Tim Very, drummer for Atlanta indie rock band Manchester Orchestra, has died at age 42, the band announced Saturday on social media.
The band described Very’s death as a “sudden passing” but did not reveal a date or cause of death.
“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,” the band wrote. “We’ve all been dreading sharing this news as we are all still in absolute disbelief.”
According to Rolling Stone, Very joined Manchester Orchestra in 2011 and became the group’s longest-serving drummer, spending 15 years with the band. Four drummers had rotated through the position since the band’s formation in 2004.
During his tenure, Very recorded three studio albums with the group: “Cope” in 2014, “A Black Mile to the Surface” in 2017 and “The Million Masks of God” in 2021. The band’s most recent release was “The Valley of Vision” EP in 2023.
The band remembered Very for his warmth and magnetic 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,” the band wrote. “His humor and energy were the very foundation that held together the entire MO universe. Strangers quickly became friends and friends became family.”
The band also noted 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,” the band 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.”