The Flaming Lips are an American experimental rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States in 1983. Currently the band consists of founding members Wayne Coyne (vocals, guitar, theremin, keyboards) and Michael Ivins (bass, keyboards), longtime member Steven Drozd (keyboards, guitar, drums, synths, vocals) and Kliph Scurlock (drums at live shows)
Although grounded in an indie rock/alternative approach to rock music, The Flaming Lips are known for their lush, multi-layered arrangements, spacey lyrics and bizarre song titles. They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which typically feature animal suits, puppets, streamers, video projections and complex stage light configurations.
In 2002, Q magazine named The Flaming Lips one of the “50 Bands to See Before You Die”. In 2006, Oklahoma City named a street Flaming Lips Alley in their honor.
The group recorded several albums and EPs on an indie label in the 1980s and early 1990s. After signing to Warner Brothers, they scored a top ten hit in 1994 with She Don’t Use Jelly. Although it would be their only hit single, the band has maintained critical respect and, to a lesser extent, commercial viability with sonically majestic albums such as 1999’s The Soft Bulletin and 2002’s Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. The Flaming Lips’ 11th studio album, At War With The Mystics, was released by Warner Brothers on the 4th of April 2006. Their latest album Embryonic was released in October of 2009.
Throughout their career, band members have come and gone, but currently The Flaming Lips consist of original members Wayne Coyne (lead vocals, guitars and piano) and Michael Ivins (backing vocals, bass guitar and piano), along with longtime member Steven Drozd (backing vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards/synthesizers and drums) and touring member Kliph Scurlock (drums).
