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

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

John Sykes, the legendary hard-rock guitarist who was a member of White Snake and Thin Lizzy has died at 65 following a battle with cancer, a post on Sykes’ Facebook page confirmed Monday night.

John Sykes, a former member of both Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, has died at age 65. An official statement confirmed that Sykes had been diagnosed with cancer. “He will be remembered by many as a man with exceptional musical talent but for those who didn’t know him personally,