Reports are circulating about the death of English guitarist and vocalist John Sykes, and people want to know whether this is true. Best known as a member of music groups such as Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Blue Murder, and Tygers of Pan Tang, Sykes developed a unique playing style as a guitarist. Guitar World listed him as one of the “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time.”
Here is everything we have learned about what happened to John Sykes.
John Sykes passes away at 65, claims report
It was reported on Monday, January 20, 2025, that John Sykes died due to complications related to cancer. He was 65. A statement released on his Facebook page reads, “It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer. 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.”
The statement continues, “He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always pulled for the underdog.” It reveals that the rock star, in his final days, spoke of the “sincere love” and the “gratitude” he felt for his fans. “While the impact of his loss is profound and the mood somber, we hope the light of his memory will extinguish the shadow of his absence,” the statement concludes.
Originally from Reading, Berkshire, Sykes demonstrated an interest in the guitar when he was 14. He was part of a music group called Streetfighter before joining Tygers of Pan Tang. Sometime after leaving Tygers of Pan Tang, he became a member of Thin Lizzy. When Thin Lizzy disbanded. Sykes joined Whitesnake and made some of his most well-known musical projects with them.
However, Sykes was eventually fired from Whitesnake and went on to establish the hard rock group Blue Murder. He was also active as a solo artist.
Sykes had three children with his former wife, Jennifer Brooks-Sykes — James, John Jr., and Sean.
