View source for Brian Setzer

{{short description|American singer, songwriter (b. 1959)}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name            = Brian Setzer
| image           = Brian Salzburg 2006.JPG
| caption         = Setzer in 2006
| image_size      = 250
| landscape       = yes
| birth_name      = Brian Robert Setzer
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1959|4|10}}
| birth_place     = [[Massapequa, New York]], U.S.
| module      = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed           = yes
| instruments      = Guitar, vocals
| genre           = {{Flatlist|
*[[Rockabilly]]
*[[rock and roll]]
*[[swing revival]]
*[[jump blues]]}}
| occupation      = Musician, songwriter, record producer
| years_active    = 1979–present
| label           = [[Arista Records|Arista]], [[EMI]], [[Interscope Records|Interscope]], [[Surfdog Records|Surfdog]]
}}
| website         = {{URL|www.briansetzer.com/}}
| signature= Brian Setzer signature.png
}}

'''Brian Robert Setzer''' (born April 10, 1959) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He found widespread success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style [[rockabilly]] group [[Stray Cats]], and returned to the music scene in the early 1990s with his [[swing revival]] band, [[the Brian Setzer Orchestra]]. In 1987, he made a cameo appearance as [[Eddie Cochran]] in the film ''[[La Bamba (film)|La Bamba]]''.

In February 2025, Setzer shared that he has an [[autoimmune disease]] which prevented him from playing guitar.  In November 2025, Setzer announced he was battling a "serious illness" which required cancellation of a cross-country tour of the United States.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Musni |first1=Lauren |title=Legendary rock band cancels nationwide tour due to a member battling ‘serious illness’ |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2025/11/legendary-rock-band-cancels-nationwide-tour-due-to-a-member-battling-serious-illness.html |website=NJ.com |access-date=5 November 2025}}</ref>

==Career==

===Stray Cats===
[[File:Brian Setzer 1983.jpg|thumb|Setzer performing with the Stray Cats in [[Tampa, Florida]], 1983]]
Setzer was born April 1959 in [[Massapequa, New York|Massapequa]], New York. He started on the [[euphonium]] and played in jazz bands when he was in school. He found a way to hear jazz at the [[Village Vanguard]], though as he got older he became more interested in rock, punk, and rockabilly. He was a member of the Bloodless Pharaohs and [[the Tomcats]], which he began with his brother, Gary. The Tomcats became the [[Stray Cats]] when double bassist [[Lee Rocker]] and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]] joined and Gary left the band. In 1980, thinking they might have more success in England than in America, they sold their instruments to pay for airplane tickets and flew to London.<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web|last1=Erlewine|first1=Stephen Thomas|title=Brian Setzer |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-setzer-mn0000519637/biography |website=AllMusic|access-date=11 February 2017}}</ref>

After performing in London for a few months, they met [[Dave Edmunds]], a guitarist and record producer who shared their love of rockabilly and 1950s' rock and roll. Edmunds produced their debut album, ''[[Stray Cats (album)|Stray Cats]]'' ([[Arista Records|Arista]], 1981), which yielded two hit singles: "[[Stray Cat Strut]]" and "[[Rock This Town]]". The second album, ''[[Gonna Ball]]'' (Arista, 1982), was less successful. The band returned to America and released ''[[Built for Speed (Stray Cats album)|Built for Speed]]'' ([[EMI]], 1982), produced again by Dave Edmunds, with songs collected from their first two albums. Helped by their music videos on MTV, the Stray Cats became popular in America. Their next album, ''[[Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats]]'' (EMI, 1983) produced the hit "[[(She's) Sexy + 17]]".<ref name="Erlewine" />

The Stray Cats disbanded in 1984, though they occasionally reunited, recorded, and toured. After recording three albums with different producers, they returned to Dave Edmunds for ''[[Choo Choo Hot Fish]]'' (1992).<ref name="Erlewine" />

