Brian Setzer: From Health Struggles to Rocking the Stage Again
Brian Setzer has faced significant challenges over the past few years. After having to cancel a Stray Cats tour last year due to health issues, he is now gearing up to perform in 18 cities alongside his bandmates, drummer Slim Jim phantom and bassist Lee Rocker, starting at the end of July.
“I’m feeling fantastic, I must say,” Setzer shares with Guitar Player from his residence in Minnesota. “I wouldn’t commit to a tour unless I was wholly confident in my health. If I needed more time, I would have taken it.”
“Honestly, the most exhilarating thing for me is hearing that guitar sound, looking over to see Slim Jim rocking out on one side and Lee on the other,” he adds.
(Image credit: steve Thorne/Redferns)
“We’re pretty much the only ones playing this genre of music, aside from some local bands,” he continues. “And there are quite a few of them.”
“It’s incredibly frustrating when you sit down and your hands just won’t cooperate. You can’t take it for granted. Playing guitar is paramount, but so is something as simple as brushing your teeth, you know?”
– Brian Setzer
Setzer faced a significant health crisis last year, battling a severe autoimmune condition that required extensive treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
“The best way to explain it is that your nerves are like wires, and the protective coating on those wires has worn away,” Setzer elaborates.”Consequently, the wires malfunction, causing my hands and feet to lock up. I couldn’t even button my pants, let alone play guitar.”
“It’s frustrating when you sit down and your hands do nothing. You really can’t take it for granted. Playing guitar is certainly on top, but so is holding a toothbrush, y’know?”
his time at Mayo Clinic provided him with a new viewpoint. “I was lying there, and the guy next to me had cancer,” he reflects. After nearly a year of treatment, he began to regain his dexterity.
“I could finally hold a guitar pick. That was the first sign of progress,” he recalls. “Then, when I could fingerpick again, I knew I was almost back to normal.”
(Image credit: Steve Thorne/Redferns)
Though,Setzer’s recovery was complex by an unexpected reliance on Kratom,an herbal supplement that has been labeled “unsafe and ineffective” by the Mayo Clinic and is classified as a controlled substance in several states.
“It started off innocently,” Setzer admits, explaining that he sought help at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation clinic in Minnesota. “They market it as a safe energy booster, but it’s not. It only made my situation worse. I decided to quit everything, take a break, and return rejuvenated.”
“I had to cleanse my system completely. There’s no shame in seeking help. If anyone is struggling, they should reach out; they will take care of you.”
– Brian Setzer
“I had to go get everything out of my system, really.There’s nothing to be embarrassed about; if anyone has a problem you go and they take care of you. And thank god you can come back.”
While there’s no certainty that his autoimmune condition won’t resurface,Setzer is optimistic about his current health and the band’s future,with plans for more tours ahead. He’s ready to hit the road with his Gretsch G6120s.
(Image credit: Steve Thorne/Redferns)
He continues to use his vintage ’60s Fender Bassman amp, which features original oxford speakers that he replaced from the reissue series.
“The only change now is that I turn the cabinet around because the amp is incredibly loud,” Setzer explains. “Along with my fellow Stray Cats, I use in-ear monitors mainly to hear my vocals. I wont the band to maintain a balanced volume. I don’t want to overpower the standup bass, which is naturally an acoustic instrument. Turning it around solves that issue.”
“I thoght to myself, ‘This is a fantastic one.If I could turn this into a song, it would be a blast with the Stray Cats.’”
– Brian Setzer
The Stray Cats are also set to release two new tracks from last fall – a version of “Stampede,” a surf instrumental from 1959 by the Scarlets, for which Setzer penned lyrics and a more elaborate arrangement, and a cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Teenage Heaven.”
“‘Stampede’ features an amazing guitar riff – that’s the key, finding an original guitar riff,” Setzer explains. “I thought, ‘This is a great one. If I could turn this into a song, it would be really fun with the Stray Cats.’”
Setzer recorded his parts at Terrarium studio in Minneapolis, emphasizing, “when I work on songs like that, I always ensure I can perform them live.I don’t layer on a bunch of guitars that would make it impossible to replicate on stage.”
As for future projects,Setzer admits,”I don’t have anything else written at the moment. But when inspiration strikes, it’s great; I can just run down the block to Terrarium with my buddy Jason and create some magic. It’s a blast making records that way.”
“What’s on my agenda now is to perform,that’s all. I’m just grateful I can play, and so many venues are eager to have us - which I truly appreciate.”
Upcoming Tour Dates for The stray Cats
- Friday, July 24, Las Vegas, NV, The Chelsea at The cosmopolitan
- Saturday, July 25, Phoenix, AZ, Celebrity Theater
- Sunday, July 26, Del Mar, CA, The Sound
- Tuesday and Wednesday, July 28-29, Highland, CA, Yaamava’ Theater
- Friday, July 31, Santa Rosa, CA, luther Burbank Center for the Arts
- Saturday, August 1, Saratoga, CA, The Mountain Winery
- Sunday, August 2, wheatland, CA, Hard Rock Live
- Tuesday, August 4, Sandy, UT, Sandy Amphitheater
- Wednesday, August 5, Colorado Springs, CO, Pikes Peak Center
- Friday, August 7, Tulsa, OK, River Spirit Casino Resort
- Saturday, August 8, Kansas City, MO, Uptown Theater
- Monday, August 10, Huber Heights, OH, Rose Music Center at The Heights
- tuesday, August 11, Interlochen, MI, Interlochen Center for the Arts
- Wednesday, August 12, Northfield, OH, MGM Northfield Park
- Friday, August 14, Westbury, NY, Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair
- Saturday, August 15, Atlantic City, NJ, Ocean Casino Resort
- Sunday, August 16, Morristown, NJ, Mayo Performing Arts Center
