In 1979, Dave Grohl heard a song that almost broke his hand. Now, he still can’t understand who can play it

Dave Grohl has said that trying to play The Police’s “Message in a Bottle” once strained his hand, leaving him wondering how guitarist Andy Summers could perform it without injury. The story highlights the unusual technique behind a familiar riff and why Summers’ playing stood out.

Grohl recalled the experience while discussing songs that challenged him, despite his reputation as a versatile musician. The riff uses major ninth chords and requires nimble hand stretches to make the notes ring clearly; Summers took an unconventional approach to the guitar part.