Tim Very, the longtime drummer for the Atlanta indie rock band Manchester Orchestra, has died at the age of 42. The band announced the news on social media on February 14, 2026, describing it as a sudden passing with no cause reported. Very had been with the group since 2011 and was remembered for his warmth and dedication to music.
Manchester Orchestra shared the devastating news of Tim Very's death on social media on Saturday, February 14, 2026. 'The entire Manchester Orchestra family has been devastated by the sudden passing of our brother, Timothy Very. 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 wrote.
Very joined Manchester Orchestra in 2011, replacing Jeremiah Edmond and becoming the band's longest-serving drummer over 15 years. Although not a founding member—the band formed in 2004 and had four drummers before him—Very contributed to their last three studio albums: Cope in 2014, A Black Mile to the Surface in 2017, and The Million Masks of God in 2021. The group released their most recent EP, The Valley of Vision, in 2023, and has a live album, Union Chapel (London, England), scheduled for March.
Born to a drummer father, Very began playing as a teenager in Pensacola, Florida, influenced early on by Dave Grohl and Nirvana's catalog. In a 2022 podcast interview, he reflected, 'I wasn’t one of those guys that got to start playing when I was like six years old, got lessons out the gate. It took me a little while to kind of find my identity. I instantly knew that this was something I was going to be doing for a long time.' His first show with the band was in London during the UK tour supporting Simple Math, where he later said, 'I threw up during it... this is what I’ve always wanted to do and these are guys I’ve known for a long time. It’s the best.'
Beyond Manchester Orchestra, Very worked as a session musician, producer, and co-founder of the Georgia production company Super Canoe. Bandmates Andy Hull, Robert McDowell, and Andy Price described him as 'instantly likable' with 'an undeniable light that was only matched by his dedication and love for the craft.' The full statement emphasized his family devotion: '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.' No further details on the date or circumstances of his death were provided.
