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Brian Setzer

Brian Setzer (born April 10, 1959) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter renowned for pioneering the neo-rockabilly revival as the founder and frontman of the Stray Cats, as well as for blending rockabilly with big-band swing through his Brian Setzer Orchestra. A three-time Grammy Award winner, Setzer has sold more than 13 million records worldwide and is celebrated for his virtuosic guitar playing, innovative fusion of genres like doo-wop, punk, and jump blues, and signature use of Gretsch guitars. Born in New York City and raised in Massapequa, Long Island, Setzer began his musical journey in school jazz bands playing the euphonium before transitioning to guitar and immersing himself in blues, punk, and 1950s rockabilly influences. In 1979, at age 20, he co-founded the Stray Cats with bassist Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in Massapequa, drawing inspiration from pioneers like Eddie Cochran and Carl Perkins to create a raw, pompadour-styled rockabilly sound amid the punk scene. The band relocated to London in 1980, where they signed with Arista Records and achieved international success with hits like "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut," selling millions of albums and headlining events such as the 1983 US Festival. After the Stray Cats' initial disbandment in 1984, Setzer pursued solo projects and acted in films, notably portraying rockabilly legend Eddie Cochran in the 1987 biopic La Bamba. He reformed the Stray Cats periodically for tours and albums, including a 1986 reunion and a 2020 live album titled Rocked This Town: From LA to London, while establishing himself as a solo artist with releases blending rockabilly, surf, and country elements. In 2025, the Stray Cats released two new singles, "Stampede" and "Teenage Heaven", but canceled their fall U.S. tour due to Setzer's serious illness. In 1992, Setzer launched the 16-piece Brian Setzer Orchestra, reviving 1940s swing and jump blues with a rock edge, which propelled him to further acclaim through albums like The Dirty Boogie (1998) and Vavoom! (2000). Setzer's Grammy wins include two in 1999 for "Jump, Jive an' Wail" (Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals) and "Sleepwalk" (Best Pop Instrumental Performance), plus one in 2001 for "Caravan" (Best Pop Instrumental Performance) from Vavoom!, alongside 12 nominations overall. His contributions have earned him induction into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for Guitar, as well as a 2014 donation of a custom guitar to the Smithsonian Institution. Setzer has performed at prestigious venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Montreal International Jazz Festival, and the White House in 2006, and he inducted Chet Atkins into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Additionally, his cultural impact extends to television, including a guest appearance on The Simpsons in 2002.

Early life

Childhood and upbringing

Brian Setzer was born on April 10, 1959, in New York City. He was raised in the suburban town of Massapequa on Long Island, New York, where he grew up in a blue-collar family environment. Setzer had a brother, Gary Setzer, who played drums and provided early exposure to music through their shared interest in performing together in local groups during their youth. He attended local schools in Massapequa, where he participated in the school band, initially learning the euphonium—a brass instrument similar to a small tuba—for a brief period before finding it unappealing. At around age eight, Setzer switched to guitar after receiving his first one, teaching himself to play without formal lessons initially, though he later studied with a local instructor. As a teenager, Setzer became fascinated with 1950s Americana, including hot rods, classic cars, and the associated rebellious style, which began shaping his personal aesthetic and would inform his later musical pursuits.

Musical beginnings

Setzer began his musical journey on the euphonium at a young age, influenced by his family's modest circumstances, before transitioning to guitar around age eight. Unable to afford formal guitar lessons, he taught himself to play, drawing inspiration from 1950s rock 'n' roll records that his father brought home, including Gene Vincent's "Be-Bop-A-Lula," which ignited his passion for the genre. During high school in Massapequa, Long Island, Setzer formed his first bands, experimenting with garage rock sounds influenced by New York proto-punk acts like the New York Dolls, the Ramones, and the Dictators. These early groups performed locally, honing his skills as a guitarist and performer amid the emerging punk scene. In 1976, Setzer joined Bloodless Pharaohs, a punk- and new wave-influenced band featuring his brother Gary on drums, which marked his entry into the vibrant New York City club circuit, including venues like CBGB and Max's Kansas City. Active through 1979, the group played edgy, avant-garde sets but achieved no commercial breakthrough. By the late 1970s, Setzer shifted toward a rockabilly sound, forming The Tomcats in 1977 with his brother Gary on drums and Bob Beecher on bass. The band incorporated retro elements like slap bass techniques and stand-up drumming styles into performances during early gigs across Long Island and NYC venues. These shows built a dedicated local following, though they remained without wider success.

