The Stray Cats were revved up for a fall U.S. run, until Brian Setzer had to slam the brakes. On Oct. 28, 2025, the band canceled its 21-date tour, with Setzer calling it “heartbreaking” but unavoidable due to a “serious illness.” Earlier this year, he revealed an autoimmune disease that makes his hands feel like he is “wearing a pair of gloves” when he tries to play, a brutal twist for one of rock’s most distinctive guitar slingers. He is under care at Mayo Clinic, has seen some progress, and remains optimistic, but the shows are off and fans will be refunded.
Alright, Cats and Kittens, onto the facts.
Brian Setzer & Long Island Roots
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Massapequa made him. Brian Setzer was born in April 1959 and grew up in Massapequa, where he moved from school jazz bands on euphonium to blues, punk, and finally the rockabilly rabbit hole.
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The neighborhood trio. Setzer teamed up with fellow Massapequa natives Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom, three locals who turned garage daydreams into the Stray Cats.
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LI to London on a one-way bet. In 1980 they sold gear to buy plane tickets, figuring England’s Teddy Boy revival would “get” them faster than New York would. It did.
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Hometown honors. The Cats were inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, a fitting nod for a Massapequa act that helped re-ignite rockabilly.
From “Rock This Town” to Big Band Boom
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Dave Edmunds, instant ignition. In London, producer Dave Edmunds signed on and cut the Cats’ early records, yielding signature smashes “Stray Cat Strut” and “Rock This Town.”
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MTV plus Built for Speed equals liftoff. Highlights from their first two UK LPs became the U.S. album Built for Speed in 1982, which roared up the charts and onto heavy rotation.
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Swing, but make it loud. In the 1990s, Setzer shifted gears with the 17-piece Brian Setzer Orchestra, turbocharging jump blues and swing for the mosh-era crowd.
Brian Setzer: Hardware, Hallways, and Holidays
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Grammy haul. The BSO’s The Dirty Boogie delivered a hit cover of “Jump, Jive an’ Wail,” and Setzer’s “Sleep Walk” arrangement won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
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December belongs to Setzer. His big-band Christmas tours became a tradition, proof that nothing says “holly jolly” like a hollow-body through a cranked amp.
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Gretsch guy for life. Setzer’s guitar collection is the stuff of legend, his stage lineup includes everything from a 1957 Gretsch White Falcon to a turquoise 1957 Fender Stratocaster. His favorite, though, is the 1959 Gretsch 6120 “Stray Cat,” so iconic that he donated a replica to the Smithsonian Institution in 2006.
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Big sounds and bigger rooms. Over the years he’s played everywhere from Woodstock ’99 to a sold-out three-night run with the Hollywood Bowl Philharmonic. He even performed at the White House for the President in 2006m rockabilly officially went diplomatic.
Cameos, Curios, and Culture Points
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La Bamba cameo. Brian Setzer popped up as Eddie Cochran in 1987’s La Bamba, a fitting tip of the fedora to one of his core influences.
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TV time. He’s appeared on Beverly Hills, 90210, got animated on The Simpsons, and even played himself in The Drew Carey Show.
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Hall of Fame honors. Setzer inducted guitar legend Chet Atkins into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a rare moment of one guitar god crowning another.
Health, Resilience, and Rockabilly Spirit of Brian Setzer
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Been here before. This isn’t Brian Setzer’s first forced hiatus, Setzer had to cancel his 2019 Christmas tour due to severe tinnitus. He came back stronger, and fans expect nothing less now.
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The Mayo miracle. After his autoimmune diagnosis in February 2025, Setzer shared that he was receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic and was slowly regaining fine motor skills, he could even tie his shoes again, a small victory for a man used to shredding solos.
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Forever hopeful. “I know I’ll beat this, it’ll just take time,” he told fans. He even posted a video of himself strumming again on his 66th birthday, captioned simply, “Man did I miss this.”
The Current Beat
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Health first, shows later. Despite his progress, Setzer announced in October that the Stray Cats’ 2025 tour was canceled. Long Island may be his origin story, but right now the headline is recovery. We’re pulling for a comeback, preferably one that rattles the windows from Massapequa to Montauk.
Image from: briansetzer.com
