A “serious illness” forced Brian Setzer to cancel the opening night of the Stray Cats’ 2025 tour on Saturday, October 25, in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Setzer posted the news to the band’s social media channels.
“I’m heartbroken to share, due to serious illness, I am unable to perform and very regrettably have to cancel tonight’s show at Soaring Eagle in Mt Pleasant, MI,” the message read.
“I know this affects so many people and I am devastated to have to deliver this news.
“I’ve been trying to do everything I can to go on and do with this show, but it is just not possible. I’ve been looking forward so much to being on stage with my band mates again and playing for all of our amazing fans, and I’m gutted.”
It's unknown what caused Setzer's illness. Earlier this year, the guitarist announced he was suffering from an autoimmune disorder that prevented him from performing. He made his condition public last February 13.
“Towards the end of the last Stray Cats tour I noticed that my hands were cramping up,” he wrote at the time. “I’ve since discovered that I have an auto-immune disease. I cannot play guitar.
“There is no pain, but it feels like I am wearing a pair of gloves when I try to play. I have seen some progress in that I can hold a pen and tie my shoes. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I was at a point where I couldn’t even do that. Luckily, I have the best hospital in the world down the block from me. It’s called the Mayo Clinic. I know I will beat this, it will just take some time.”
Roughly one month after posting the news, the guitarist announced his condition was improving.
“I just want to let you all know that I’m getting better day by day,” he posted on Facebook in March. “The progress I’m making is excellent! My dream is to visit Japan, the States, and Europe with Stray Cats, and of course, one of my biggest thrills would be bringing back the BSO Christmas show tradition.
“Thank you all for your love and support – it truly means the world to me. I was deeply touched. I love you guys, and only we can truly understand what this sound means to us!”
Autoimmune disease affects around three percent of U.S. citizens, or roughly 10 million people. It occurs when a person’s immune system attacks the body’s healthy cells and can affect practically every part of the body.
There is currently no cure for the disease, but anti-inflammatory drugs and targeted therapies are often used to curtail symptoms, which include fatigue, joint pain and digestive issues.
As leader of the Stray Cats, Setzer led a rockabilly revolution in the early 1980s, with his Gretsch 6120 electric guitar. The guitarist went on to launch successful revivals of big band music as well as rock-themed Christmas albums in the 1990s.
For the past four decades he’s mixed Brian Setzer Orchestra albums and dates with Stray Cats reunions and solo albums. In 2023, Setzer released The Devil Always Collects, the follow-up to 2021’s Gotta Have the Rumble and his second consecutive collaboration with producer Julian Raymond.
Earlier this month, the Stray Cars — consisting of Setzer, bass guitarist Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom — issued their first new tracks in six years: “Stampede” and a cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Teenage Heaven.”
“Jim and I cut both songs in Minneapolis at Terrarium Studios,” Setzer said. “‘Stampede’ was an instrumental that I wrote lyrics for. I basically copied the guitar part, which was pretty ahead of its time to begin with, and ‘Teenage Heaven’ is one of the few Eddie Cochran songs that has not been covered to death.”
The new tunes heralded the launch of the Stray Cats’ tour, which was scheduled to begin October 25 and continue through November 23 in Wheatland, California. A complete list of dates can be found at StrayCats.com.
There is no word on whether Setzer’s health will affect remaining dates on the tour.
This is a developing story.
