Gorham remembers John Sykes, the player who stepped in and stepped up, breathing new life into Thin Lizzy with the super hard ...

Scott Gorham shares insights about John Sykes’ audition for Thin Lizzy and its impact on the band’s direction amid challenges ...

He was 65. The rocker’s death was confirmed by both bands on social media Monday, with Thin Lizzy’s Instagram statement noting that Sykes had died following a battle with cancer.

John Sykes, a veteran hard-rock guitarist who was a member of Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy and the Tygers of Pan Tang, has died, according to a post on his official Facebook page. He had battled cancer ...

But when Thin Lizzy drafted him in 1982, the new boy quickly made his mark, steering the following year’s Thunder and Lightning towards a heavy metal sound that divides fans to this day.

(NEXSTAR) — Guitarist John Sykes, well-known for his time with rock bands Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, has died. He was 65 years old.

John Sykes, a hard-rock guitarist and singer who played with Thin Lizzy before joining Whitesnake for its smash 1987 album and later forming Blue Murder, has died of cancer. He was 65.

Sykes started his career in 1980 when he joined the British band The Tygers of Pan Tang, according to his website. He later joined Thin Lizzy in 1982 as their lead guitarist.