Brian Setzer was on tour with the Stray Cats last year when he noticed the first signs of what was eventually diagnosed as an autoimmune disease.
Now it appears the chaos may prevent Setzer from leaving the road.
The Stray Cats said Tuesday they were canceling their fall U.S. tour because Setzer, 66, was battling a “serious illness.” The announcement comes several months after Setzer's diagnosis, although it is unclear if it is a separate health issue.
“I know this is affecting so many people and I am devastated to have to share this news,” Setzer wrote on Tuesday. X. “I did everything I could to keep going and performing, but it’s just not possible.
“I’ve been so looking forward to being back on stage with my bandmates,” he said, “and playing for all our amazing fans, and I’m over the moon.”
Stray cats originally canceled The first two stops on the fall run are in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and Rockford, Illinois, and the entire tour was canceled on Tuesday. The band said refunds would be available at the time of purchase and did not announce future tour dates.
Setzer first shared details about his undiagnosed autoimmune disease in February, writing on the website social media that although the illness was not painful, it robbed him of the ability to play the guitar.
“When I try to play, it feels like I’m wearing gloves,” he wrote, adding that the illness had for a time prevented him from performing everyday tasks such as tying his shoes.
The artist said he felt better because he received care at “the best hospital in the world a block from me,” the Mayo Clinic.
“I know I’ll win, it’s just going to take a while,” he said. “I love you all.”
Founded by Setzer, Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom in 1979, the Stray Cats have broken up and reformed several times over the past decades. In 2019, the founding trio reunited to release a 40th anniversary album, aptly titled “40”, their first album in a quarter century.
On Friday, the band released their first release since then. A pair of singles, consisting of the original song “Stampede” and a cover of Eddie Cochran's “Teenage Heaven”, were described on the band's official website. website as “loud, upbeat and unmistakably The Stray Cats”.
“Jim and I recorded both songs in Minneapolis at Terrarium Studios,” Setzer said in a statement posted on the website. “'Stampede' was an instrumental that I wrote the lyrics for. I basically copied the guitar part, which was way ahead of its time to begin with, and 'Teenage Heaven' is one of the few Eddie Cochran songs that hasn't been covered to death.”
The rocker said: “‘Stampede’ has a drive and intensity that takes me back to our first album,” and “Teenage Heaven” is a classic Eddie Cochran song that we included in our set. [Stray] Cat magic included.
“The Cats are back and better than ever,” the bassist said.
Times writer Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report.
