Andrew John “Andy” Hurley (born May 31 1980) is an American musician best known as the drummer of the rock band Fall Out Boy. He has also performed with a number of hardcore‑punk, metalcore and heavy‑metal groups.
Early life and education
Hurley was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. His mother worked as a nurse; his father died when Hurley was five years old. In middle school he began playing the saxophone before switching to drums during high school, inspired by albums such as Ride the Lightning and Van Halen. He attended Menomonee Falls High School, where he played percussion in local bands and cited drummer Dave Lombardo and the band Metallica among his early influences. After graduating, Hurley enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, double‑majoring in anthropology and history while continuing to play in various musical projects.
Musical career
1996 – 2003: Early bands
Hurley’s first notable involvement was with several hardcore‑punk and metal acts, including Racetraitor, Killtheslavemaster, Project Rocket, xFor Death or Gloryx, The Kill Pill, Arma Angelus, and a guest appearance on Vegan Reich’s “Jihad” EP (1999). He also performed with Burning Empires, SECT, Enabler, FocusedXMinds, and other projects.
2003 – present: Fall Out Boy
In 2003 Hurley joined Fall Out Boy as a full‑time drummer after previously filling in on tour. He recorded the band’s second studio album Take This to Your Grave (2003) and remained a core member through their mainstream breakthrough with From Under the Cork Tree (2005), Infinity on High (2007), and subsequent releases. The group entered an official hiatus from 2009 to 2013, during which Hurley co‑founded the heavy‑metal supergroup The Damned Things with Fall Out Boy guitarist Joe Trohman; their debut album Ironiclast was released in 2010. He also played with Enabler, releasing a debut record and touring in 2012.
Fall Out Boy reassembled in 2013, issuing the albums Save Rock and Roll (2013), American Beauty/American Psycho (2015) – which debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 – and later projects including the EP PAX AM Days (2013). Hurley continues to record and tour with the band.
Other collaborations
Beyond his primary groups, Hurley has contributed drums for various side projects and maintains an independent record label, Fuck City, which has released material by bands such as Misery Signals, Peregrine, and Auryn.
Personal life
In 2024 Hurley married Meredith Allen. He remains active in the music scene, balancing his work with Fall Out Boy, side projects, and occasional production or guest‑drumming roles.