John Mayer Says His Finger Is 'Out of Commission' After Injury: 'Practicing Guitar Using the Other Three'

One of John Mayer’s most important guitar fingers is “out of order,” he says, after he injured it in a truck door accident.

The musician, 46, shared a photo of his injured fingertip on Instagram on August 1, writing: “Last Thursday I hurt my left index finger (truck door) and the first thing that went through my head was ‘I really need that finger in a week .’ ”

Mayer is performing his final weeks of shows with Grateful Dead cover band Dead & Company in residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, for their impressive Dead Forever set.

“I need all my fingers, but my left index finger is the captain of my nervous hand,” he said, referring to how he plays the guitar.

Mayer didn’t share the severity of the injury, but said it will “heal just fine” — though the finger in question “will be out of action for a while.”

“In the meantime, I spent every day practicing the guitar using the other three fingers and I think it sounds pretty good!” Mayer wrote his backup plan.

“I have always felt that every part of me belongs to these shows and it is my responsibility to return to the stage every night without damaging the equipment and I am sorry for the accident,” he added.

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“The power of music and love for these shows will prevail! See you tonight ♥,” he wrote — and Mayer did indeed take the stage for Dead Forever that night.

His injury prompted supportive comments from friends and fans – with one noting that the injury occurred on Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Jerry Garcia’s birthday.

And the late frontman was famously missing the tip of his middle finger.

John Mayer performs with Dead & Company at Last Vegas Sphere on July 16, 2024.

Miikka Skaffari/Getty

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According to Garcia’s official biography on his website, in 1947, “A wood-chopping accident with his older brother at the Garcia family cabin caused Jerry to lose most of the middle finger on his right hand at the age of five.”

“Today is Jerry’s birthday and since you’re channeling his spirit, it’s only fitting that you’re missing a finger 🕺🙌,” wrote musician Scarlett de la Torre.

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“Oh my God, [John] I would be stressed if something happened to my vocal cords,” commented Van Halen frontman — and close friend — Sammy Hagar. “But I have to admit he could probably play better than most with only three fingers! What a soldier.”

It seems the injury didn’t stop anyone from coming to the show, as good friend Andy Cohen commented: “See you this weekend. It’s going to be GREAT.”

Dead Forever wraps up next weekend after three final shows on August 8th, 9th and 10th in Las Vegas.

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Source: HIS Education