Deaths: Drummer Brian Keats, rocker Jay Reatard
Kevin Bronson on
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Rock drummer Brian Keitz (often credited as Keats) died Tuesday after a battle with liver cancer. He was 46. The L.A.-based musician played with myriad artists, including Jason Falkner, Dave Vanian, Sylvain Sylvain, Susanna Hoffs, Teddy Thompson and AM, and manned the skins for the bands Wink, 3 Day Wheely, Low Pop Suicide, Princess Pang, Rayon and Genocide, among others.
“He was the hardest-hitting and most consistent drummer I ever played with, but it wasn’t just the way he played,” said guitarist Casey Dolan, his bandmate in 3 Day Wheely. “He was a brilliant guy, just an all-around brilliant guy.”
Said AM, whose debut album “Troubled Times” featured the work of Keitz: “He was not only a great drummer, but he had a terrific dry sense of humor which made him fun to work with. He will be missed.”
Keitz is survived by his wife Tomoko and son Tristan.
‣ Also: Memphis garage rocker Jay Reatard has died at age 29. Details at Rollingstone.com.
RIP – Brian Keats. We will miss you. He died of Colon Cancer not liver cancer. It was advanced, we didn’t know it was going to take a turn like this so fast. Brian Keats was the greatest Drummer.
– Walter Ensign: Rayon
Brian Keats (Brian Keitz, then) was my first real boyfriend, New Jersey, circa 1980. We were both adrift in our own little adolescent way, and then we found each other. He was steady; he was a boulder that really kept me moored during those tumultuous years. I remember being a a debauched party in Brooklyn, anything goes, and Brian came from behind me, put his arms around me and I knew I was safe. He never tried to parent me, but he had a good head on his shoulders and led by example. I never told Brian how much he’d helped me, just by being the funny good person he was. Dear Brian, thanks for everything. xx Jen