The Stray Cats Cancel 2025 Tour Due to Brian Setzer’s ‘Serious Illness’
by Best Classic Bands Staff
The Stray Cats (Photo: Suzie Kaplan; used with permission)
The Stray Cats have cancelled their entire fall 2025 tour. The news, announced today (Tuesday, October 28), was attributed to an undisclosed “serious illness” of the band’s guitarist and vocalist Brian Setzer. The trio—original members Setzer, Lee Rocker (upright bass, vocals), and Slim Jim Phantom (drums, vocals)—had abruptly cancelled the tour’s opening night on Oct. 25 as well as the next night.
A statement from Setzer reads: “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. 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.”
The band had released a pair of new recordings on the eve of their planned return to the road. “Stampede” and “Teenage Heaven” arrived Oct. 24, just as the trio were to begin the cross-country month-long tour, bringing their legendary live show and red-hot rock ‘n’ roll to U.S. audiences. Their setlists were to include such favorites as “Stray Cat Strut,” “Rock This Town,” “Runaway Boys,” “(She’s) Sexy + 17,” and more.
Both tracks were produced by The Stray Cats, mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, and recorded at The Terrarium in Minneapolis, MN and Laguna Sound in Laguna Beach, CA. “‘Stampede’ was an instrumental that I wrote lyrics for,” said Setzer. “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.”
The shows were to follow 2024’s critically acclaimed summer tour. “What blows me away every time is how this music still connects — decades later, it’s just as raw, just as real,” said Setzer in the original July 28 tour announcement. “We see fans from every generation now.” The star turned 66 on April 10.
“There’s nothing like the sound we make when the three of us hit the stage—it’s high-octane rockabilly, loud and proud,” added Rocker. We’re fired up to bring that to fans across the country again!”
Phantom said, “I’m thrilled and excited to be on the road in 2025 with the best Rockabilly band in the world! These are the venues where the Cats sound best and one thing I can guarantee 100%…We Will Rock Your Town!!”
“‘Teenage Heaven’ is a natural for The Stray Cats—it has always been one we wanted to do but hadn’t,” said Phantom. “Sir Mick Jagger suggested we do that one in 1980. It took a little while, but we listened to Mick! Eddie Cochran was the best rock star ever and has always been a big influence. He looked great, he played great, he sang great.”
The band’s recordings are available in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here. The two new recordings are available to download here.
The Stray Cats 2025 Tour—Cancelled (Tickets were available here)
Oct 25 – Mount Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Oct 26 – Rockford, IL – Hard Rock Casino
Oct 28 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace
Oct 29 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
Oct 31 – Columbus, OH – Mershon Auditorium
Nov 01 – Gary, IN – Hard Rock Casino
Nov 02 – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park – Center Stage
Nov 04 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center
Nov 05 – Westbury, NY – Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair
Nov 07 – Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods Resort Casino
Nov 08 – Verona, NY – The Event Center at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Nov 09 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
Nov 11 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
Nov 13 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
Nov 15 – Albuquerque, NM – Route 66 Casino Hotel – Legends Theater
Nov 16 – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre
Nov 18 – Highland, CA – Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel
Nov 19 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Nov 20 – Del Mar, CA – The Sound
Nov 22 – Santa Rosa, CA – Ruth Finley Person Theater
Nov 23 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationOne of the best bands from the 80s. I have seen them numerous times and they still sound as good as they did in 1981. Love this band! They should be asked to perform at the Super Bowl half time show. They would show the World what a Rock performance is all about. Pure Rock and Roll with no lip-syncing or electronic music.