Tim Very, Manchester Orchestra Drummer, Dies at 42

Tim Very, the longtime drummer for Manchester Orchestra, has died at the age of 42.

The band shared the news in a heartfelt post on Instagram on Saturday, saying they were “devastated by the sudden passing of our brother, Timothy Very.” No cause of death has been announced.

In their message, the band described Very as “the most beloved human being any of us were lucky enough to know in this life.” They added that they were still in disbelief and struggling to process the loss.

“Tim was instantly likable and interacted with everyone he met with kindness and warmth,” the band wrote. “His laugh was infectious and he immediately made people feel invited and encouraged. His humor and energy were the very foundation that held together the entire MO universe.”

A Key Member of Manchester Orchestra

Manchester Orchestra was founded in Atlanta in 2004 and has had 13 musicians pass through its ranks over the years. Very joined the band in 2011, taking over for original drummer Jeremiah Edmond.

At the time of his death, the current lineup included founding members Andy Hull (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano) and Robert McDowell (guitar, keyboards), along with bassist Andy Prince, who joined in 2013.

Hull, McDowell and Prince paid tribute to Very’s “undeniable light,” saying it was matched only by “his dedication and love for the craft that he was clearly put on earth to do.”

“Please know, if you are someone who loved Tim, he loved you too,” they wrote.

His Work on Major Albums and Songs

Very played drums on four of Manchester Orchestra’s studio albums:

• Simple Math (2011)

• Cope (2014)

• A Black Mile to the Surface (2017)

• The Million Masks of God (2021)

He also performed on the 2023 EP The Valley of Vision.

Very contributed to some of the band’s most successful singles, including 2017’s “The Gold,” which featured guest vocals from Phoebe Bridgers, and 2018’s “I Know How to Speak.”

In a 2014 interview with New Noise Magazine, Hull praised Very and Prince as “exceptional musicians,” saying their chemistry helped the band create tighter and more explosive songs.

Hull also shared that he had known Very for nearly a decade before he joined the group, meeting him when Hull was just 18 years old.

Early Career and Other Projects

Before joining Manchester Orchestra, Very played with the San Diego-based rock band Walking Ashland.

Music ran in his family — his father was also a drummer — but Very’s interests stretched beyond the stage. In 2019, he launched The Tim Very Podcast, where he interviewed creatives from a wide range of fields, including graphic design, food and acting. The podcast ran through 2020.

A Devoted Father and Friend

In their closing tribute, the band said that while Very loved creating music, his greatest joy was being with his family.

“You’d be pressed to find a more joyful dad,” they wrote. “We love you Tim, thank you for loving us. You are a force of positivity that will be a constant presence in the rest of our days.”

Fans and fellow musicians have continued to share tributes online, remembering Tim Very not only as a talented drummer, but as a kind and generous person whose impact went far beyond music.