Beloved Drummer, .357’s Member Bryan Keeling Has Died
Beloved drummer, band member, session player, brother, and father Bryan “Keelgood” Keeling has passed away. Though he played and recorded with many musicians across multiple genres, Keeling is perhaps best known as the drummer for the .357’s—the original band behind second generation performer Shooter Jennings. Keeling passed away peacefully in Nashville at around 9:00 am on December 6th according to his brother. Keeling had been battling Cancer.
Along with bassist Ted Russell Kamp and guitarist Leroy Powell, the .357’s played hundreds of shows behind Shooter Jennings from 2003 to 2012, and recorded the albums Put The ‘O’ Back in Country (2005), Electric Rodeo (2006), The Wolf (2007), along with Shooter’s album Black Ribbons under the band name Hierophant. Keeling also played drums for Ted Russell Kamp’s solo project at the time.
“We lost a dear friend as well as a powerful and soulful musician today,” Ted Russell Kamp said on Saturday. “Bryan and I met in late 2003 on my first night of auditioning/jamming with Shooter Jennings. He was already playing with Shooter and right from our first note of playing together I knew we had something really special. Bryan was a true powerhouse and when he believed in something—whether it was a song, a friendship or a night out on the town—he gave it everything he had.”
After the .357s disbanded, Keeling briefly became the touring drummer for the rock band Fuel. As both a live drummer and studio musician, Keeling performed on music from Jessie Colter, Pink, Macy Gray, Dionne Warwick, Mya, Guy Sebastian, Lucy Woodard, Evan Bartels, The Lugnuts, Hell City Rockers, and others. He also toured extensively as a member of Eric Sardinas and Big Motor from 2012 to 2015. Keeling also appeared on archival tracks from Waylon Jennings as part of the Waylon Forever album from 2008.
Bryan Keeling was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He started playing drums in the 5th grade, and was playing in top school ensembles by 7th grade. In the middle of Keeling’s 9th grade year, his father passed away from Cancer, and he moved to Dallas, TX to live with his mom. By this time, Keeling was already identified as a musical prodigy. He was enrolled in an arts magnet school in Dallas by the 11th grade, and after high school, attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.
After a year in Boston, Keeling moved to Austin where he briefly attended the University of Texas and started working professionally as a drummer. He would move to Los Angeles in 2002 where he eventually met Shooter Jennings. Most recently, Keeling had been working as a for-hire studio musician in Nashville.
Bryan Keeling is being remembered as a dear friend, a big animal lover, and a loving father to his son and fellow drummer Gunnar.
“My amazing and talented big-hearted little brother Bryan Keeling passed away peacefully in Nashville,” brother Brad Keeling announced. “He truly was one of the most talented drummers I’ve ever heard. What a great legacy.”
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December 6, 2025 @ 9:35 pm
I was very sad to hear he had passed. Bryan was an awesome guy. I got to talk with him after many a Shooter show. He was a great drummer and songwriter as well. He’ll be missed!
December 7, 2025 @ 6:56 am
Saw Shooter and the 357s on the Put The ‘O’ Back in Country tour. Great show. Definitely the best era of Shooter’s career. The 357s were also the backing band for Brent Cobb’s debut album No Place Left To Leave. RIP
December 7, 2025 @ 9:13 am
Bryan was a amzing drummer and a great friend to everyone who he met. Loved animals , with his posts he saved so many . He will be truly missed . Rock on in Heaven Bryan
December 7, 2025 @ 9:50 am
R.I.P Bryan Keeling. 🙏 Hank 3 & Shooter Jennings was my go to music back in the mid 2000s I would play Put The “O” Back In Country & Electric Rodeo regularly so this is just another piece of my youth gone. Thankfully Bryan was involved in Shooter’s best work and will always be remembered whenever someone gives those albums a spin. I often wish the infamous Hank3/Shooter “feud” hadn’t went on back then I truly believe had they teamed up back then they would’ve been the Waylon & Willie of our time.
December 7, 2025 @ 3:42 pm
Bryan was the kindest person I’ve ever known. He was an incredibly dedicated Dad, musician and friend. Rest easy now, you fought so hard. You will Rock on forever in our hearts and memories forever, friend.
December 11, 2025 @ 1:12 pm
This is heartbreaking news! I grew up with Brad and Bryan, the greatest boys in the neighborhood. Brad, I’m holding you tight in my prayers, their are no words for your loss.
December 8, 2025 @ 8:09 am
Met him on the Electric Rodeo tour. He was so kind to stop for a picture. Too bad Myspace deleted it before I could get to it. RIP
December 8, 2025 @ 5:59 pm
Thank you for the article, I’m Bryan’s brother, Brad. I took him to his first concert on July 4 of 1978 in Lubbock, Texas. It was DC backing up Frank Marino in Mahogany Rush and Aerosmith headlining. After that, we attended many concerts together and I turned him onto a lot of music. He got the bug and started playing drums and boy did he! He was playing everything that Rush had out on vinyl at the time by the time he was 17. Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio, Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, and many others were his influences. Let’s not forget about John Bonham. He will be loved and missed as long as his music is out there, and as long as anyone who knew him is alive. He touched the great many peoples lives with his music and his kindness and his dog rescue which we both did. I feel like a piece of me has gone because it is however he’s not lost because I also know where he is, he was a good man an absolutely fantastic drummer and a man with a good heart. Thanks again for the article and God bless you all.
December 8, 2025 @ 6:00 pm
Have many memories.
He was like a brother.
A very good and godly man.
I will miss him greatly
Skate on in heaven brother
December 8, 2025 @ 6:01 pm
If you know Bryan he loved you, supported you and made you feel like you could take over the world! Love you forever my friend
December 9, 2025 @ 6:23 am
I met Bryan back when he was in the 357s…what a bad ass drummer he was…got to know him some…being from the east coast I ast didn’t get to see him play as much…but we chatted time to time…Gunnar was the luv of his life…I did nick name him Animal…he was gr8 dude…surly gonna be missed by everyone he came in contact with…keep banging in heaven…
December 13, 2025 @ 3:07 pm
Couldn’t believe this when I heard it. Bryan was the most energetic, funny and talented person I had the pleasure of knowing. It was evident he was going to go places. We attended Hillcrest together, played in the school bands, went to Rush at Reunion Arena. Watching Bryan watch Rush was its own show. We went our own ways after high school, as most do, but followed him and listened online. My condolences to his family. A talented musician will be missed but even a better person. RIP Bryan.
December 22, 2025 @ 12:36 pm
Cool memories! Thanks for the comment. Which Mark is this?
December 22, 2025 @ 9:52 pm
Hi Brad, Mark Murphy. Funny enough, pretty sure you picked us up from the Rush concert. There were 4 of us.I think he took Susan and I had my date. I think it was before we could drive or maybe he didn’t have that Mazda yet. He, Trini, myself and others hung out on and off. I remember there was a park somewhere near Boedeker. We used to drink there until we all got busted. Cops let us off so long as we came back and cleaned up the cans the next day. I think Bryan i were the only ones who showed back up. 🤣. Sureal, seems so recent. Sorry for your loss.
murphy.m1767@gmail.com
February 2, 2026 @ 1:05 pm
I shared a condo with Bryan when he was at UT in Austin. Fun times with a great guy! As a recent cancer survivor myself, I was shocked to hear this. My condolences to all and may he rest in peace.