Yesterday (January 20), it was announced that John Sykes – a hugely influential mainstay of '80s hard rock guitar who had stints in Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and Tygers of Pan Tang – had died at 65.

John Sykes, the veteran hard-rock guitarist known for his time with Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and the Tygers of Pan Tang, has passed away. The musician died "after a hard-fought battle with cancer," according to a statement on his website.

John Sykes of hard-rock fame and associated with bands Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy and the Tygers of Pan Tang passed away this week.