Career

Stray Cats era

Brian Setzer formed the Stray Cats in 1979 in Massapequa, New York, alongside bassist Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker) and drummer Slim Jim Phantom (born James McDonnell), all of whom were teenagers emerging from the local punk rock scene. Influenced by 1950s rockabilly but infusing it with punk's raw energy and attitude, the trio adopted a distinctive retro style featuring Setzer's Gretsch guitar riffs, Rocker's slap bass, and Phantom's standing drum kit, setting them apart from contemporary new wave and post-punk acts. They honed their sound playing small clubs on Long Island, quickly gaining a cult following for reviving the energetic, grease-and-leather aesthetic of early rock 'n' roll pioneers like Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent. Seeking greater opportunities amid the stagnant U.S. music scene, the band relocated to London in the summer of 1980, where the burgeoning rockabilly revival aligned with the city's punk and mod subcultures. There, they attracted attention from major labels, ultimately signing with Arista Records for international distribution outside North America. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1981 and produced by Dave Edmunds, captured their high-octane live energy and peaked at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart, while singles like "Rock This Town" reached No. 9 and "Stray Cat Strut" hit No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart, marking their breakthrough in Europe. The album's success, driven by the band's authentic nod to 1950s roots with modern flair, helped spark a broader neo-rockabilly movement in the UK. Returning to the U.S. in 1981, the Stray Cats faced initial skepticism but achieved a major breakthrough in 1982 with the compilation album Built for Speed, released by EMI America, which combined tracks from their UK releases and new material. Heavy rotation of their videos on MTV propelled "Rock This Town" to No. 9 and "Stray Cat Strut" to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, with the album selling more than one million copies and earning platinum certification from the RIAA. Key live performances amplified their rise, including opening for the Rolling Stones on three dates of the band's 1981 U.S. tour, where Setzer's dynamic guitar work and the group's charismatic stage presence won over audiences and industry figures like Keith Richards. The band's momentum continued with their third Arista album, Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats (1983), but internal tensions—particularly Setzer's desire to explore beyond rockabilly—led to their first breakup in late 1984 after three studio albums and extensive touring. Despite the split, the Stray Cats' era cemented their role in culturally reviving 1950s rockabilly for a new generation, influencing fashion, music videos, and subsequent revival acts by blending vintage authenticity with 1980s accessibility.

Solo and orchestral work

Following the breakup of the Stray Cats, Brian Setzer launched his solo career with the album The Knife Feels Like Justice, released in 1986 on EMI America Records. This debut explored roots rock and blues influences, featuring guitar-driven tracks with country-tinged lines and a focus on Americana songwriting. In 1992, Setzer formed the Brian Setzer Orchestra, a 16- to 19-piece big band that revived jump blues and swing styles through energetic arrangements blending his rockabilly roots with orchestral swing. The ensemble debuted live at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, marking Setzer's shift toward larger-scale performances. The orchestra achieved a major breakthrough with the 1998 album The Dirty Boogie, highlighted by the single "Jump, Jive an' Wail," a cover of Louis Prima's 1950s hit that peaked at No. 94 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 12 weeks on the chart. The track earned Setzer a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1999, while the album reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200. Follow-up releases included Vavoom! in 2000, which continued the fusion of swing revival and rock elements with tracks like "Gettin' in the Mood." In the mid-2000s, Setzer released the solo album 13 in 2006 on Surfdog Records, a collection of instrumental guitar pieces drawing from rockabilly and blues traditions. He also contributed to film soundtracks, including a cover of "Summertime Blues" for the 1987 biopic La Bamba, where he portrayed Eddie Cochran. The orchestra's live presence grew through extensive tours, emphasizing high-energy swing performances. Setzer expanded the orchestra's repertoire with holiday-themed albums, beginning with Boogie Woogie Christmas in 2002 on Surfdog Records, which fused rockabilly riffs with festive swing arrangements of classics like "Jingle Bells." This led to annual "Christmas Rocks!" tours, featuring orchestral renditions that combined upbeat holiday tunes with Setzer's signature guitar work.

