By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A drummer for an Athens indie-rock band fell to his death early Sunday when he tried to jump from a freight elevator at a Brooklyn fundraiser.

Jerry Fuchs, 34, was the drummer for the psychedelic instrumental ensemble Maserati, as well as other bands.

He grew up in Marietta, graduated from Walton High (where he was named "Friendliest" in the Class of ‘93) and the University of Georgia.

The accident happened at a loft in Williamsburg around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

When the elevator stopped above the fifth floor, Fuchs and a friend opened the door and tried to jump the 3 to 4 feet separating the elevator from the fifth floor, according to news reports.  A piece of Fuchs' clothes caught on the elevator, and he plunged down the shaft to his death. His friend landed safely.

Fuchs, who lived in Brooklyn for years, had just finished a tour with Maserati. He also had performed for The Juan MacLean, Turing Machine, Holy Ghost! and other bands.

Maserati guitarist Matt Cherry described Fuchs as a loyal friend with uncommon talent.

"The first time I saw him play was in 2001 in Athens when he was with Turing Machine, and I just walked up to the stage and I was like, ‘Oh my God,'" Cherry said.

Fuchs' drumming "was amazingly precise, like a machine," Cherry added. "He was just an absolutely stellar musician, a drumming genius."

Longtime friend Henry Owings of Atlanta, who publishes a music and satire magazine, said bands clamored to play with Fuchs.

"Not just because of the powerhouse drummer he was but because he was a great guy to be in a band with," Owings said. "The story I keep hearing from people, as this tragedy unfolds, is that kids and adults all over the world would watch him perform, go up to him after a show and say, ‘I've never had so much fun watching a drummer.'"

Fuchs moved to Brooklyn at age 20, but returned to Athens to finish his design degree during his stint with Turing Machine. Fuchs joined Maserati in 2005.

Maserati posted a tribute to Fuchs on its Website:  "It is with overwhelming sadness that we bid farewell to our drummer and dearest friend Gerhardt (Jerry) Fuchs ... We are humbled to have been able to create music with you for all these years, Jerry. You will be missed more than words can express. We love you, bro."