John Sykes, the electrifying guitarist who rocked the world in legendary bands Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, has died at 65.

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

Guitarist John Sykes died earlier this month after a battle with cancer. He was 65. "It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer," a statement posted on Sykes' official Facebook page read on Monday,