Veteran rockabilly musician Brian Setzer has announced that an autoimmune disease has rendered him unable to play guitar, halting his renowned musical abilities.
Setzer shared the news on social media on Thursday (Feb. 13), updating fans on his condition after a few months away from performing. He explained that toward the end of the Stray Cats’ 2024 summer tour, which concluded in August, he began experiencing cramping in his hands and a diminished ability to play.
“I’ve since discovered that I have an autoimmune disease. I cannot play guitar,” he told his followers. “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—I can now 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 just down the block from me. It’s called the Mayo Clinic. I know I will beat this, it will just take some time.”
Setzer first gained fame in the early 1980s as the guitarist and vocalist of the New York rockabilly group Stray Cats. The band’s success included hit albums and chart-topping singles such as Rock This Town and Stray Cat Strut from their 1981 self-titled debut. After disbanding in 1984, the group reunited two years later and has undergone several breakups and comebacks since.
Beyond Stray Cats, Setzer has led the Brian Setzer Orchestra since 1990. His most recent solo album, The Devil Always Collects, was released in 2023, while Stray Cats made a comeback in 2019 with 40, their first studio album in 26 years.
Setzer’s health issues have interrupted his career before. In 2019, he was forced to cancel 26 dates of his Christmas Rocks! Tour due to a severe case of tinnitus—a condition that causes persistent ringing or noise in the ears.
“I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience this has caused all of the amazing people who make my tour happen and to my unbelievably loyal and devoted fans,” Setzer wrote at the time. “I hate to let you down and I hope you’ll understand.”
Though his latest diagnosis hasn’t affected any scheduled touring plans, Setzer remains optimistic about his recovery and eventual return to the stage.
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