Boston-based Drop Nineteens (1991-1995) were one of a select few US-based bands who were influenced by My Bloody Valentine and the raft of UK Indie bands such as Ride and Lush that were producing the type of music that was often known as ‘shoegazing’ (a tag the bands themselves often disliked, as they wished to avoid being pigeon-holed). Much like Boston’s Pixies who came before them, the band were more widely acknowledged in the UK than in their native US, where the then unsigned Drop Nineteens first gained attention from the British music press with two 8-track demos.
Signing to Caroline Records (label home to Smashing Pumpkins, Hole), but with their records released on Hut in the UK, Drop Nineteens immediately garnered college radio airplay in the US with their 1992 debut album, Delaware. Formed by Greg Ackell (vocals, guitar), Steve Zimmerman (bass), Chris Roof (drums), Motohiro Yasue (guitar), and Paula Kelley (vocals, guitar), the band made three music videos which were prominently played on MTV. They also topped the UK’s Indie Album & Singles charts with early releases, toured on the success of their first album, headlined/co-headlined and opened tours in England, Europe, and North America, recorded BBC radio sessions for John Peel and Mark Goodier, and played summer music festivals including England’s Reading Festival and North America’s Lollapalooza.
Due to artistic differences, several member changes occurred between the first and second full length releases. Paula Kelley, Chris Roof, and Motohiro Yasue went on to pursue other interests, and Megan Gilbert (vocals, guitar), Pete Koeplin (drums, now drummer for the band Kahoots) and Justin Crosby (guitar) were added to the line-up in 1993. Shortly thereafter, Drop Nineteens released their second full-length album, National Coma, but after a disappointing reaction to this record and various artistic differences the band broke up in 1995.
Beyond Drop Nineteens, Ackell and Koeplin recorded an album under the band name Fidel in the late nineties, which was never formally released. Kelley went on to lead Hot Rod, Boy Wonder, and is currently a solo artist with the Paula Kelley Orchestra. Rumors of a third Drop Nineteens album have circulated over the past decade, but no release date has ever been announced. |
