In Memoriam | Former Umphrey’s Drummer Mike Mirro

We’re sad to report that former Umphrey’s McGee drummer Mike Mirro passed away today at the way-too-young age of 36. Mirro was a founding member of the band and was part of the group until he left in 2002 to begin medical school. Mike went on to sit in with his old band mates numerous times over the years. The cause of death has not been made public as of press time.

Mirro was born in Crown Point, IN. He attended Notre Dame University from 1996 to 2000, where he was a member of Stomper Bob in the days before Umphrey’s McGee was formed in late 1997. The proud Chicago Bears fan handled vocals on an array of covers during his time in UM which showed off his diverse musical background including Sade’s “No Ordinary Love,” “Freedom” by George Michael and “Garbage Man” by Ike Turner. Mike sat in with Umphrey’s on “Garbage Man” twice after he left the band, most recently on October 8, 2004.

The band issued the following statement:

It is with heavy hearts that we have learned of our good friend & former drummer Mike Mirro’s passing. As many of you know, Mike’s love for music & unique sense of humor are still present today in the music that we create. Umphrey’s McGee wouldn’t be who we are without all of the passion & musicality Mike added to the music for the first 5 years of our career.

There are no words that can convey the feeling of loss we are collectively feeling, we have lost a friend, a brother & a man without whom there would be no Umphrey’s McGee. Mikey, we’ll always love you for the amazing person that you were and we’ll carry your spirit with us through the music.

We’ll miss you.

Watch Umphrey’s featuring Mike Mirro on drums perform at Schuba’s in Chicago on May 16, 2002:

Here’s a clip of Mike guesting on “Headphones & Snowcones” at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom on December 31, 2009:

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mirro family. Umphrey’s plays the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville this evening, where they performed “Uncle Wally,” a song co-written by Mikey, early in the first set.

UPDATE 1/31 6:30 a.m. PT: Last night Umphrey’s performed through their grief in Knoxville as they played a number of songs from Mirro’s tenure in the band. In the second set UM dusted off a cover of Bob Marley’s “Trenchtown Rock” for the first time in 86 shows with its fitting refrain of “one good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain.”

Love you Mike…. You were with us out there tonight.

— Joel Cummins (@goldlikejoel) January 31, 2014

Here’s last night’s setlist via All Things Umphreys:

Set 1: Jekyll & Hyde > Room to Breathe, Uncle Wally, All In Time > The Floor, Conduit, Bridgeless, The Pequod > All In Time

Set 2: Nothing Too Fancy[1] > Booth Love[2], Kimble, White Man’s Moccasins[3], Prowler[4] > 2nd Self, Trenchtown Rock

Encore: Divisions

[1] with Garbage Man (Ike Turner and the Family Vibes) teases
[2] with Xxplosive (Dr. Dre) teases
[3] with Ocean Billy and Puppet String teases
[4] with Cantina Band (John Williams) jam