Reunions and recent projects

The Stray Cats reunited in 1986 following their initial breakup, releasing albums such as Rock Therapy and touring extensively until 1992. In 2004, the band reassembled for a European tour commemorating their legacy, resulting in the live album Rumble in Brixton, recorded at London's Brixton Academy and featuring a new studio track, "Mystery Train Kept A-Rollin'." The group marked their 40th anniversary with another reunion in 2018-2019, producing their first studio album in 26 years, 40, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart, and embarking on a worldwide tour that included sold-out shows across North America and Europe. Building on this momentum, the Stray Cats announced a 2024 summer U.S. tour in March, with dates spanning from Washington state to Massachusetts, emphasizing their enduring rockabilly sound. In 2021, Setzer released his solo album Gotta Have the Rumble, his first since 2016, comprising 11 original instrumental tracks that revived classic rockabilly energy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, plans for a Stray Cats fall 2025 tour were canceled in October following the opening show's postponement, due to Setzer's February 2025 diagnosis of an autoimmune disease that severely impaired his ability to play guitar, as detailed in his personal health updates. Among other recent endeavors, Setzer's label reissued the Brian Setzer Orchestra's breakthrough 1998 album The Dirty Boogie in December 2024 as a limited-edition 180-gram colored vinyl, remastered for the first time on the format to celebrate its platinum-certified swing-rockabilly fusion. Additionally, Setzer made guest appearances at rockabilly revival events in 2024, including performances honoring influences like Eddie Cochran during his Rockabilly Riot! solo tour.

Personal life

Family and marriages

Brian Setzer has been married three times. His first marriage was to DeAnna Madsen in 1984, which ended in divorce in 1992; the couple has one son, Cody Setzer, born in 1983, who has pursued a career in music, including releases documented in music databases. Setzer's second marriage was to Christine Schmidt in September 1994, ending in divorce in 2002; they have two children together, including a daughter born in 1997. In 2005, Setzer married Julie Reiten, a singer from Minnesota, and the couple remains together as of 2025, marking their 20th anniversary that year. Setzer and Reiten relocated from Los Angeles to the Minneapolis area in 2005, seeking a quieter life away from the music industry scene and closer to her family for greater stability. Setzer maintains a low-profile family life, with occasional public appearances alongside Reiten, such as celebrations of their marriage milestones, while prioritizing privacy amid his career demands.

Health issues

In February 2025, Brian Setzer publicly announced his diagnosis with an unspecified autoimmune disease that primarily affects his hands, temporarily preventing him from playing guitar. The condition involves nerve damage and significant loss of hand mobility, which Setzer described as feeling like wearing a pair of boxing gloves, without associated pain. This health challenge marked Setzer's first major public disclosure of a medical issue throughout his career. The symptoms led to the cancellation of the Stray Cats' planned fall 2025 U.S. tour in October, as Setzer was unable to perform. Setzer has been receiving ongoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic, where he has reported gradual improvements in basic motor functions, such as holding a pen and tying shoelaces. In a March 2025 update, he shared that his recovery progress was excellent and that he was improving day by day through continued care. Throughout his statements to fans, Setzer has emphasized his resilience, asserting that he will overcome the condition with time and medical support.

