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Key Points Opening night of Stray Cats' 2025 tour canceled due to Brian Setzer's serious illness. Setzer said, “I am unable to perform and very regrettably have to cancel tonight’s show.” Band's future tour dates unclear; new music released for first time in six years. The Stray Cats were forced to cancel the opening night of their 2025 tour on Saturday, Oct. 25 in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. because singer-guitarist Brian Setzer was “unable to perform due to serious illness,” the band posted their social media channels. “I’m heartbroken to share, due to serious illness, I am unable to perform and very regrettably have to cancel tonight’s show at Soaring Eagle in Mt Pleasant, MI. I know this affects so many people and I am devastated to have to deliver this news,” read the message that was posted on Saturday, Oct. 25 on the band’s social media channels. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 “I’ve been trying to do everything I can to go on and do with this show, 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,” Setzer added. Refunds are available at points of purchase. Get Well Wishes The singer-guitarist, who also fronts the Brian Setzer Orchestra, received get well wishes from fans and some fellow musicians in the comments on the official Stray Cats’ Instagram account. Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on Instagram “Hang in there Brian 🎶🌴❤️,” wrote former Textones frontwoman Carla Olson. “Sending so much love to you . ❤️🔥,” added the popular alternative band Garbage. “Please, take care and don’t push yourself too hard,” wrote Japanese guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei. “Put the future of you and your bandmates first, and give your heart and body the rest they need. We’ll always be on your side, and waiting is never a burden for us. I just hope you can be free from any pain and suffering, even a little.” Brian Setzer’s Health Battle Back in February, Setzer announced that he “discovered that I have an auto-immune disease” and could no longer play guitar. However, he received treatment at the Mayo Clinic and shared in posts in March and April that he was making progress recovering, so much so that the Stray Cats announced a fall tour in August, featuring Setzer with his Stray Cats bandmates bassist Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom. It’s unclear whether Setzer’s latest health setback is related to the auto-immune disease and if the band will play the rest of the dates on the scheduled tour, which includes a show Sunday, Oct. 26 in Rockford, Ill. and is slated to run through Nov. 16 in Phoenix. Parade has reached out to the band’s representatives for comment. Stray Cats Release New Music Earlier this week, in advance of the tour, the Stray Cats released two new songs, “Stampede” and a cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Teenage Heaven.” It’s the trio’s first new music in six years. “Jim and I cut both songs in Minneapolis at Terrarium Studios,” Setzer said in a statement. “‘Stampede’ was an instrumental that I wrote lyrics for. I basically copied the guitar part, which was pretty ahead of its time to begin with, and ‘Teenage Heaven’ is one of the few Eddie Cochran songs that has not been covered to death.”
