating, “I know David has been saying recently that we’ve been talking about working together, but that’s completely false. I have no interest in ever talking to him again.”
Sykes leaves behind a legacy of powerful guitar work, unforgettable songs, and a lasting influence on the hard rock and heavy metal genres.
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