Steve Vai is delaying his next North American tour so he can undergo surgery to address yet another injury.

While the guitar hero did not elaborate on the new issue, the surgery will be his third in less than two years. It's significant enough that Vai is pushing his touring plans from this spring to this fall so he can recover and make up most of the scheduled dates.

"I'm gutted that we have to move this tour, but I also know it's in the best interests for us and the fans that we do," Vai said in a statement.

Tickets and VIP purchases will be honored at the rescheduled shows.

Last February, Vai revealed that he had recently undergone surgeries to repair both a "trigger finger" on his fretting hand and an issue with tendons in the shoulder on the opposite side of his body. (While recovering from shoulder surgery, Vai recorded an extraordinary one-handed guitar piece called "Knappsack," a tribute to the doctor who performed his operation.)

Vai said last year that his 2022 tour, which includes over 50 shows, would be the last time he embarks on such a lengthy jaunt.

The former Frank Zappa and David Lee Roth guitarist recorded at least two new solo albums during his time away from the road. His upcoming album, Inviolate, arrives January 28. A release date for the other album — an acoustic guitar-based record — has yet to be revealed.

Get all of Vai's tour dates here.

Watch the music video for Vai's "Little Pretty" single via the player below.

Mel Taylor

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