===Solo career/The Brian Setzer Orchestra===
After the Stray Cats disbanded in 1984, Setzer began a solo career that included working as a sideman for other acts, such as [[the Honeydrippers]] led by [[Robert Plant]].<ref name="Erlewine" /> On his first solo album, ''[[The Knife Feels Like Justice]]'' (EMI, 1986), he turned away from rockabilly and moved toward rhythm and blues ([[rhythm and blues|R&B]]) and the [[heartland rock]] of [[John Mellencamp]]. The album was produced by [[Don Gehman]] and featured [[Kenny Aronoff]] on drums. Both men had worked on albums by Mellencamp.<ref name="Deming">{{cite web |last1=Deming |first1=Mark |title=The Knife Feels Like Justice |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-knife-feels-like-justice-mw0000201051|website=AllMusic|access-date=11 February 2017}}</ref> His second studio album ''Live Nude Guitars'' followed in 1988. While this album retained some heartland rock elements, it found Setzer moving in more of a straight-ahead [[blues rock]] direction, comparable to [[George Thorogood]]'s style; Setzer served as co-producer along with Larson Paine, [[Chris Thomas (record producer)|Chris Thomas]] and [[David A. Stewart]].  He went on tour with Thorogood later that year.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13134930/george-thorogood-brian-setzer-july/ King, Louise (1988).  "Thorogood Hits Stage with Hard-Driving Show" ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', 22 July 1988.] Retrieved January 30, 2022.</ref>

Setzer returned to his love of music from the 1950s, this time the [[jump blues]] of [[Louis Prima]]. Whereas he had resurrected rockabilly in the 1980s, he resuscitated [[swing music|swing]] in the 1990s. He assembled [[the Brian Setzer Orchestra]], a seventeen-piece big band that got the public's attention with a cover version of Prima's "[[Jump, Jive an' Wail]]" from the album ''[[The Dirty Boogie]]'' ([[Interscope Records|Interscope]], 1998).<ref name="Erlewine" /> The song won the [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]], while "[[Sleep Walk]]" from the same album won the Grammy for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance|Best Pop Instrumental Performance]].<ref name="Boogie awards">{{cite web|title=The Dirty Boogie |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-dirty-boogie-mw0000039465/awards |website=AllMusic|access-date=11 February 2017}}</ref>

The album ''[[Wolfgang's Big Night Out]]'' (2007) featured Setzer's interpretation of classical pieces, such as Beethoven's "[[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Symphony No. 5]]" and "[[Für Elise]]". ''Wolfgang'' earned Setzer his eighth Grammy nomination, this time for [[Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album|Best Classical Crossover Album]].

He executive produced the album ''[[Ready, Steady, Go! (album)|Ready Steady Go!]]'' ([[Surfdog Records|Surfdog]], 2014) by [[Drake Bell]] and played guitar on two songs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lipshultz |first1=Jason |title=Drake Bell Talks 'Ready Steady Go!' Album: Exclusive Behind-The-Scenes Video |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/drake-bell-talks-ready-steady-go-album-exclusive-behind-the-scenes-5922973/ |website=Billboard.com|publisher=Billboard|access-date=2 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901005114/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/5922973/drake-bell-talks-ready-steady-go-album-exclusive-behind-the-scenes |archive-date=1 September 2014|url-status=live |date=28 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="Drake Bell Guitar World Interview">{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=James |title=Actor/Musician Drake Bell Discusses 'Ready Steady Go!,' His New Album with Brian Setzer |url=http://www.guitarworld.com/actormusician-drake-bell-discusses-ready-steady-go-his-new-album-brian-setzer |website=GuitarWorld.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006123758/http://www.guitarworld.com/actormusician-drake-bell-discusses-ready-steady-go-his-new-album-brian-setzer|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>

On June 25, 2021, Setzer announced a new solo album, his first in 7 years, titled ''Gotta Have the Rumble''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Price|first=Jason|date=2021-06-25|title=BRIAN SETZER To Release 'Gotta Have The Rumble' Album On August 27th!|url=https://www.iconvsicon.com/2021/06/25/brian-setzer-to-release-gotta-have-the-rumble-album-on-august-27th/|access-date=2021-06-27|website=Iconvsicon.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Setzer has been married 
three times, first to DeAnna Madsen with whom he has one son, second to  Christine Schmidt with whom he has two children, and most recently in 2005 to Julie Reiten, a former singer with the Dustbunnies. He lives in [[Minneapolis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628210140/http://www.startribune.com/457/story/467710.html|url-status=dead|title=The latest from the StarTribune|archive-date=June 28, 2006|website=Star Tribune}}</ref>

In February 2025, Setzer shared that he has an [[autoimmune disease]] which prevents him from playing guitar.<ref>{{cite web |last=Respers France |first=Lisa |date=February 18, 2025 |title=Brian Setzer says he can no longer play guitar due to an autoimmune disease |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/18/entertainment/brian-setzer-autoimmune-disease/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=February 19, 2025|quote=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.}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
* Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award, 1999
* [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]], "[[Jump, Jive an' Wail]]", 1998
* [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance]], "[[Sleep Walk]]" and "[[Caravan (1937 song)|Caravan]]"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gretschguitars.com/blog/artists-blogs/brian-setzer-earns-grammy-nod/ |title=Home - Gretsch Guitars Blog |website=Gretschguitars.com|access-date=9 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713073648/http://www.gretschguitars.com/blog/artists-blogs/brian-setzer-earns-grammy-nod/ |archive-date=13 July 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards |title=Awards |date=30 April 2017 |website=Grammy.com |access-date=9 November 2017}}</ref>
* Long Island Music Hall of Fame, 2015

==Discography==

===Solo===
* ''[[The Knife Feels Like Justice]]'' (EMI, 1986)
* ''Live Nude Guitars'' (EMI, 1988)
* ''Rockin' by Myself'' (InsideOut [Japan], 1993)
* ''[[Ignition!]]'' (Surfdog, 2001)
* ''[[Nitro Burnin' Funny Daddy]]'' (Surfdog, 2003)
* ''Rockabilly Riot Vol. 1: A Tribute to Sun Records'' (Surfdog, 2005)
* ''[[13 (Brian Setzer album)|13]]'' (Surfdog, 2006)
* ''Red Hot & Live'' (Surfdog, 2007)
* ''[[Setzer Goes Instru-Mental!]]'' (Surfdog, 2011)
* ''Rockabilly Riot! Live from the Planet'' (Surfdog, 2012)
* ''[[Rockabilly Riot! All Original]]'' (Surfdog, 2014)<ref name="AM discog">{{cite web |title=Brian Setzer {{!}} Album Discography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-setzer-mn0000519637/discography |website=AllMusic |access-date=24 February 2019 }}</ref>
* ''Gotta Have the Rumble'' (Surfdog, 2021)
* ''The Devil Always Collects'' (Surfdog, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wdrv.com/brian-setzer-to-release-new-solo-album-the-devil-always-collects-in-september/|title=Brian Setzer to release new solo album, 'The Devil Always Collects,' in September – 97.1fm The Drive – WDRV Chicago|date=21 July 2023|website=Wdrv.com|access-date=15 September 2023}}</ref>

'''The Brian Setzer Orchestra'''
{{main|The Brian Setzer Orchestra}}
* ''[[The Brian Setzer Orchestra (album)|The Brian Setzer Orchestra]]'' ([[Hollywood Records|Hollywood]], 1994)
* ''[[Guitar Slinger (The Brian Setzer Orchestra album)|Guitar Slinger]]'' (Interscope, 1996)
* ''[[The Dirty Boogie]]'' (Interscope, 1998)
* ''[[Vavoom!]]'' (Interscope, 2000)
* ''[[Jumpin' East of Java]]'' (Toy's Factory, 2001)
* ''[[Boogie Woogie Christmas]]'' (Surfdog, 2002)
* ''[[Dig That Crazy Christmas]]'' (Surfdog, 2005)
* ''[[Wolfgang's Big Night Out]]'' (Surfdog, 2007)
* ''[[Songs from Lonely Avenue]]'' (Surfdog, 2009)
* ''Christmas Comes Alive'' (Surfdog, 2010)
* ''[[Rockin' Rudolph]]'' (Surfdog, 2015)<ref name="AM discog" />

