Legendary guitarist John Sykes died at the age of 65.
The death of the talented musician was confirmed Jan. 20 in an official statement posted on Facebook.
“It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer,” the statement read. “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.”
Sykes was a beloved member of the famous English rock band Whitesnake, as well as the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy and the metal band Tygers of Pan Tang.
He also formed the hard rock group Blue Murder and spent decades thrilling fans with his incredible talent and passion for music.
He was as famous for his song-writing as he was for his talent with the guitar. Sykes co-wrote Whitesnake’s iconic 1987 album, including a pair of the band’s greatest hits, “Still of the Night” and “Is this Love,” according to CNN. The album went on to sell approximately 20 million copies globally.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 10: John Sykes of Thin Lizzy performs on stage, on the ‘Thunder and Lightning’ tour at Hammersmith Odeon on March 10th, 1983 in London, United Kingdom. He plays a Gibson Les Paul guitar. (Photo by Pete Still/Redferns) Getty Images
“He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always pulled for the underdog,” the statement read.
His representatives went on to write, “In his final days, he spoke of his sincere love and gratitude for his fans who stuck by him through all these years.”
Those fans he appreciated so greatly have taken to social media to pay tribute to the star by sharing notes of love and appreciation as they say their final goodbyes.
David Coverdale, Whitesnake’s lead singer and founder, posted multiple images of himself and Sykes from the 1980s, giving his “sincere condolences to (Sykes’) family, friends & fans.”
Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash took to Instagram to share a photo of Sykes alongside the caption, “RIP #John Sykes.”
Sykes was a truly transformative figure in rock music history, and his legacy will continue to live on.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 10: John Sykes of Thin Lizzy performs on stage, on the ‘Thunder and Lightning’ tour at Hammersmith Odeon on March 10th, 1983 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Pete Still/Redferns) Getty Images
“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 read. (RELATED: Legendary ‘Twin Peaks’ Director David Lynch Dead At 78)
Sykes leaves behind his children, James, John Jr. and Sean.
