Formed in 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia, Manchester Orchestra is neither an orchestra nor are they from Manchester, England. The band is actually and indie rock/pop band founded by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Andy Hull, lead guitarist Garrett Brown, drummer Andrew Maysilles, and bassist Jonathan Corley. Named after the British city best known for its musical legacy (The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Oasis, and many others), Manchester Orchestraâs first release was the 2004 EP 5 Stories (2004). In 2005, both Garrett Brown and Andrew Maysilles left the band and were replaced by Robert McDowell (lead guitar) and Jeremiah Edmond (drums). Their second EP, You Brainstorm, I Brainstorm, But Brilliance Needs a Good Editor, was released in 2005. The bandâs style of melodic guitar pop became popular thanks to word of mouth and they became one of indie rockâs âbest kept secretsâ. Keyboardist/percussionist Chris Freeman joined the band in 2006, the same year the band released their debut full-length album Iâm Like a Virgin Losing a Child. As the band began to build a higher profile, their music was used in American television series including Gossip Girl, 90210, One Tree Hill, and others. They made numerous late-night TV appearances on popular talk shows such as Late Night with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan OâBrien, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Last Call with Carson Daly. Their critically-successful series of albums include Mean Everything to Nothing (2009), Simple Math (2011), Cope (2014), and A Black Mile to the Surface (2017). Several line-up changes occurred throughout the bandâs existence, finally settling on Andy Hull, Robert McDowell, Andy Prince (bass), and Tim Very (drums). In April 2021, Manchester Orchestra released their eighth album, The Million Mask of God, featuring the lead single "Bed Head." On February 14, 2026, drummer Tim Very died at the age of 42. The band released the live recording Union Chapel (London, England), in May 2026.
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