Thin Lizzy's guitar star lived dream

WITH an impressive mane of long, blond hair and boy-band good looks, legendary hard rock guitarist and songwriter John Sykes was best known for his time playing with Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and the Tygers of Pan Tang.

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The British-born musician also released numerous solo albums and fronted the band Blue Murder.

When interviewed in 2008, Sykes recalled: "Thin Lizzy were one of my all-time favourite bands and to be asked to join them was like a dream come true.

"That was a wonderful time in my life, and I was only about 22 years old at the time."

The guitarist played on 1983's Thunder And Lightning, Thin Lizzy's final studio album, but after the band broke up (two years later, in 1986, singer Phil Lynott would be dear) he joined Whitesnake.