Steven Drozd has shed light on his exit from The Flaming Lips, saying he had hoped to stay a part of the line-up after “stepping back” from touring.
During a recent appearance on FOX 23’s One More Thing, the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter shed light on his decision for the first time, saying that, following a “personal crisis” at the end of The Flaming Lips’ live outings in 2024, he decided he no longer wanted to tour.
Per Consequence, he noted wanting to remain an active member of the band as a studio contributor. However, “Wayne [Coyne, frontman] and I disagreed on what I should do moving forward, so we just kind of agreed that I would step back. Then, stepping back turned into not coming back.
“Part of me hoped I could just be like a guy that doesn’t tour but is still in the band,” he added. “I think that can work for some bands — I guess it worked for The Beach Boys — but we’re not The Beach Boys. That just seemed like an odd fit. After 33 years, moving on felt kind of right.”
Back in December, Drozd had initially announced his departure from the band in a now-deleted post on Threads.
“They’re done with me – but we’re not talking about it,” he wrote last month. “So yes I’m moving on. Just keep it to yourself for now. OK?”
Looking back on sharing that post, he described the move as a “blundering mistake” because he thought the message was private. “Before I knew it, it was on the timeline,” Drozd recalled. “Someone screenshotted it and ran with it. I wish it had been handled differently, like an official statement, before I blundered with that post.”
In the months leading up to his post, he’d been absent from the band’s live shows and was replaced by AJ Slaughter, which wasn’t publicly addressed until he took to social media to announce the exit.
Coyne posted on Instagram shortly thereafter to provide an update to fans, writing: “For anybody who read Steven’s post about the reason he is no longer in the Flaming Lips … I can say that is absolutely not true.
“The reason he left is sad, and infuriating,” he continued. “It is HIS responsibility to tell everyone what happened… what he told everyone was a lie ….I was trying to give him (Steven) his own space and time to let everyone know what REALLY happened.”
Drozd himself then followed up with another message explaining the split. “At the end of 2024 I started to think it would be best for me and my family if I didn’t tour anymore,” he said. “So, I didn’t tour in 2025 and it felt right. Then, it just kinda went from there. Wayne and I have parted ways after 33-34 years.
“I’m making some new music I’m excited about and plan to have an LP out in spring or summer.”
The Flaming Lips’ drummer Matthew Duckworth Kirksey has also previously addressed Drozd’s departure, talking up the current incarnation of the band and teasing that “there is new music on the way and I think it’s the best thing we’ve done in ages”.
Among their upcoming dates are next year’s Latitude Festival, where they will be playing alongside the likes of Lewis Capaldi, Teddy Swims and David Byrne.