===As member===
'''Bloodless Pharaohs'''

* ''Marty Thau Presents 12 x 5'' (Red Star, 1980) on two tracks
* ''Brian Setzer and the Bloodless Pharaohs'' (Collectables, 1996)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rocky-52.net/chanteurss/setzer_b.htm |title=Brian Setzer |publisher=Rocky-52.net |date=2009-10-13 |access-date=2010-06-09}}</ref>

'''Stray Cats'''
{{main|Stray Cats}}
* ''[[Stray Cats (album)|Stray Cats]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Gonna Ball]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Built for Speed (Stray Cats album)|Built for Speed]]'' (1982) 
* ''[[Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats]]'' (1983)
* ''Rock Therapy'' (1986)
* ''Blast Off!'' (1989)
* ''Let's Go Faster!'' (1990)
* ''The Best of the Stray Cats: Rock This Town'' (1990)
* ''[[Choo Choo Hot Fish]]'' (1992)
* ''Original Cool'' (1993)
* ''Rumble in Brixton'' (2004)
* ''40'' (2019)

===As guest===
* ''[[Come Out and Play (Twisted Sister album)|Come Out and Play]]'', [[Twisted Sister]] (1985)
* ''Deep in the Heart of Nowhere'', [[Bob Geldof]] (1986)
* ''Sentimental Hygiene'', [[Warren Zevon]] (1987)
* ''Closer to the Flame'', [[Dave Edmunds]] (1989)
* ''[[Two Fires]]'', [[Jimmy Barnes]] (1990)
* ''Traffic from Paradise'', [[Rickie Lee Jones]] (1993)
* ''[[Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters]]'', [[Paul Rodgers]]  (1993)
* ''La Bamba'', [[Los Lobos]] (1993)
* ''Toolin' Around'', [[Arlen Roth]] (1993)
* ''Bug Alley'', [[Gary Hoey]] (1996)
* ''[[Cheating at Solitaire]]'', [[Mike Ness]]  (1999)
* ''Beatin' the Heat'', [[Dan Hicks (singer)|Dan Hicks]] (2000)
* ''Ghost on the Canvas'', [[Glen Campbell]] (2011)
* ''Step Back'', [[Johnny Winter]] (2014)
* ''Ready Steady Go!'', [[Drake Bell]] (2014)<ref name="AM credits">{{cite web |title=Brian Setzer {{!}} Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-setzer-mn0000519637/credits |website=AllMusic |access-date=24 February 2019 |language=en-us}}</ref>
* "Uptown Number 7", [[Dion DiMucci|Dion]] from ''[[Joe Bonamassa#Keeping the Blues Alive Records|Blues with Friends]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dions-hymn-to-him-bruce-springsteen-patti-scialfa-992493/|title=Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa Guest on Dion's 'Hymn to Him'|first=Andy|last=Greene|website=Rollingstone.com|date=1 May 2020|access-date=15 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dion-mn0000265456/biography|title=Dion Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=15 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bestclassicbands.com/dion-2020-album-blues-with-friends-5-30-20/|title=Dion's 'Blues With Friends' Album, With Legends: Listen|website=Bestclassicbands.com|date=30 May 2020|access-date=15 September 2023}}</ref> (2020)

==DVDs==
* ''Brian Setzer Orchestra Live in Japan'' (2001)
* ''Rumble in Brixton'' (2004)
* ''Brian Setzer Orchestra Live: Christmas Extravaganza'' (2005)
* ''One Rockin' Night ('95)'' (2007)
* ''Live in Montreal Jazz Festival'' (2010)
* ''Rockabilly Riot! Osaka Rocka Live in Japan'' (2016)
* ''Brian Setzer Orchestra Live: Christmas Rocks!'' (2018)

