Drop Nineteens

Drop Nineteens is an American shoegaze band formed in 1990 in Boston by classmates Greg Ackell (lead vocals, guitar) and Chris Roof (drums). The original lineup featured Paula Kelley (vocals, guitar), Motohiro Yasue (lead guitar), and Steve Zimmerman (bass). The group gained professional attention with the 1991 Mayfield demo and released their debut studio album, Delaware, in 1992. The lead single, “Winona”, received significant play on the program 120 Minutes. Following major lineup changes, the ensemble released National Coma in 1993, featuring the single “Limp”. That same year, the band performed at major events including the Reading Festival and Lollapalooza. Drop Nineteens disbanded in 1995 but resumed activity in 2022. The reunited group, featuring Greg Ackell, Paula Kelley, Motohiro Yasue, Steve Zimmerman, and Pete Koeplin, released the album Hard Light in 2023. This record included the single “Scapa Flow” and reached number 24 on the UK Record chart. In 2025, the ensemble issued the archival demos album, 1991, along with the single “Fools.”