One of John Mayer’s most important guitar-playing fingers is “out of commission,” he says, after he injured it in a mishap with a truck door.
The musician, 46, shared a photo of his injured fingertip on Instagram on Aug. 1, writing, “Last Thursday I injured my left index finger (truck door), and the first thing that went through my mind was ‘really need that finger in a week.’ “
Mayer is performing the final weeks of shows with Grateful Dead cover band Dead & Company in residence at the Las Vegas Sphere, at their immersive Dead Forever show.
“I need all my fingers, but the left index is the team captain of my fretting hand,” he said, referring to how he plays guitar.
Mayer didn’t share the severity of the injury, but says “It will heal just fine” — even though the finger in question “will be out of commission for a while.”
“In the meantime, I have spent every day practicing guitar using the other three fingers and I think I have it sounding pretty good!” Mayer wrote of his backup plan.
“I’ve always felt like every part of me belongs to these shows, and it’s my responsibility to return to the stage each night without screwing up the equipment, and I’m sorry for the misadventure here,” he added.
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“The power of the music and the love for these shows will prevail! See ya tonight ?,” he wrote — and Mayer did, indeed, take the stage for Dead Forever that evening.
His injury earned supportive comments from friends and fans alike — with one noting that the injury occurred on Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia’s birthday.
And the late frontman was famously missing the tip of his middle finger.
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According to Garcia’s official bio on his website, in 1947, “A wood chopping accident with his older brother at the Garcia family cabin causes Jerry to lose much of the middle finger on his right hand at the age of five.”
“It’s Jerry’s bday today and since you’re channeling his spirit it’s only fitting that you have a missing finger ??,” wrote musician Scarlett de la Torre.
“Oh my goodness, [John] I would be stressed out if something happened to my vocal cords,” Van Halen singer — and close friend — Sammy Hagar commented. “But I must admit you could probably play better than most with only three fingers! What a trooper.”
And the injury didn’t seem to keep anyone from coming to the show, as good pal Andy Cohen commented, “See you this weekend. Gonna be GREAT.”
Dead Forever wraps next weekend after three final shows on Aug. 8, 9 and 10 in Las Vegas.
