Anna “Nesey” Gallons, a musician associated with the Athens, Georgia-based Elephant 6 collective, recently made serious allegations against Julian Koster, bassist for the iconic indie band Neutral Milk Hotel. In an Instagram post on July 9, Gallons accused Koster of grooming her as a teenager and sexually assaulting her.
According to Gallons, her relationship with Koster began in the early 2000s when she was just 15 years old. Their exchanges gradually became more intimate, and Koster allegedly invited her to visit him in New York. By April 2001, when Gallons was about to turn 17, their relationship turned sexual, which she defines as “grooming.”
Koster, in a statement posted on Instagram, confirmed the basic details of their past relationship but vehemently denied any assault. He characterized their relationship as consensual, acknowledging that he should have been more responsible about the age gap. However, he refuted all other accusations made by Gallons.
Gallons revealed that she had kept the alleged assaults a secret for years, supporting Koster’s career within the Elephant 6 community. She also questioned why Jeff Mangum, frontman of Neutral Milk Hotel, hadn’t spoken out.
This controversy has sparked intense discussions within the music community, with fans and fellow musicians grappling with the allegations and their implications for the band’s legacy.