Photos and reporting by Dino Perrucci

Mountain guitarist Leslie West returned to the stage last night for the first time since undergoing an emergency leg amputation in 2011. The guitarist performed at New York’s BB King Blues Club as part of a tour with Uli Jon Roth. Though West was scheduled to return to the road late last year, he was forced to postpone a series of dates due to health concerns.

West—who performed while sitting in a wheelchair—opened his set with “People Get Ready” but was forced to pause halfway through the song due to his overwhelming emotions. The crowd responded with a standing ovation. “I might not be able to walk onstage but I can certainly ride this electric wheelchair,” West told Relix in a recent interview. “Somehow, I’ll be playing the guitar.”

West will perform at Foxboro, MA’s Showcase Live tonight.