Video: Post-Surgical Steve Vai Performs Brand New Song With Only One Hand

Legendary shredder Steve Vai went under the knife last month for a sprained finger that he had endured, naturally, while playing guitar, specifically trying to voice and hold a particularly difficult chord. The guitarist had developed trigger finger, a condition in which a finger gets stuck in a bent position, and decided to have the procedure done sooner rather than later so he can get back to playing shape before touring starts up again.

Not one to leave his axes sitting idle for any extended period of time, Vai has already figured out a way to get back at it… using just one hand.

In a brand new song called “Knappsack,” Vai utilizes only his good hand (the left) to execute an entire 5+ minute song using hammer-ons and pull-offs. In the accompanying playthrough video, Vai, seated in his studio, right arm in a sling tucked behind the guitar, deftly shreds through the new piece one-handed, with not a bit of string noise or feedback.

Watch below! “Knappsack” is available here if you’d like to purchase it.

Vai released a new song called “Candle Power” last June and sold his own line of candles to go along with the track.