Ex-Deep Purple Guitarist Steve Morse Battles Arthritis

For decades, Steve Morse built a reputation as one of rock’s most technically gifted guitarists. From his early days with the Dixie Dregs to his long tenure with Deep Purple, Morse became known for a style that blended precision, speed, and musical curiosity. Even in a genre filled with celebrated players, his versatility made him stand out.

In recent interviews, however, Morse has opened up about a challenge that now shapes his daily relationship with the guitar: severe arthritis. After decades of intense practice and performance, the 71-year-old guitarist revealed that the cartilage in his right wrist is gone. The wear and tear of what he once described as playing “about 10,000 notes a day” for years has caught up with him.

Despite the pain, Morse continues to search for ways to keep playing. Rather than stepping away completely, he has spent time adjusting his technique, experimenting with new picking methods, and seeking medical treatments. For him, the instrument is more than a profession — it is a fundamental part of who he is.

Changing Technique to Keep Playing

Arthritis has forced Morse to rethink how he approaches the guitar. Simple movements that once came naturally now require careful adjustments. During performances, he often shifts his picking angle and hand position to manage pain in different parts of his wrist.

He has described developing several new ways to hold the pick, depending on how his joints feel at a given moment. Sometimes he bends his arm differently, sometimes he picks from the elbow, and other times he changes the angle entirely. Each adjustment helps distribute the strain across different parts of his hand and arm.

Maintaining those techniques requires constant practice. Morse has explained that it takes determination to keep refining these methods, especially when the condition can worsen unpredictably. Some mornings he does not know if his hand will cooperate, but so far he has continued to make it through each performance.

A Career Defined by Persistence

Morse’s determination reflects a mindset he has carried throughout his career. Early on, he found inspiration in musicians who adapted to physical challenges. One memory that stayed with him was seeing a bass player from the Atlanta band Hydra perform despite losing part of his arm.

Stories like that remind him that musicians often find creative ways to overcome obstacles. He has also pointed to figures like Jeff Healey, the blind guitarist who developed a distinctive lap-style technique. Examples like these reinforce Morse’s belief that persistence can lead to new solutions.

That attitude has shaped a career spanning nearly five decades. Beginning in the mid-1970s with the Dixie Dregs, Morse later formed the Steve Morse Band, joined Kansas in the 1980s, and became Deep Purple’s guitarist in 1994. Even after stepping away from Deep Purple in 2022 to care for his wife, Morse has remained committed to writing music and performing whenever possible, determined to keep playing as long as he can.