Musical style and influences

Genre development

Brian Setzer's early work with the Stray Cats in the late 1970s and early 1980s pioneered the neo-rockabilly subgenre by injecting punk rock's raw energy and attitude into the foundational 1950s rockabilly sound of artists like Eddie Cochran. This fusion, characterized by faster tempos, aggressive guitar riffs, and slap bass techniques, distinguished the band from traditional revivalists and helped propel rockabilly back into mainstream popularity during the post-punk era. Setzer's Gretsch-driven style emphasized high-octane rhythms and a retro-modern hybrid that resonated with both punk and roots audiences, establishing a blueprint for subsequent neo-rockabilly acts. Transitioning to solo endeavors in the mid-1980s, Setzer shifted toward roots rock, exploring broader Americana influences while retaining his rockabilly core, as evident in his 1986 debut album The Knife Feels Like Justice. This period marked a maturation in his songwriting, incorporating heartland rock elements with introspective lyrics and guitar work that bridged punk's edge to more polished, radio-friendly arrangements. By the early 1990s, Setzer launched the 16-piece Brian Setzer Orchestra, revitalizing big band swing through a fusion of jump blues, jazz orchestration, and his signature rockabilly drive, as showcased on the 1994 self-titled album. This innovative blend propelled the swing revival movement, with tracks like "Jump Jive an' Wail" earning a Grammy and introducing orchestral energy to contemporary audiences. From the 2000s onward, Setzer integrated holiday themes into his repertoire, merging festive standards with rockabilly vigor in albums such as Boogie Woogie Christmas (2002) and Dig That Crazy Christmas (2005), creating a subgenre of upbeat, swing-infused yuletide music. Later works increasingly emphasized instrumental compositions, highlighting Setzer's guitar virtuosity through intricate solos and genre-blending arrangements, as in the all-instrumental Setzer Goes Instru-MENTAL! (2011), which drew from bluegrass, jazz, and rock roots. Throughout his career, Setzer's genre development has been defined by high-energy live performances that amplify his retro-modern hybrid, often featuring synergistic slap bass interplay that underscores the rhythmic punch of his ensembles.

Key influences

Setzer's foundational influences stem from the 1950s rockabilly pioneers, whose raw guitar tones and rebellious attitudes profoundly shaped his playing style and stage presence. He has frequently cited Gene Vincent and his guitarist Cliff Gallup as key inspirations for achieving that signature aggressive, slinging guitar sound, evident in Setzer's adoption of similar tonal aggression and rhythmic drive. Eddie Cochran's energetic riffs and nonchalant cool further influenced Setzer's approach to blending speed with swagger, while Elvis Presley's Scotty Moore provided a model for clean yet potent lead lines that defined early rockabilly attitude. These elements collectively informed Setzer's commitment to reviving the genre's visceral energy. Complementing his rockabilly base, Setzer drew from blues and jazz roots, particularly the jump blues phrasing of Louis Prima and Big Joe Turner, which infused his music with swinging rhythms and improvisational flair. Prima's lively ensemble dynamics and Turner's powerful vocal delivery inspired Setzer to explore big-band arrangements that merged upbeat swing with rock elements, creating a hybrid sound that revitalized forgotten styles. In his early career, Setzer incorporated a punk rock edge, absorbing the raw energy from the New York punk scene, which added urgency and minimalism to his rockabilly revival. This punk infusion paralleled the high-octane attitude of the era's punk bands, allowing Setzer to inject contemporary rebellion into vintage forms without diluting their essence. Beyond music, 1950s hot rod culture captivated Setzer, inspiring the visual aesthetics and thematic motifs in his performances, such as customized vehicles and grease-themed imagery that evoked the era's custom car enthusiasm. Setzer's technical prowess on guitar was honed by heroes like Chet Atkins and Duane Eddy, whose picking techniques and innovative reverb applications became cornerstones of his style. Atkins' precise fingerpicking and clean country phrasing influenced Setzer's melodic solos, while Eddy's twangy, echo-laden bass strings guided his use of space and sustain to build tension in rockabilly contexts.

Equipment

Guitars

Brian Setzer is renowned for his association with Gretsch guitars, particularly the hollow-body models that define his rockabilly sound through their distinctive twang and projection. His most iconic instrument is a 1959 Gretsch 6120, a white hollow-body model originally designed in the 1950s as the "Chet Atkins" signature, which he acquired in the late 1970s and has used extensively since the Stray Cats era. This guitar's semi-hollow construction and Filter'Tron pickups provide the bright, resonant tone central to Setzer's style, enabling the sharp attacks and sustained notes characteristic of his playing. In 1999, Gretsch introduced the G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature "Hot Rod," a modern hollow-body guitar tailored to his specifications, featuring a single-cutaway arched maple body with 1959-style trestle bracing, oversized F-holes for enhanced projection, TV Jones Filter'Tron pickups, and a Bigsby B7 vibrato tailpiece. The model offers custom finishes such as Candy Magenta or Extreme Coolant Green, along with a trestle-braced design that balances acoustic snap with electric clarity, making it a staple in Setzer's live and studio performances. Prior to fully embracing the Gretsch sound, Setzer experimented with other guitars during his formative years. In his early punk-influenced phase with bands like the Bloodless Pharaohs, he played a modified Fender Stratocaster for its versatile, edgy tone suitable to the genre's raw energy. During his solo career, Setzer incorporated solid-body instruments such as the Gibson Les Paul, using them to explore broader rock and blues textures beyond rockabilly roots. Setzer maintains an extensive collection of vintage and custom guitars, highlighted by a September 2025 sale on Reverb where he offered stage-played instruments, including multiple Gretsch 6120 models and prototypes from his career. These pieces, many bearing the wear of decades of touring, underscore his deep connection to guitar craftsmanship and history. Setzer frequently modifies his instruments for optimal performance, installing TV Jones pickups—such as his signature models—in place of stock units to achieve greater clarity, punch, and sustain while preserving the vintage Gretsch timbre. He also incorporates hardware tweaks like custom bridges and tuners to enhance string response and tonal balance, contributing to the slap-back echo effects integral to his recordings when paired with appropriate amplification.

Amplifiers and effects

Brian Setzer's amplifier setup revolves around early 1960s Fender Bassman heads, particularly the 6G6-B brownface models from 1961 to 1963, valued for their clean headroom and natural overdrive that define his rockabilly tone. These heads are typically paired with closed-back 2x12 cabinets loaded with Oxford 12-inch speakers or Celestion Vintage 30s to ensure consistent power handling and tonal clarity during performances. Central to his effects chain is the Roland RE-201 Space Echo, a 1970s tape delay unit providing the signature slap-back echo essential to rockabilly's rhythmic drive and spatial depth. Setzer has incorporated this model, including rare prototypes, into his live rigs for decades, often routing it directly after the guitar for immediate analog warmth and repeat modulation. He also employs the Roland RE-301 Chorus Echo for similar tape-based delay with added modulation, enhancing versatility in both live and studio contexts. Setzer maintains a minimalist pedalboard, occasionally using pedals like the Boss DM-2 analog delay for precise slap-back timing in early recordings and the Boss TR-2 Tremolo for subtle pulsing effects in recent setups. His live rig has evolved to prioritize reliability, with blackface-era Bassmans integrated since the 1980s for their robust dynamics, and a rotation of multiple heads—including up to three Fender Bassmans—ensuring seamless switches during tours as detailed in his 2023 rig overview. For recording, he incorporates modern interfaces like Universal Audio models to capture his analog signal with high-fidelity digital conversion.

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards

Brian Setzer has received three Grammy Awards and a total of twelve nominations across his career. At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in 1999, Setzer secured two victories with the Brian Setzer Orchestra: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Jump, Jive an' Wail" from the album The Dirty Boogie, and Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Sleepwalk" from the same album. These wins, occurring during the height of the late-1990s swing revival, underscored Setzer's innovative fusion of rockabilly and big band swing. His third win came at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2001 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance with "Caravan," featured on the album Vavoom!. This recognition further highlighted Setzer's prowess in instrumental arrangements blending jazz standards with his signature guitar style. Setzer's Grammy wins elevated the profile of the Brian Setzer Orchestra, contributing to its commercial momentum and the subsequent popularity of his holiday album series, such as Boogie Woogie Christmas (2002). Among his twelve nominations, key examples include the 1999 nomination for Best Pop Album for The Dirty Boogie, the 2007 nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "My Favorite Things" from Dig That Crazy Christmas, and the 2011 nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Sleepwalk" (a re-recorded version). These accolades reflect Setzer's consistent influence in pop and instrumental categories over two decades.

Other accolades

In 1999, Setzer received the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gibson Guitar Corporation for his excellence in guitar playing and contributions to music. In 2018, he was honored with the Master Award at the Ameripolitan Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee, recognizing his enduring contributions to rockabilly and roots music. Setzer was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006 (alongside the Stray Cats) and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 2014, he donated a custom orange Gretsch 6120 guitar to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Setzer has achieved significant commercial success, selling over 13 million records worldwide across his solo work, Stray Cats, and Brian Setzer Orchestra projects, with chart-topping hits spanning multiple decades including the 1980s and 1990s. He has been recognized by leading music publications such as Guitar World and Rolling Stone as an influential guitarist, with features highlighting his innovative rockabilly style and technical prowess.

Discography

Solo releases

Brian Setzer's solo discography encompasses a series of studio albums, live recordings, and compilations that highlight his evolution from roots rock to rockabilly and instrumental explorations, distinct from his work with Stray Cats and the Brian Setzer Orchestra. These releases showcase his songwriting, guitar prowess, and genre-blending style, often drawing on 1950s influences while incorporating modern production. His debut solo album, The Knife Feels Like Justice, was released in 1986 by EMI America Records. The record represented a departure from the rockabilly sound of Stray Cats toward a broader roots rock approach, featuring emotive tracks with pop sensibilities and Setzer's signature guitar work. Key singles included "Cryin' on You" and "Three Time's a Lady." Setzer followed with Live Nude Guitars in 1988 (EMI America Records), a live album capturing his guitar-focused performances blending rockabilly and blues. In 1993, he released Rockin' by Myself (InsideOut Records, Japan-only initially), featuring acoustic and electric interpretations of rockabilly classics. Setzer's 2001 album Ignition! (Surfdog Records) marked a return to high-energy rockabilly with tracks like "Drive Like Lightning (Crash Like Thunder).") Setzer's 2006 release, 13, arrived via Surfdog Records as his thirteenth overall album, comprising 13 original tracks with a raw, stripped-down rock and roll vibe. Recorded primarily with bass and drums, the album reflected a return to basics, blending rockabilly riffs with introspective themes and showcasing Setzer's versatile songcraft. The 2007 live album Red Hot & Live! (Surfdog Records), featuring Setzer with the Nashvillains, captured performances from various venues, including the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. This audio release highlighted high-energy renditions of classics and originals, emphasizing Setzer's live guitar dynamics and rockabilly roots in a raw, unpolished format. In 2021, Surfdog Records released Gotta Have the Rumble, marking his return after a seven-year hiatus from solo studio work. This instrumental rockabilly collection featured 11 original compositions, emphasizing twangy guitar leads, upbeat rhythms, and nods to 1950s hot rod culture, produced by Julian Raymond in Minneapolis and Nashville. Setzer's most recent solo album, The Devil Always Collects (2023, Surfdog Records), features 11 tracks of rockabilly with virtuosic guitar and clever songwriting.

Stray Cats and band albums

The Stray Cats, formed in 1979 by Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker, and Slim Jim Phantom, released their self-titled debut album in 1981 on Arista Records, marking their breakthrough in the UK with rockabilly tracks like "Runaway Boys" and "Rock This Town." Later that year, they issued the live album Gonna Ball, capturing early performances that showcased their raw energy and slap-bass-driven sound. The band's reunion in 2003-2004 led to the live recording Rumble in Brixton, released in November 2004 via Surfdog Records, which documented a high-energy concert at London's Brixton Academy and revitalized their catalog with reinterpreted classics. Their most recent studio effort, 40, arrived in 2019, celebrating four decades of the band with a mix of originals and covers that paid homage to their rockabilly roots. Shifting to larger ensemble work, Setzer formed the Brian Setzer Orchestra in 1992, debuting with the self-titled album The Brian Setzer Orchestra in 1994 on Hollywood Records, blending swing revival with rockabilly on tracks like "Take the 5th." In 1996, the Orchestra released Guitar Slinger (Interscope Records), fusing rockabilly with swing and jump blues elements in a compact big band format. The ensemble's commercial peak came with The Dirty Boogie in 1998, featuring swing-infused covers such as "Jump Jive an' Wail," which earned Grammy nominations and topped jazz charts. This album saw a limited-edition 180-gram colored vinyl reissue in December 2024 via Deko Entertainment, remastered for the first time since its original release. The Orchestra's holiday output forms a notable series, beginning with Boogie Woogie Christmas in 2002 on Surfdog Records, which fused big-band arrangements with festive rockabilly standards like "Jingle Bells" and "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus." Follow-ups included Dig That Crazy Christmas (2005), Christmas Comes Alive! (2010, a live recording), Ultimate Christmas (2015), a compilation drawing from prior releases, and Christmas Rocks! The Best of Collection (2008), combining highlights from earlier holiday albums with unreleased tracks; collectively, these albums established Setzer as a holiday staple, with the series supporting annual tours and amassing significant seasonal streams. Stray Cats reunions have produced key band releases, including the 2004 live set from their European tour and the 2020 double-live album Rocked This Town: From LA to London on Surfdog Records, capturing performances across continents. In October 2025, the band released the digital single "Stampede"/"Teenage Heaven" via Surfdog, their first new studio material in six years, with "Stampede" as an original and "Teenage Heaven" a cover of Eddie Cochran's 1959 track; limited vinyl editions followed shortly after. Overall, Stray Cats albums have sold over 10 million copies worldwide, achieving 23 gold and platinum certifications across various markets. The Brian Setzer Orchestra has surpassed 2 million in U.S. sales, with holiday titles contributing to multi-platinum status through sustained holiday catalog performance.

Guest and compilation appearances

Setzer has contributed guitar performances to several albums by other artists throughout his career, often lending his rockabilly flair to diverse projects. In 1985, he provided the guitar solo for "Leader of the Pack" on Twisted Sister's Come Out and Play, a track featuring additional guests like Alice Cooper and Billy Joel. The following year, Setzer appeared on Bob Geldof's Deep in the Heart of Nowhere, playing guitar on tracks including "This Is the World Calling." In 1987, he delivered lead guitar on "Reconsider Me" from Warren Zevon's sober-era album Sentimental Hygiene, complementing Zevon's piano-driven arrangement alongside contributions from R.E.M. members and Don Henley. That same year, Setzer recorded a cover of "Summertime Blues" for the La Bamba original motion picture soundtrack, portraying rock pioneer Eddie Cochran in the biographical film. Setzer also joined Robert Plant's supergroup The Honeydrippers as lead guitarist for their 1984-1985 live performances, including a notable appearance on Saturday Night Live performing "Good Rockin' at Midnight," though he was not credited on their studio album Volume One. More recently, in 2014, Setzer executive produced Drake Bell's Ready Steady Go! and played guitar on two songs, "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" and "I Won't Back Down." Regarding compilations, Setzer's work has been featured on various rockabilly and retro-themed anthologies. For instance, remixed and live versions of "Stray Cat Strut" appear on 1980s and 1990s collections such as The Best of Stray Cats reissues and broader rockabilly retrospectives like Rock This Town: Rockabilly Hits. His track "Summertime Blues" from the La Bamba soundtrack has been reissued on multiple film music compilations dedicated to 1950s rock and roll influences.

Video and media releases

Concert DVDs

Brian Setzer has released several concert DVDs capturing his dynamic live performances, often highlighting his signature rockabilly guitar work and high-energy stage presence, with close-up shots emphasizing his Gretsch guitar techniques and band interactions. These video releases span his solo career, the Brian Setzer Orchestra's big band spectacles, and reunions with the Stray Cats, available primarily in DVD and Blu-ray formats, with some legacy VHS editions from earlier eras. One notable release is Rockabilly Riot: Osaka Rocka! – Live in Japan (2016), a Blu-ray/CD combo documenting a high-energy trio set by Setzer and his Rockabilly Riot band, filmed on February 18, 2016, at Namba Hatch in Osaka. The 90-minute concert features blistering renditions of rockabilly classics and originals like "Stray Cat Strut" and "Rock This Town," showcasing Setzer's rapid-fire picking and the band's raw, stripped-down energy amid enthusiastic Japanese audiences, with multiple camera angles capturing stagecraft and guitar solos. The Brian Setzer Orchestra's holiday-themed DVDs highlight elaborate big band visuals and festive arrangements. Christmas Extravaganza (2005), filmed live on December 18, 2004, at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, runs 100 minutes and includes swing-infused holiday standards such as "Jingle Bells," "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus," and "Winter Wonderland," performed by the 17-piece orchestra with elaborate staging, period costumes, and close-ups of Setzer's improvisational guitar leads amid brass swells and audience sing-alongs. A later entry, Christmas Rocks! Live (2018 Blu-ray), captures an 18-song set from the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, California, blending classics like "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "Here Comes Santa Claus" with orchestral flair and pyrotechnics for a visually immersive holiday experience. For the Stray Cats, Rumble in Brixton (2004 DVD) commemorates the band's 25th anniversary with footage from their sold-out October 2003 show at London's Brixton Academy. The 90-minute film presents the original trio—Setzer, Lee Rocker, and Slim Jim Phantom—delivering a high-octane set of hits including "Rumble in Brighton," "Stray Cat Strut," and "Rock This Town," emphasizing the group's slap-bass rhythms, acrobatic drumming, and Setzer's charismatic frontmanship, with dynamic multi-angle shots of their synchronized stage antics and guitar-driven energy. Following the Stray Cats' 2019 "40" world tour celebrating their 40th anniversary, which included new material from the album 40 and classic tracks performed across Europe and North America, no dedicated concert DVD or Blu-ray compilation was released, though fan footage and promotional clips circulated online. As of November 2025, no new concert video releases have been announced, following the cancellation of the Stray Cats' fall tour due to Setzer's serious illness. These DVDs remain key visual archives, often reissued in high-definition Blu-ray for enhanced appreciation of Setzer's instrumental prowess and live showmanship.

Film and television contributions

Brian Setzer made his acting debut in the 1987 biographical film La Bamba, portraying the rockabilly pioneer Eddie Cochran in a cameo role that highlighted his own stylistic influences. In 2002, Setzer appeared as himself in the family comedy The Country Bears, contributing to the film's musical elements alongside other performers. He also voiced a version of himself in the The Simpsons episode "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" (Season 14, Episode 2), where he joined other rock musicians in teaching guitar to Homer Simpson. Setzer's music has been featured prominently in film soundtracks, often through his work with the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Notable examples include "Jump, Jive an' Wail" in The Mask (1994), which captured the film's energetic swing vibe, and "Lady Luck" in the action-horror Deep Rising (1998). His orchestra's "Bodhisattva" appeared in Me, Myself & Irene (2000), adding a rockabilly flair to the comedy. Additionally, Setzer wrote and performed "I'm Only in It for the Honey" for The Country Bears (2002), and contributed "Jumpin' East of Java" to the romantic comedy Three to Tango (1999). The orchestra performed "Jingle Bells" for Jingle All the Way (1996). On television, Setzer and the Stray Cats gained early exposure with performances on ABC's Fridays in 1981, including "Rock This Town" and "Runaway Boys," marking their U.S. network debut. Later, as a solo artist, he guest-starred on Beverly Hills, 90210 in the 1998 episode "Marathon Man," where the Brian Setzer Orchestra performed "Jump, Jive, and Wail" and "The Dirty Boogie" during a swing dancing scene. Setzer also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2002 to promote his work. His orchestra performed on Conan in 2017, delivering covers like the Dick Van Dyke Show theme.

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