I’ve been a huge fan of Mike Sterns for decades, and I’ve seen him both before and after the accident (after in Nashville, and then Chicago about a year later), and all I have to say is Thank God he’s not let this stop him from playing. His musical voice is as strong and inspiring as it’s ever been, And I look forward to seeing him again when he’s in my region.
I had no idea he went through that. I also have a permanent nerve injury to my right hand, but mine came from a messed up heart surgery last year. I can't play guitar any more but the good news is I was never in his class, no where even close, so not a big deal now. I have followed Mike since the 80s and would be devastated if he had to quit playing for any reason
I do not know who this is, but I love him. Thank you for your story and inspiration. I'm a diagnosed manic depressive. Everytime I get seriously depressed I can plug my guitar into my amp and all the bullshit goes away and I'm happy for however long I play.
Wonderful. This is for anybody of us. There simply is nobody who does not have to go through a hard path at times. It makes me try harder in order to achieve what drives me - or at least come closer to it. Thank you, Mike!
Mike, I met you once on the road with Sanborn. I played with him about 7 years and lately I've been playing with George Whitty, and did a gig with Randy Brecker & Eric Marienthal last year! I just want to tell you man...I love you man. For a long time now. I've transcribed quite a few of your tunes... Anthony Jackson's bass parts that is...and Common Ground is one of my top 5 ballads of all time in a category with Stevies Overjoyed, Stevies As, Eltons Your Song, Michael Breckers Sea Glass, David Sancious Again... Anyway. God bless. Just Love you dearly. André Berry
I needed this, i suffered from a severe shoulder injury a decade ago. I got really depressed and self-medicated for a long time. My stamina was hindered but if i warm up and don't eat food that cause inflammation i really don't notice anything that obvious. My harmonic understanding grew despite of it...To all those people suffering...IF THERES A WILL THERES A WILL!!! Happy and safe travels to you ALL!
I saw Mike performing live 2 years ago in the Netherlands, and since that day my perception of music has changed fundamentally. This aside, he's probably one of the nicest human beings out there.
Great video! I had an injury this last year that kept me from playing for about 9months. Although it was a total drag and seemed to never end, I prevailed and eventually found ways to heal. Now back to playing 100% and couldn't be happier. This video is really inspiring for someone like me who's dealt with similar shit. Gotta stay positive and keep playing! So happy Mr. Fat Time was able to recover. Cheers
Words of encouragement from one of the finest players anywhere. I have right hand myelopathy, can be very discouraging, and Mike's video has given me a lot of hope!
Sad to hear about the accident Mike but great to hear you're still playing great music. I got dystonia affecting my picking hand and i use a couple of small pieces of double sided tape on the pick and that way i can keep a hold of it. Otherwise the twitches in my index finger caused the pick to twist like crazy. No matter what life throws at us we will not give up music.
Thx for the uplifting message..my wrist was smashed to pieces because of a bicycle accident and I'll probably won't be playing bass like I used to but like Mike says : you have to keep going ..
Thanks Mike .. i wish someone had told me that in 1968 ....:) was always terrified to play in front of others ...one has to realize you are gonna be willing to quote Lowell George to be bad now to be great later....just like learning to walk, crawl, stand crash rinse repeat.
So wonderful, so refreshing to hear one of the best guitarists in the world talking about nerves on stage and how the passion for music is the only cure for it. And the ups and downs of a professional career... So inspiring, and I can so much relate to that and learn from your advice...Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Mike, I'm so happy you have kept going. I've seen you dozens of times over the years and always enjoyed your playing. More than that, you have almost always been a generous and approachable human being! That genuineness, generosity of spirit, and ingenuity have remained a mark of your music. Rage against the dying of the light my man.... Best
This is so inspirational for me, because I had an hand injury too and deal daily with it everyday. But I started to play serious guitar at age 40, because I love guitar music so much. Thank you for this great, great video!
Hey Mike, You have been an inspiration for me since Bret Willmott introduced me to you at a Berklee gig. Mike Metheny had just been hired as the Tpt.Chair and Pat played with him in the small hall on Boylston .I believe that was the first time you heard Pat live..he gave you great advice ..We are older now and it takes much longer to heal things ..I hope you will get better!
Great to hear that you kept going! Very inspirational... I smashed my right hand thumb and lost part of my distal phalanx, really dark moments indeed. But I'm back playing and enjoying like a child.
I love this man's style of playing "jazz" and only recently found out about his accident and recovery. Thanks for the message Mr. Stern and all the best with your continued career in music.
