Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes dies aged 65

John Sykes, a guitarist who played with stone bands Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, has died aged 65.

The British instrumentalist died aft a “hard-fought conflict with cancer”.

“He volition beryllium remembered by galore arsenic a antheral with exceptional philharmonic endowment but for those who didn’t cognize him personally, helium was a thoughtful, benignant and charismatic antheral whose beingness lit up the room,” a connection connected his website said.

“He surely marched to the bushed of his ain drum and ever pulled for the underdog.

“In his last days, helium spoke of his sincere emotion and gratitude for his fans who stuck by him done each these years.

“While the interaction of his nonaccomplishment is profound and the temper somber, we anticipation the airy of his representation volition extinguish the shadiness of his absence.”

Sykes began his vocation successful 1980 with dense metallic set the Tygers Of Pan Tang.

After 2 years of albums and tours, Sykes became pb guitarist with Irish stone set Thin Lizzy, alongside Scott Gorham.

He performed connected the Thunder And Lightning medium successful the aboriginal 1980s, earlier helium joined frontman Phil Lynott connected his circuit of Europe with a set dubbed The Three Musketeers.

Sykes was headhunted by British vocalist David Coverdale to articulation Whitesnake, appearing connected the Slide It In medium successful 1984 arsenic good arsenic co-writing a self-titled medium 3 years aboriginal with hits including Still Of The Night and Is This Love.

After leaving Whitesnake and returning to the UK, Sykes formed the supergroup Blue Murder featuring Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice.