Wayne Coyne has addressed Steven Drozd’s departure from The Flaming Lips, saying that “what he told everyone was a lie”.
Last week, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Drozd appeared to confirm that he had parted ways with the band in a since-deleted post on Threads. “They’re done with me – but we’re not talking about it,” he wrote. “So yes I’m moving on. Just keep it to yourself for now. OK?”
He has been absent from the band’s shows in recent months, with AJ Slaughter stepping in to replace him, but until now, neither the band nor frontman Coyne had spoken publicly on the matter.
That changed yesterday (December 23), when Coyne posted on his Instagram to provide an update. “For anybody who read Stevens post about the reason he is no longer in the Flaming Lips … I can say that is absolutely not true,” he wrote.
“The reason he left is sad, and infuriating,” he added. “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.”
Coyne continued that he will “post more” in a few days’ time, before thanking fans for their continued support and for “giving us the greatest life anyone could ever live”.
Drozd himself sent another message on Sunday (December 21). “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 also addressed Drozd’s departure at the weekend, 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.
Elsewhere, The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock also recently paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne with a cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ during their joint-headline tour at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta.