Steven Drozd has make clear his exit from The Flaming Lips, saying he had hoped to remain part of the line-up after “stepping again” from touring.
Throughout a latest look on FOX 23’s One Extra Factor, the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter make clear his determination for the primary time, saying that, following a “private disaster” on the finish of The Flaming Lips’ stay outings in 2024, he determined he not wished to tour.
Per Consequence, he famous wanting to stay an lively member of the band as a studio contributor. Nevertheless, “Wayne [Coyne, frontman] and I disagreed on what I ought to do transferring ahead, so we simply sort of agreed that I might step again. Then, stepping again changed into not coming again.
“A part of me hoped I may simply be like a man that doesn’t tour however remains to be within the band,” he added. “I feel that may work for some bands — I suppose it labored for The Seaside Boys — however we’re not The Seaside Boys. That simply appeared like an odd match. After 33 years, transferring on felt sort of proper.”
Again in December, Drozd had initially introduced his departure from the band in a now-deleted put up on Threads.
“They’re completed with me – however we’re not speaking about it,” he wrote final month. “So sure I’m transferring on. Simply hold it to your self for now. OK?”
Wanting again on sharing that put up, he described the transfer as a “blundering mistake” as a result of he thought the message was non-public. “Earlier than I knew it, it was on the timeline,” Drozd recalled. “Somebody screenshotted it and ran with it. I want it had been dealt with in a different way, like an official assertion, earlier than I blundered with that put up.”
Within the months main as much as his put up, he’d been absent from the band’s stay exhibits and was changed by AJ Slaughter, which wasn’t publicly addressed till he took to social media to announce the exit.
Coyne posted on Instagram shortly thereafter to offer an replace to followers, writing: “For anyone who learn Steven’s put up concerning the purpose he’s not within the Flaming Lips … I can say that’s completely not true.
“The rationale he left is unhappy, and infuriating,” he continued. “It’s HIS accountability to inform everybody what occurred… what he informed everybody was a lie ….I used to be attempting to offer him (Steven) his personal house and time to let everybody know what REALLY occurred.”
Drozd himself then adopted up with one other message explaining the break up. “On the finish of 2024 I began to suppose it could be finest for me and my household if I didn’t tour anymore,” he stated. “So, I didn’t tour in 2025 and it felt proper. Then, it simply kinda went from there. Wayne and I’ve parted methods after 33-34 years.
“I’m making some new music I’m enthusiastic about and plan to have an LP out in spring or summer season.”
The Flaming Lips’ drummer Matthew Duckworth Kirksey has additionally beforehand addressed Drozd’s departure, speaking up the present incarnation of the band and teasing that “there’s new music on the means and I feel it’s one of the best factor we’ve completed in ages”.
Amongst their upcoming dates are subsequent 12 months’s Latitude Pageant, the place they are going to be enjoying alongside the likes of Lewis Capaldi, Teddy Swims and David Byrne.