==Musical equipment==
Brian Setzer has a very large guitar collection which spans many decades and brands. He favours vintage equipment<ref>{{Cite web| url= https://www.halleonard.com/fpc/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207090513/http://www.fenderplayersclub.com/artists_lounge/featured_artists/setzer.htm|url-status=dead|title=Fender Players Club|archive-date=February 7, 2009| website=Halleonard.com}}</ref> and hollow body guitars,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/0541985/details.html |title= Brian Setzer: Effects Pedals |work= Musicroom.com |access-date= 2010-03-16 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716111304/http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/0541985/details.html |archive-date= 2011-07-16 |url-status= dead }}</ref> and currently endorses [[Gretsch]] guitars.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.gretschguitars.com/briansetzer/index.html |title=Gretsch Guitars and Basses |publisher=Gretschguitars.com |access-date=2010-03-16 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100102053532/http://www.gretschguitars.com/briansetzer/index.html |archive-date=January 2, 2010 }}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Vintage guitars:'''

* [[D'Angelico]] Excel - 1938
* D'Angelico New Yorker - 1940
* [[C. F. Martin & Company|Martin]] Model D-28 Acoustic - 1956
* [[Fender Stratocaster]] Turquoise - 1957
* [[Guild Guitar Company|Guild]] Bluesbird - 1959
* [[Gretsch]] Model 6130 Round Up - 1955
* Gretsch Model 6128 Black Duo Jet - 1958
* Gretsch Model 6136 White Falcon - 1957
* Gretsch Model 6129 Silver Jet - No Pickguard - 1957
* Gretsch Model 6129 Silver Jet - White Pickguard - 1957
* Gretsch Model 6136 White Falcon - 1957
* Gretsch Model 6129 Silver Jet - Black Pickguard - 1958
* Gretsch Model 6120 "Stray Cat" - 1959
* Gretsch Model 6120 Chet Atkins - 1959
* Gretsch Model 6119 "Christmas Custom" - 1959
* Gretsch Model 6119 Blue Sparkle Jet - 1959
* Gretsch Model 6120 - 1960
* Gretsch Model 6119 - 1960
* [[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson]] Firebird V - 1964
{{col-2}}
'''Signature guitars:'''

* Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Signature Prototype
* Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom Purple
* Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Pinstripe"
* Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Spotty"
* Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Sparkle Red"
* Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Sparkle Blue"
* Gretsch Model 6120 SSLVO Brian Setzer Signature
* Gretsch Model 6120 SSL Brian Setzer Signature
* Gretsch Model 6120 SSU Brian Setzer Signature
* Gretsch Model 6120 SSUGR Brian Setzer Signature
* Gretsch Model 6136SLBP Brian Setzer Black Phoenix
* [[Independent music|Indie]] Model With White GT Stripes

'''Other guitars:'''
* [[Bigsby vibrato tailpiece|Bigsby]] Custom - 2003
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://briansetzer.com}}
* {{IMDb name|0005410}}
*[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/brian-setzer Brian Setzer Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Library]] (2016)
{{Brian Setzer}}
{{The Brian Setzer Orchestra}}
{{Stray Cats}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Setzer, Brian}}
[[Category:Brian Setzer| ]]
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:American bandleaders]]
[[Category:American blues guitarists]]
[[Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American rockabilly guitarists]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:American rockabilly musicians]]
[[Category:American rock singers]]
[[Category:Dead Men Walking members]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Guitarists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Massapequa High School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Massapequa, New York]]
[[Category:People from Oyster Bay (town), New York]]
[[Category:Singers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Stray Cats members]]
[[Category:Swing revival musicians]]
[[Category:Swing singers]]
[[Category:The Honeydrippers members]]