The Stray Cats were set to perform on Long Island next week.
It was supposed to be a joyous homecoming for the kids from Massapequa.
Now, the hometown rockabilly legends have called off their entire tour, as frontman Brian Setzer has just announced he’s battling a serious illness.
Setzer — singer of “Rock This Town” and “Stray Cat Strut” — posted on the band’s social media feeds that he was “heartbroken to share that, due to serious illness” he’d be unable to perform and very regrettably had to cancel the Stray Cats tour.
He added that he had been trying everything he could to go on and do the shows, but it was just not possible.
The band even recently released two new songs, recording in Minnesota, where Setzer now lives.
“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,” he wrote.
The announcement followed the cancellation of the Stray Cats’ first two tour dates in Michigan and Illinois last weekend, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.
The fall trek had originally been scheduled to run from Oct. 25 through November,
That included the Nov. 5 stop at Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair.
All three founding Stray Cats members — Setzer, Lee Rocker, and Slim Jim Phantom — grew up in Massapequa before finding international fame in the 1980s.
Ticket refunds are being processed through the original points of purchase, according to CT Insider.
It’s unclear whether any dates will be rescheduled.
Top: Brian Setzer of the Brian Setzer Orchestra ( which he had founded in 1992), holds up both his awards for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal and best pop instrumental performance during the 41st Annual Grammy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1999. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
