Manchester Orchestra Mourns the Loss of Drummer Timothy Very

The music world is in mourning following the passing of Timothy Very, the beloved drummer of Manchester Orchestra. The band, consisting of Andy Hull, Robert McDowell, and Andy Prince, confirmed the heartbreaking news on Saturday, Feb. 14th, leaving fans and fellow musicians in shock.

Very's cause of death has not been disclosed at this time.

Joining Manchester Orchestra in 2010, Very made his mark on their third full-length album, Simple Math. Released in 2011 via Favorite Gentlemen, the album quickly climbed the Billboard charts, securing a spot in the top 10 on both the Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums charts. From that moment on, he became an integral part of their touring lineup.

"The entire Manchester Orchestra family has been devastated by the sudden passing of our brother, Timothy Very," the band shared in a heartfelt statement on Instagram. "The most beloved human being any of us were lucky enough to know in this life. We've all been dreading sharing this news as we are all still in absolute disbelief."

The band continued, highlighting Very's infectious personality: "Tim was instantly likable and interacted with everyone he met with kindness and warmth. 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. Strangers quickly became friends and friends became family."

"He had an undeniable light that was only matched by his dedication and love for the craft that he was clearly put on earth to do. No words can ever do him justice. Please know, if you are someone who loved Tim, he loved you too."

Manchester Orchestra also emphasized Very's devotion to his family: "The only thing that Tim loved more than creating music was being with his family. You'd be pressed to find a more joyful dad."

"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," the band concluded.

Before joining Manchester Orchestra, Very stepped in following the departure of former drummer Jeremiah Edmond in 2010. The band was initially formed by frontman Andy Hull in 2004 in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA.

Very's debut performance with Manchester Orchestra took place in Camden, London, in 2011, during the U.K. leg of their Simple Math tour. In an interview with Alter the Press the following day, he shared, "I threw up during it. It's been awesome. I can talk about it for hours, but I'll just say this is what I've always wanted to do and these are guys I've known for a long time. It's the best."

He remained a constant presence in the band, contributing to albums such as Cope/acoustic companion Hope (2014), A Black Mile to the Surface (2017), The Million Masks of God (2021), and the EP The Valley of Vision (2023). [Manchester Orchestra has a live project, Union Chapel (London, England), set to be released via Loma Vista on March 20, 2026. The set was recorded in 2023, during a special three-night residency at the historic church.]

In a 2022 episode of the Drummers on Drumming podcast, Very described himself as "a songwriter's drummer." He elaborated, "I'd like to think that after doing this for 20 years or so, whatever it's been at this point, that I'm bringing something to the table that isn't just drums and grooves and all that, but it's understanding what a song should have, or could have in it, to hopefully enhance it or hopefully add something — a flavor, a feel to it … Leaving your mark on a song and feeling like, 'Man, that's better 'cause I played on it,' that's kind of what I'm always sort of circling around and hoping to reach: having an impact on a song that's just that right thing."

Influenced by his father, also a drummer, Very began playing as a teen in Pensacola, Fla. He recalled a neighbor noticing his dad's unused drum set, sparking his musical journey.

Dave Grohl and Nirvana were pivotal influences during Very's early drumming days in the '90s. "I instantly jumped in and started trying to learn Nirvana songs, which I think is a killer place to start as a drummer because he [Grohl] writes attainable drum parts, but they're the perfect parts for songs. It's a great introduction on how, what I hope to do is service a song, kind of enhance it — he still gets to have his fun, but he's doing the right thing for the song."

In a clip published on Manchester Orchestra's Patreon in July 2025, Very shared his philosophy on pursuing dreams: "It sounds so trite when you're young, when people are like, 'Believe in your dreams!' But some of that is true. If you actually believe in yourself and are willing to just bite down on the dream and go like, man, I'm gonna hang in here. Whatever it is, whatever you're doing out there — it doesn't have to just be music — this can go across the board for anything. You can make it happen. It just won't happen the way you thought it would."

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