There is absolutely no excuse for Brian not being in the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. The man exudes more "rock and roll" in *one song* than most rock stars produce in a lifetime.
They didn't do the popular thing -- they did the music they loved, even though all the "experts" told them there was no market for a rockabilly band that dressed halfway between punk rockers and 50s rock and roll singers. But they had a vision and they stayed faithful to it, and that passion for what they were doing, even though it was different from the mainstream, is what made their performance so charismatic.
I’m so glad he stuck with the guitar. He is so criminally underrated in the pantheon of guitar gods. Playing “metal” isn’t the only criteria for judging talent.
While I like the Rockabilly stuff I really dig the big band stuff. Listening to that on a road trip over and over drove me in to hard core be bop. Brian has his own take on that. I was lucky enough to be sitting about 10 feet away from him at a show. Sitting that close to a wold class guitarist is awe inspiring, especially as he uses little between the Vintage guitars and amp. He is cruelly underrated.
I never was a fan of his music but last winter I watched a full concert of his on tv. And I was blown away by his guitar skills. It was epic. The man is a master.
certainly ONE of a few that get nowhere near the acclaim they have earned. we know! i've seen him a few times and each time out was a tour de force of musical genius...and he gets top notch sidemen too
Been in love with Brian and The Stray Cats since seeing their music video "Stray Cat Strut," on MTV, as a kid. Their soundn ust captivated me. Even as a kid it made me sit down and watch the video. I remember thinking, "Who is this and what's that sound??" "I love it!" As a 5 year old, it was a whole new world. It was fantastical
Brian Setzer is an awesome old school musician!!! I love his music! Brian is a true musician. May God ALWAYS bless Brian Setzer and his family in the Mighty name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 😎🔥🥇 🥊🥊🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾💖💖
Remember being 12 yrs old in 1982 and being so completely blown away by there music that I felt blood rush straight to my head and I started to sweat 😂. Now I'm 52 and still brings a smile to my face (and it probablybelevates my blood pressure ;) every time I hear their songs. I never tire if their music :) xo
My friends and I saw the Tom Cats play at a small club called Arthur’s in Massapequa, LI, They were great then, but we thought they were more of a ‘50s throwback bc some kids did dress this way at the time and listened to the oldies ‘50s radio station. A bit later I was working in a record store in another state and there it was, in the import section, their album for sale . What a surprise! Great band.
Brian's such a truly cool guy, SUPER talent but a very down to earth and kind person: lives in a nice SW rural suburb of the Twin Cities and you'll occasionally see him riding into local vintage car shows on one of his vintage bikes.
Saw the Stray Cats perform a free soundcheck at the East Side Club in Philly back in '82. Have been a fan ever since and have seen them live many times. One time in '83 I was sitting at the bar in JC Dobbs on South St. The female bartender says, "you look like my friend Brian." "Brian who?" I asked. "Setzer" she replied. COOL!
What can i say about the legendary Stray Cats kings of rockabilly. Great interview. Great nice genuine guy. Brian Setzer. ❤ You stray cats in 2024 and beyond.
At age 14, I took lessons from Brian. Five bucks back then. I was in a band with his younger brother, Gary on drums, who got me set up with Brian. One time Brian let me listen to a record he cut with a non-Stray Cats band. He asked me what I thought. I noted that it was really good. Brian looked me in the eye and said, "You hate it." I actually didn't like that particular arrangement. Brian's acute perception got him where he is today. A modern-day Mozart. Touring again with the Cats in 2024 is another example of his never-ending genius. Bless you brother.
My old man was Royal Navy from the 40s and had lots of ink. He had two swallows on the backs of his hands and it landed him in trouble on more than one occasion. He said the same thing to me. “Never get a tattoo where it’s easily seen. You never know who else might have that same tattoo and now you could be mistaken for them”. I didn’t listen and got the same swallow on my hand to honour my Dad.
I met him briefly when I was a kid back around 1984.....he was extremely cool to me, and chatted with me for a minute or two, took pictures, etc....and because of that, I've stayed a rock solid fan ever since.....and he STILL seems like a really good guy.....I guess he's having some tinnitus issues.....hopefully he can get that taken care of....kind of an occupational hazard in that business, I guess.
I met him around 95 at the Blues Cafe in Long Beach and man he was a really cool guy! Had a beer with him at the bar and he was just a regular guy. Not sure of the year but right before he started his orchastra
That would have been cool, for sure... I met Lee Rocker the same night I met Brian....he was also a very nice guy ..... I saw Slim Jim, but he looked busy, so I didn't want to bother him.....lol
I love Brian such a top player with a great sound, great front man, writer, performer leader. Very wise too - keeping the tattoos off the face and hands.
I remember seeing their first video on mtv which prompted to go get the album which is great and still listen to. Saw him a few years ago in a small venue of about 2,000 from the eighth row. He’s a fantastic musician
In the UK, my Dad managed a butchers shop and one lad, who my Dad loved, had tattoos on his hand. When the district manager saw them the lad was sacked on the spot. My Dad tried so hard to plead his case but rules were rules. How times have changed.
I'm from Nassau county Long Island originally, but we moved out to Suffolk county, and Suffolk was really rural suburbs and more reserved across the board back in the 1960's and earlier! Brian Setzer lived in Massapequa, Long Island, on/near the south shore. I had heard about him through the music-grapevine! Most of my friends including myself, were all either guitarists, or bass guitarists. Brian Setzer was playing local clubs, and in Manhattan. I didn't fancy his taste in guitar style(s) although he was good and had technique. I was into the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, and the great studio guitarist, LARRY CARLTON!!! If you haven't heard of Larry Carlton,,, boy,, are you in for an experience~!~!~!~
I kissed his arm in 1982, by their bus after a show at The Boulder Theater. My husband yelled "Alright Honey!". A moment of a lifetime. I got Brian's autograph... Aaahhh, sweet memory...
Brian Setzer is the coolest guy. That Rockabilly is cool man. These were the cool Rockabillies from the 1980's. Question is why wouldn't he do what he did? He did it all bro. Smash records.
My top 5 concerts: Frank Marino (Juggernaut Tour, Bakersfield) ELO The Forum in L. A. Brian Setzer Orchestra (Christmas Show) US Festival 1983 in San Bernardino Nazareth/Ted Nugent 1978 in Tulsa
When I fell in love with rock in 1988, here in Brazil. It was common to mention Stray cats. It was not famous like The Cure, Police, U2 was exploding, but the FM , for rock music, it was common to play Stray Cats.
SCats made their 1st demo @Monkey Hill Studios, Queens New York - Same studio my band (Ism) did ours - I remember them showin me a pic of them before they got famous, and left for UK - discovered by DEdmunds, etc etc etc Those were great days (and nites!!!)
I think they came to Australia around late 80's early 90's? down by a river bank at our annual Moomba Festivel, I heard the music, wanted to go and listen but my wife and the kids kept moving on, Damn, wish I had stopped to listen.
Brian was so far advanced as a guitarist in high school ... You have no idea ... He had this white 100 watt marshall amp that he would rip up steely Dan's teeling in the years ...i mean the kid was a prodigy at 15-16 years old
Brian Setzer le rockeur génial et guitariste le meilleure qui soit est l incarnation du rockabilly mais aussi un gars super coolll et aussi il est très intelligent. Je pense que ces lui le boss et qui produit ces groupes . Sincèrement je le pense . Brian Setzer personne t arrive a la cheville le géant . Amitié sincère Brian.
