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The Stray Cats have cancelled their upcoming tour amid guitarist and vocalist Brian Setzer’s “serious illness.”
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, the band, which consists of Setzer, 66, bassist Lee Rocker, 64, and drummer Slim Jim Phantom, 64, announced on their social media that they would not be continuing with their U.S. tour.
“The Stray Cats have cancelled their fall cross-country tour due to serious illness. Refunds will be available at the point of purchase,” they wrote on Facebook and Instagram.
The announcement then included a statement from Setzer, writing, “I’m heartbroken to share, due to serious illness, I am unable to perform and very regrettably have to cancel our Stray Cats tour.”
“I know this affects so many people and I am devastated to have to deliver this news,” he continued. “I’ve been trying everything I can to go on and do these shows, 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.’ ~ Brian Setzer.”
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Back in February, Setzer revealed he had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and could no longer play the guitar.
“Hi everybody, I just wanted to check in with you all. Towards the end of the last Stray Cats tour I noticed that my hands were cramping up,” he said of the band’s summer 2024 tour on X.
“I’ve since discovered that I have an auto-immune disease. I cannot play guitar,” he continued, adding that the sensation is like “wearing a pair of gloves when I try to play” but that he wasn’t in pain.
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“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,” he added. “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,” he concluded. “I love you all, Brian.”
A month later, in March, Setzer said that he was “getting better day by day.”
“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 [Brian Setzer Orchestra] Christmas show tradition,” he said.
Setzer then shared a video of himself on his 66th birthday in April playing the guitar. “Man did I miss this…..,” he wrote on Instagram.
Stray Cats announced in July that they would be touring through North America, sharing that they were “fired up” to hit the road again.
The band were scheduled to kick off the tour on Oct. 25 show in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, but the opening and second night of the tour in Rockford, Illinois, were canceled, per Ultimate Classic Rock, before the remaining dates were also called off.
The group had been due to play 21 dates, ending the tour in Wheatland, Calif., on Nov. 23.
