Here is what the man himself says abouth the thumb pick thing:
http://www.bassplayer.com/article/john-wetton-asia/jul-08/86223"How do you feel about the reunion and Phoenix?
I’m very pleased; there’s a camaraderie and spirit among us that wasn’t present the first time around. In addition to songs from Phoenix, we’re playing our early hits and songs from each of our careers, like [Yes’s] “Roundabout,” [the Buggles’] “Video Killed the Radio Star,” and [Emerson Lake & Palmer’s] “Fanfare for the Common Man.” A lot of the music for Phoenix was written on tour, so it has all the band’s colors. We all feel reborn; I know I do after my heart surgery. Our new song “An Extraordinary Life” is about just that—appreciating where we are right now. We’re no longer just some ’80s nostalgia band; we’re a vital living and writing group. We had fun putting the album together;
the only drag was my hand problems.What’s the current status of that?
Still not great, I’m afraid. It has been almost two years since I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s a swelling of the casing around the nerves in my hand, causing them to be trapped. I had an operation a few months after diagnosis to relieve the pressure, but it hasn’t really helped. I need to have more surgery; I may have originally waited too long to treat it. My doctor said most cases like mine are among cellists because of the angle they hold their right hands at, to bow. For me, it started with a numb, pins-and-needles feeling, and now it can be painful and achy, quite unpleasant.
I can’t even hold my phone, much less a pick. So we tape a thumb pick on my right thumb, and I can pretty much play only downstrokes. Fortunately, being a lefty who plays right-handed, I’m able to fret the notes with my strong hand. Ultimately, this injury causes the muscles in the hand to wither, so my recommendation, if you discover symptoms, is to seek medical advice immediately."