While Umphrey’s McGee had maintained a noncommittal, “not putting any labels on anything” stance on its replacement drummer in the wake of Kris Myers‘ departure from the band in May, the band on Thursday decided to make things official with stand-in Scotty Zwang.

During an encore cover of Simple Minds’ uplifting ’80s staple “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” featuring Zwang on backing vocals, Brendan Bayliss took a moment to summon up the courage and pop the question to Scotty, who was already due to accompany the band through the end of 2025 and has held down the kit at every UM show since Myers’ resignation aside from a three-night run in Miami that featured Widespread Panic’s Duane Trucks.

“I’d like to take a moment right now to thank each and every one of you for coming out tonight and supporting live music,” Bayliss cooed as the band played on behind him. “It means the world to us, more than you could ever imagine.”

“While I have your attention,” he added, “I’d like to give a little shout-out to our buddy Scotty back here on the drums—steppin’ in the last couple of months and makin’ our world keep goin’ and goin’ around. We feel very blessed to have met him, and we were able to lock him in for the whole year, which is fan-[expletive]-tastic if you ask me.

“But the other day,” he continued, “I got on the phone with Jake [Cinninger] and Joel [Cummins] and Pony [Ryan Stasik] and Andy [Farag] and we were talkin’ about just how time is moving faster and faster and before you know it, the end of the year’s gonna be here. And we’re like, ‘You know what, I’m a big fan of the Zwang, and I think everyone here is a big fan of the Zwang, so we were talkin’ about, you know, why don’t we just ask him to just be our drummer?'”

After a pause, he added, “I guess this is the part where it turns into an awkward wedding proposal onstage, ‘cus we’re kind of putting him on the spot. So, you don’t have to say yes, you don’t have to say no, but Scotty Zwang, if you would be so inclined to join Umphrey’s McGee and be a part of our brotherhood, and our family, it would make our world very complete.”

As Bayliss told a grinning Zwang, “All you’ve gotta do is a fantastic drum fill, and if you do it, then we know you wanna do it. And everybody make some noise, ‘cus if you make enough noise, maybe you can convince Scotty to take a leap of faith with us. What do you guys think? Should he do it? I think he should do it.”

Cue: fantastic drum fill from new Umphre’s McGee drummer Scotty Zwang. “He said yes,” Bayliss added as the song built to its “freeze-frame fist-pump at the end of Breakfast Club” climax. Welcome, Scotty!

Watch Scotty Zwang accept Bayliss’ proposal to be the official new drummer in Umphrey’s McGee during the band’s show in Peoria, IL below.

Umphrey’s McGee and new full-time drummer Scotty Zwang will continue to tour extensively throughout August, September, and October and into November in celebration of the band’s forthcoming album, Blueprints, comprised of fleshed-out songs based on fan-selected live improvisational moments from years past. Blueprints arrives on September 12th. Pre-order the album on vinyl here.

Umphrey’s McGee Proposes to New Drummer Scotty Zwang During “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” Cover [Pro-Shot] – 8/14/25

Kris Myers resigned his seat as the drummer for Umphrey’s McGee in May 2025, marking the end of a 22-year chapter with the long-running progressive jam band.

“After long talks and deep consideration, I have made the difficult decision to resign as the drummer of Umphrey’s McGee,” Myers wrote in a heartfelt message to fans on May 13th. “This decision wasn’t easy, but the biggest ones seldom are.”

“I will deeply miss all the amazing and professional aspects of Umphrey’s organization,” he continued, “especially the time with my brothers Jake [Cinninger], Joel [Cummins], Andy [Farag], Brendan [Bayliss] and Ryan [Stasik], growing from vans to tour buses, clubs to theaters, to where we are now. We collectively felt it was time for me to pursue other elements of my musical creativity that have been calling to me.”

Myers also expressed gratitude to the devoted UM fanbase, saying the community has been instrumental in his personal and professional development, noting, “The amazing and loyal UM community has been an integral part of my growth as a person, a professional, a philanthropist, and a performer, and I will forever be grateful. It has been an inspiration and a joy to have shared so many amazing experiences with such a loyal and exuberant fanbase—altogether enough to last for a lifetime.”

Despite stepping away from “an incredible journey with my longtime band of brothers,” Myers assured fans that his musical journey is far from over: “Please know that I will still be out there performing, and I sincerely hope to see you on my new path down the road. For now, I look forward to what’s next and am gearing up for great things to come!”

In a separate statement, Umphrey’s McGee expressed full support for Myers’ decision and appreciation for the years they shared together on and off the stage. “We are immensely grateful for the music, heart, and energy he brought to this band over the years, both on stage and off,” the band wrote. “It’s been an unforgettable ride filled with adventure, growth, and brotherhood, and we’ll always cherish the journey we’ve shared.”

The band acknowledged the gravity of the moment while embracing the opportunity for renewal. “Transitions create space for new beginnings,” the note continued. “While it’s impossible not to feel the weight of this moment, we’re going to harness the opportunity that comes with change and continue the journey—full speed ahead.”

Myers joined Umphrey’s McGee in 2002, replacing original drummer Mike Mirro, who sadly passed away in 2014. Since then, he has been a rhythmic cornerstone of the band’s sound, contributing to over a dozen studio albums and thousands of live performances. His last concert with Umphrey’s McGee occurred at the Daze Between New Orleans festival late last month, featuring an original set with Jeff Coffin and Jennifer Hartswick plus a Led Zeppelin tribute set with Jason Bonham. The final song he played with the band’s longtime six-piece lineup ahead of the parade of special guests that night was a powerful “JaJunk”. Watch pro-shot video of the song below.

Umphrey’s McGee – “JaJunk” [Pro-Shot] – Daze Between New Orleans – 4/29/25