Drop Nineteens to release new fan-involved video for ‘Kick the Tragedy’
In an exclusive interview with Far Out, Drop Nineteens leader Greg Ackell revealed that the band will release a fan-involved video for their song ‘Kick the Tragedy’ after over 30 years. This comes as part of the process of the group reissuing their widely influential 1992 debut album, Delaware.
‘Kick the Tragedy’ is a highlight of Delaware and captures the teenage spirit of the early 1990s. In the lyrics, the vocalist salutes his friend Phil, who sadly died shortly after the release of the album, which adds extra significance to the track for him on a personal level.
As Ackell told Far Out: “This line of ‘Fucking Phil, he’s off on his board somewhere, and I’m just sitting here getting more and more lost with everything’ has taken on tremendous poignancy ever since he’s been gone, which has been the last 30 years.”
As the song and album have continued to resonate with audiences since 1992, Ackell reveals that Drop Nineteens will be reissuing Delaware, which will also produce the long-awaited official video for ‘Kick the Tragedy’.
After clearing out his barn, Ackell says he came across a bag of old skate videos featuring Phil, given to him by his brother after the tragedy. As the band never got the chance to release the song originally, with the reality of MTV playing a nine-minute composition highly unlikely, the band feel that now, following the release of their celebrated third album, Hard Light, and the continued significance of ‘Kick the Tragedy’ for fans, is the time to give the track the attention it deserves, aided by the footage of Phil.
“It’s great,” the Drop Nineteens frontman says. “I’ve been reviewing that footage lately. And just to see my friend, you know, it’s just been glorious.”
Not only will Drop Nineteens be releasing a video for their most-streamed song, but they will also ask fans to get involved in bringing it to life. Directed by Ackell, he explains: “We’re going to ask Drop Nineteens fans all over the world to send ten seconds of video footage from their towns, of them doing what they do, which can include friends, skateboarding, hanging around, anything at all really.”
He continues: “We hope to make this thing a beautiful testament to the people who hold ‘Kick the Tragedy’ dear, and further hope there will be excitement among our fans to find themselves in the video.”
Submissions will begin soon. “Stay tuned to Drop Nineteens socials,” Ackell notes.
Listen to ‘Kick the Tragedy’ below.
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