Wow. I just caught Mike live in Melbourne, Australia a couple of weeks ago. Amazing to now see him talking about dealing with injuries, getting down/depression, pushing forward, you are a huge inspiration in so many ways man, I'm 26 and have been really getting into jazz/fusion the last few years, naturally you've been a massive inspiration (literally speaking like the little 2, 7, 1 motif at the end of your lines, your killer tones). Hah, I noticed you had a little glue on your finger at the show! I was on the table next to the group with the dude you knew, cool to hear the story now. Much love to you man, hope to see you again soon, and hope that I can play/write music as beautifully as yourself. Thanks for everything.
Thanks for sharing! I've been through a seriously life changing accident. I shouldn't even be here, but here I am. Noticed your birthday is Jan 10, mine is the 12th. What's up with soo many 'Capricorn ' guitar players? Page, and others. Anyway really appreciate your post. All the best!! Recovery can be very painful....
Great advice. In the mid 1990's I moved to Portland Oregon from NYC to get in the vibe that was going on. I cut the top of my left 1st index finger off 1/4" with a construction saw and set me back from what I set out. Took many years to get over just the phyical uber sensitivity but really stopped me in my tracks at the time. This is a good interview.
Thanks for posting that Mike! Always love your playing. And thanks for the lesson(s) you gave me early on-still working on them.Lol! You’re the best! 😀🎶🎸
Hey Mike thank you so much I just suffered an injury accidentally got my right rhythm hand smashed in the car door and I’ve been very depressed for the last three months have not been able to play at all and I can finally hold a pic now so thank you for sharing your story because I felt like I just was ready to give up and I’m not gonna do that I’m gonna keep getting better I’m going to heal and your story was inspiring to me and I really want to thank you for for sharing it it it’s it’s changing my life so thank you so much I’m gonna keep playing music soon as I can hold that pic a lot longer that’s a great trick by the way ! get some glue to hold that pic ! man ! I would’ve never thought of that unless I heard this video and watched you …so thank you so much God bless you forever man thank you,
I had hand surgery in the early 90s. The tendon that goes over fist got torn. Thankfully I recovered & in 2010 I had what they call Saturday Night Palsy. I had an extremely busy week before a gig & the day of the gig, I could only move my index finger & couldn't lift my arm to wash my hair. I slept on it wrong somehow because you're supposed to toss & turn while sleeping. Went to the hospital & found out I had Ulner nerve damage. Had to cancel the gig. Fortunately, I got movement back around 4-5 weeks. This happened to Dave Mustain & he couldn't move his left hand fingers for close to 18 months. It's extremely depressing. If you know someone going through this, try to be encouraging. Keith Emerson of ELP had nerve damage in 3 of his fingers & had a final gig in Japan & was going to retire after. His girlfriend said he could get by on his tunes but, not 100%. Keith's depression & anxiety turn out that he shot himself in 2016. That was devastating. Non musicians especially don't know how personal we take our craft.
Amazing musician, amazing person! if you also think about Django R. and those who play with their feet bcause they lost their arms, there is really no reason to give up playing, as Mike said!
I slashed my ulnar nerve completely in half on May1st 2019.- left hand. 1 week later /hand was useless couldnt even fret a G chord.6 mths later I am back playing - very different style [ pinky is useless ] - secret is a ton of rest and fishoil caps. The nerve will grow back - it grows about 1cm a mth.. Ive had to reinvent many chords as can only use 3 fingers but it can be done..
wow that sucks and great that you keep going! you could take this opportunity and learn to play left-handed and eventually you will be proficient both right & left handed....
Great that you are playing again!! I had surgery on my fretting hand that severed nerves. Couldn't feel my thumb or index finger for a year. It took a long time to get the feeling back and a long time to get playing again. That was years ago. I got about 75% of my ability back......I'll take it!
vuduhwy Ill probably make a video on this for YT as when the accident happened there was very little info available online. The guitar is an incredible instrument n very versatile with notes on both the horizontal n vertical. Django Reinhart of course the grestest inspiration of what can be achieved
@@simpsimpson5175 ya, checkout Chris Poland's injury story. His fretting hand got mutilated and he just rips!! I have a cousin who's ring finger on his fretting hand was ripped off at work. He plays really well.
Very happy that he was able to get back most of his playing. Inspiring. I was told to quit for 6 months at least due to severe tendinitis but I told them to piss off and I changed my technique. It all works out if you want it enough.
Glad that worked out for you, but for the love of other people with tendinitis listen to your doctor or therapist. 6 months off is nothing in a life-time of playing. If you try and push through it you'll risk doing irreparable damage.
