Whitesnake’s David Coverdale and Slash of Guns N’ Roses pay tribute to musician described as an ‘exceptional talent’

John Sykes, a guitarist with the rock bands Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, has died aged 65. A statement said his death followed “a hard-fought battle with cancer”.

It added: “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. He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always pulled for the underdog.