Don Dokken Says He Can’t Play Guitar Anymore Due to Paralyzed Hand

Don Dokken revealed in a recent interview that he can't play guitar anymore due to a paralyzed hand.

Speaking with U.K.'s EonMusic, Dokken said, "I was just coming from the hospital right now where I do my therapy, and yeah, my right hand; I can’t play guitar anymore, it’s over. My right hand is paralyzed."

Dokken had spinal surgery in 2019 which affected the use of his hand.

"It’s been seven months since the surgery. I’d just gotten my surgery a couple of months before the Metal Hall of Fame, and they said, 'Just be patient. Your hand will come back, you’ll get your feeling back. Be patient, be patient'," said Dokken. "But it’s been seven months, and my hand still doesn’t work. It just doesn’t work, and it’s the way it is. Sometimes bad things happen, you know? I’m not happy about it, but I played guitar for 50 years, so I guess I got some good time in.

Don Dokken has been promoting The Lost Songs: 1978-1981, a new release due out August 28 that is currently available for pre-order here. "Step Into the Light," the first single from the set, can be heard below.