@@TheDjangofan This was 6 years ago I haven't had any pain since fixing my technique. I coach musicians all over the world professionally and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that most of the damage can be reversed with proper form.
Lost the index finger on my left hand after being one of the top hired guns in Ireland circa '80's..switched to left hand and got my old job back..10 yeas later...[After]
This guy is full of love and positivity.
Beethoven, Django Reinhardt, Tony Iommy, Mike Stern, absolute legends doesn't matter how hard things might seem you must carry on
I’ve been a huge fan of Mike Sterns for decades, and I’ve seen him both before and after the accident (after in Nashville, and then Chicago about a year later), and all I have to say is Thank God he’s not let this stop him from playing. His musical voice is as strong and inspiring as it’s ever been,
And I look forward to seeing him again when he’s in my region.
Glad that he didn't give up. Mike Stern is one of my biggest inspirations.
I had no idea he went through that. I also have a permanent nerve injury to my right hand, but mine came from a messed up heart surgery last year. I can't play guitar any more but the good news is I was never in his class, no where even close, so not a big deal now. I have followed Mike since the 80s and would be devastated if he had to quit playing for any reason
I do not know who this is, but I love him. Thank you for your story and inspiration. I'm a diagnosed manic depressive. Everytime I get seriously depressed I can plug my guitar into my amp and all the bullshit goes away and I'm happy for however long I play.
Wonderful. This is for anybody of us. There simply is nobody who does not have to go through a hard path at times. It makes me try harder in order to achieve what drives me - or at least come closer to it. Thank you, Mike!
Persistence. There's nothing that takes the place of persistence. Not talent, not intelligence, not education. Thanks Mike.
Good for him. That takes guts, not to feel sorry for yourself, and get on with it. He's still got it.
Mike, I met you once on the road with Sanborn. I played with him about 7 years and lately I've been playing with George Whitty, and did a gig with Randy Brecker & Eric Marienthal last year! I just want to tell you man...I love you man. For a long time now. I've transcribed quite a few of your tunes...
Anthony Jackson's bass parts that is...and Common Ground is one of my top 5 ballads of all time in a category with Stevies Overjoyed, Stevies As, Eltons Your Song, Michael Breckers Sea Glass, David Sancious Again...
Anyway. God bless. Just Love you dearly. André Berry
Great message for many of us that have issues or are going through challenges
I agree 💯 ...great message!
I have had the privilege of getting to know Mike and he is a very special, humble and kind person, and I look up to him a lot. The best.
I needed this, i suffered from a severe shoulder injury a decade ago. I got really depressed and self-medicated for a long time. My stamina was hindered but if i warm up and don't eat food that cause inflammation i really don't notice anything that obvious. My harmonic understanding grew despite of it...To all those people suffering...IF THERES A WILL THERES A WILL!!! Happy and safe travels to you ALL!
I saw Mike performing live 2 years ago in the Netherlands, and since that day my perception of music has changed fundamentally. This aside, he's probably one of the nicest human beings out there.
Great video! I had an injury this last year that kept me from playing for about 9months. Although it was a total drag and seemed to never end, I prevailed and eventually found ways to heal. Now back to playing 100% and couldn't be happier. This video is really inspiring for someone like me who's dealt with similar shit. Gotta stay positive and keep playing! So happy Mr. Fat Time was able to recover. Cheers
Words of encouragement from one of the finest players anywhere. I have right hand myelopathy, can be very discouraging, and Mike's video has given me a lot of hope!
What a beautiful human being. Thank you Mike. I needed this for a bunch of reasons..
Just what I needed to hear at this exact moment. Thanks Mike!!!
Sad to hear about the accident Mike but great to hear you're still playing great music. I got dystonia affecting my picking hand and i use a couple of small pieces of double sided tape on the pick and that way i can keep a hold of it. Otherwise the twitches in my index finger caused the pick to twist like crazy. No matter what life throws at us we will not give up music.
Thx for the uplifting message..my wrist was smashed to pieces because of a bicycle accident and I'll probably won't be playing bass like I used to but like Mike says : you have to keep going ..
You're so right. Your "2-bits" are worth a lot more than that. Thank you for sharing.
Mike's "two bits" is worth a million bucks. Thanks man, play on...
Thanks for not stopping, Mike! you are amazing!
Thanks Mike .. i wish someone had told me that in 1968 ....:) was always terrified to play in front of others ...one has to realize you are gonna be willing to quote Lowell George to be bad now to be great later....just like learning to walk, crawl, stand crash rinse repeat.
Thanks Mike you are an angel for those guys who fell into darkness
Mike Stern, you are an inspiration. Thank you.
