An influential rock guitarist and vocalist has notified fans that he can’t play because of an illness affecting his hands.

Brian Setzer is best known for his association with the Stray Cats, a trio that bridged elements of 1950s rockabilly and ‘70s punk, both in sound and fashion. The trio scored a couple of early ‘80s pop hits with “Rock this Town” and “Stray Cat Strut,” likely the first taste of rockabilly experienced by many kids in the MTV generation.

Since disbanding in 1984, the group has periodically reunited to record and perform. It released the album “40” in 2019 and toured as recently as summer 2024. But Setzer said that during that tour he began to notice problems with his hands cramping.

On Thursday he posted on social media:

Hi everybody,

I just wanted to check in with you all. Towards the end of the last Stray Cats tour I noticed that my hands were cramping up. I’ve since discovered that I have an auto-immune disease. I cannot play guitar. 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 in that I can 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 down the block from me. It’s called the Mayo Clinic. I know I will beat this, it will just take some time.

I love you all,

Brian

Setzer, 65, did not specify the disease or lay out any timetable for his return to performing.

His other projects have included the Brian Setzer Orchestra, which was formed in the early ‘90s as the decade’s swing revival built momentum. The group’s 1998 album “The Dirty Boogie” cracked the Top 10, partly on the strength of a cover of Louis Prima’s “Jump, Jive an’ Wail.”