Brian Setzer, frontman of the Stray Cats, has been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition that is affecting his ability to play guitar.
In a post shared on his official Instagram on Friday, the “Stray Cat Strut” singer revealed that he first noticed issues toward the end of the last Stray Cats tour. “My hands were cramping up,” Setzer wrote. “I’ve since discovered that I have an autoimmune disease.”
He explained that the condition is preventing him from playing with the band he co-founded over 40 years ago. “I cannot play guitar. There is no pain, but it feels like I am wearing a pair of gloves when I try to play,” he shared. “I have seen some progress—I can now hold a pen and tie my shoes. I know this sounds ridiculous, but there was a time when I couldn’t even do that.”
Setzer also noted that he is undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic and remains optimistic about his recovery. “I know I will beat this—it will just take some time,” he concluded.
Setzer, along with drummer Slim Jim Phantom and bassist Lee Rocker, formed the Stray Cats in 1979 on Long Island. The band played a key role in the rockabilly revival of the late ’70s and early ’90s, bringing back the sounds of artists like Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison alongside acts such as Robert Gordon and The Cramps.
Their biggest hit, “Stray Cat Strut,” was released in 1981. Over the years, the band has broken up and reunited multiple times, with their most recent album debuting in 2019. Last year, they embarked on a three-week U.S. tour.
Beyond the Stray Cats, Setzer has enjoyed a successful solo career, earning multiple Grammy Awards. He also leads The Brian Setzer Orchestra, known for its swing revival sound. The band has frequently performed at the Rockefeller Plaza tree lighting ceremony and is featured in the holiday film Elf, in the scene where Will Ferrell’s character Buddy explores Gimbels department store after hours.
Setzer now joins a growing number of public figures who have shared their struggles with autoimmune disorders. Céline Dion revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, describing it as “one of the hardest experiences of my life.” Selena Gomez, who has battled Lupus for nearly a decade, disclosed in 2022 that she recently faced a painful episode that made her fear the condition had returned in full force.
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