So wonderful, so refreshing to hear one of the best guitarists in the world talking about nerves on stage and how the passion for music is the only cure for it. And the ups and downs of a professional career... So inspiring, and I can so much relate to that and learn from your advice...Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Mike, I'm so happy you have kept going. I've seen you dozens of times over the years and always enjoyed your playing. More than that, you have almost always been a generous and approachable human being! That genuineness, generosity of spirit, and ingenuity have remained a mark of your music. Rage against the dying of the light my man.... Best
Fell on ice a few years ago,12 pins in fractured wrist,90% of motion back now but man it was tough,couldn't even play a scale at first.
Thank you, Mike! I love your music and now this great life example. We are always full of fear when we should be full of love...
One of the nicest guys in all of jazz
This is so inspirational for me, because I had an hand injury too and deal daily with it everyday. But I started to play serious guitar at age 40, because I love guitar music so much. Thank you for this great, great video!
Hey Mike, You have been an inspiration for me since Bret Willmott introduced
me to you at a Berklee gig. Mike Metheny had just been hired as the Tpt.Chair and Pat played with him in the small hall on Boylston .I believe that was the first time you heard Pat live..he gave you great advice ..We are older now and it takes much longer to heal things ..I hope you will get better!
Great to hear that you kept going! Very inspirational... I smashed my right hand thumb and lost part of my distal phalanx, really dark moments indeed. But I'm back playing and enjoying like a child.
I love this man's style of playing "jazz" and only recently found out about his accident and recovery. Thanks for the message Mr. Stern and all the best with your continued career in music.
God bless you Mike. Anyway, you are still an amazing player, cause you play mainly with your soul. The best is coming
You’re an inspiration, Mike. Love your playing man.
Thanks for sharing Mike. Very inspiring. Thanks for doing what you do.
Wise guitar wizard.
Rt
Wow. I just caught Mike live in Melbourne, Australia a couple of weeks ago. Amazing to now see him talking about dealing with injuries, getting down/depression, pushing forward, you are a huge inspiration in so many ways man, I'm 26 and have been really getting into jazz/fusion the last few years, naturally you've been a massive inspiration (literally speaking like the little 2, 7, 1 motif at the end of your lines, your killer tones). Hah, I noticed you had a little glue on your finger at the show! I was on the table next to the group with the dude you knew, cool to hear the story now. Much love to you man, hope to see you again soon, and hope that I can play/write music as beautifully as yourself. Thanks for everything.
Thanks for sharing! I've been through a seriously life changing accident. I shouldn't even be here, but here I am. Noticed your birthday is Jan 10, mine is the 12th. What's up with soo many 'Capricorn ' guitar players? Page, and others. Anyway really appreciate your post. All the best!! Recovery can be very painful....
Great advice. In the mid 1990's I moved to Portland Oregon from NYC to get in the vibe that was going on. I cut the top of my left 1st index finger off 1/4" with a construction saw and set me back from what I set out. Took many years to get over just the phyical uber sensitivity but really stopped me in my tracks at the time. This is a good interview.
Music is always there when you feel down.
Thanks for posting that Mike! Always love your playing. And thanks for the lesson(s) you gave me early on-still working on them.Lol! You’re the best! 😀🎶🎸
Keep going Mike. We love you man!
Hey Mike thank you so much I just suffered an injury accidentally got my right rhythm hand smashed in the car door and I’ve been very depressed for the last three months have not been able to play at all and I can finally hold a pic now so thank you for sharing your story because I felt like I just was ready to give up and I’m not gonna do that I’m gonna keep getting better I’m going to heal and your story was inspiring to me and I really want to thank you for for sharing it it it’s it’s changing my life so thank you so much I’m gonna keep playing music soon as I can hold that pic a lot longer that’s a great trick by the way ! get some glue to hold that pic ! man ! I would’ve never thought of that unless I heard this video and watched you …so thank you so much God bless you forever man thank you,
I don’t listen much to Mike but I love the attitude here!
Feeling Inspired Now. Thanks Mike! :-)
We want you back Mike, we wait, get well!
Beautiful man. Almost had me in tears!
This is inspiring. So grateful he shared this.
Glad to see you back Mike !
I had hand surgery in the early 90s. The tendon that goes over fist got torn. Thankfully I recovered & in 2010 I had what they call Saturday Night Palsy. I had an extremely busy week before a gig & the day of the gig, I could only move my index finger & couldn't lift my arm to wash my hair. I slept on it wrong somehow because you're supposed to toss & turn while sleeping. Went to the hospital & found out I had Ulner nerve damage. Had to cancel the gig. Fortunately, I got movement back around 4-5 weeks. This happened to Dave Mustain & he couldn't move his left hand fingers for close to 18 months.
