John Sykes (born July 29, 1959 in Reading, Berkshire), is a British heavy metal/hard rock guitarist who has played with Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Blue Murder and his solo work. His most well known playing is on the 1987 Whitesnake self titled album, also known simply as 1987. For the Whitesnake record John Sykes used two Mesa Boogie Coliseum heads and his favorite Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar. Sykes fell victim to Whitesnake's revolving door; he was fired near the end of the 1987 recording sessions