It's extremely depressing. If you know someone going through this, try to be encouraging. Keith Emerson of ELP had nerve damage in 3 of his fingers & had a final gig in Japan & was going to retire after. His girlfriend said he could get by on his tunes but, not 100%. Keith's depression & anxiety turn out that he shot himself in 2016. That was devastating. Non musicians especially don't know how personal we take our craft.
Amazing musician. And even more amazing human being. Chapeau!
Mike you were a huge influence on me in the late80s, thank you!!!’
Thank you Mike.
Awesome! That's why I've always been a big Mike Stern fan!
Great lesson about life and humility. Glad you can keep on playing guitar.
Inspiring
I love this bloke. Wow.
You never fail until you stop trying !
Thank you so much
This is gold. Great advice and story.
Thank you.
Thanks Mike! You are a great player and inspiration.
Bravo Mike!
Hi Mike . Attended Birds Basement in Melbourne the last couple of times you visited there...big fan.
Thanks Mike, great messages, all truths, all timeless
Hang in there Mike 😎👍 get well.
Right on brother
BIG LOVE! bus from Romania!
🤟😎that's so good to hear from such a legend
Great f'ing message! Yes!
wonderful advice ....thanks !
Go Mike!!!
Amazing musician, amazing person!
if you also think about Django R. and those who play with their feet bcause they lost their arms, there is really no reason to give up playing, as Mike said!
I needed this and am glad I happened into it. Thanks so much! ❤️
stay solid mike...✊🎶
I slashed my ulnar nerve completely in half on May1st 2019.- left hand. 1 week later /hand was useless couldnt even fret a G chord.6 mths later I am back playing - very different style [ pinky is useless ] - secret is a ton of rest and fishoil caps. The nerve will grow back - it grows about 1cm a mth..
Ive had to reinvent many chords as can only use 3 fingers but it can be done..
wow that sucks and great that you keep going! you could take this opportunity and learn to play left-handed and eventually you will be proficient both right & left handed....
Great that you are playing again!! I had surgery on my fretting hand that severed nerves. Couldn't feel my thumb or index finger for a year. It took a long time to get the feeling back and a long time to get playing again. That was years ago. I got about 75% of my ability back......I'll take it!
vuduhwy Ill probably make a video on this for YT as when the accident happened there was very little info available online. The guitar is an incredible instrument n very versatile with notes on both the horizontal n vertical. Django Reinhart of course the grestest inspiration of what can be achieved
jamesha175 I took up keyboards actually. And can now play basic keys. But have lost pinky function so goodbye to 4 finger chords
@@simpsimpson5175 ya, checkout Chris Poland's injury story. His fretting hand got mutilated and he just rips!!
I have a cousin who's ring finger on his fretting hand was ripped off at work. He plays really well.
Fabulous!!!
Read about this in guitar mag....carry on mike..👌👌👌👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Wow!
LEGEND
love you man
Amazing!🔥🔥🔥
Respect!!!!! Cheers, Jeroen Simons, Independent, ex - Epica.
The way we look at things in life influences our lives guys!!
legend
Man I love your music Arigato
Glad you're back on track. :)
Artist legend hero survivor.. wow..
Damn... right hand does look mangled.....best of wishes mike.....👍👍👍👍
What an inspiring cat is Mike Stern....
thank you
Very happy that he was able to get back most of his playing. Inspiring. I was told to quit for 6 months at least due to severe tendinitis but I told them to piss off and I changed my technique. It all works out if you want it enough.
Glad that worked out for you, but for the love of other people with tendinitis listen to your doctor or therapist. 6 months off is nothing in a life-time of playing. If you try and push through it you'll risk doing irreparable damage.
@@TheDjangofan This was 6 years ago I haven't had any pain since fixing my technique. I coach musicians all over the world professionally and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that most of the damage can be reversed with proper form.
@@TheDjangofan but thanks for the concern!
Armov I'm dealing with the issue of tendinitis as a bassist.... both forearms at the insertion point by the elbow, and my left wrist...what to do?
I'm dealing with tendinitis in my thumb.
Lost the index finger on my left hand after being one of the top hired guns in Ireland circa '80's..switched to left hand and got my old job back..10 yeas later...[After]
Would growing the fingernail on the index finger and using the nail as a plectrum be a possible option/solution ?
❤
If there's a will...
I’m going to try the wig glue.👍
I need to hear this very badly, since my left hand has started to go weird on me!