The Flaming Lips respond to Steven Drozd’s departure
After The Flaming Lips songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd confirmed that he is no longer in the band last week, drummer Matthew Duckworth Kirksey has issued a statement.
In a now-deleted Threads conversation, Steven Drozd confirmed his exit from The Flaming Lips after 33 years, stating, “They’re done with me. But we’re not talking about it.”
Although the band has not formally issued a statement, drummer Matthew Duckworth Kirksey took to Instagram to share his thoughts collaborative post with The Flaming Lips’ official Instagram account. Kirksey’s statement reads:
“Man… hard to read a lot of these comments. Being in a band, for a long time, that never really stops touring is hard. Some People can hack it for 5 years, some people can hack it for 25 years… A lot of great friends and better people have come and gone along the way. I still love them, and miss them, and some of them are my family. I just want to say… If you haven’t heard this newest iteration of the band, give us a shot,” the statement reads.
Kirkser continues, “The music, and the show is better than ever. And remember… NONE of this ever happens without Wayne. This idea that Steven was THE musical genius, and Wayne is just some weirdo artist… Its just not true. Wayne pushes the creativity, the sound, and the show forward, like no artist I’ve ever been around. Being in The Lips is hard… I remember before I was in the band, I would see them rehearsing for hours and hours and think… man… thats brutal. But once you get to be a part of that vision… its fucking exhilarating. It’s fucking FUN.”
“It’s Wayne’s drive to be great that makes it all possible. Always has, always will. Derek has been is this band for 16 years. I’ve been in it for 12 years. It’s our blood, sweat, and tears as well. We’ve given our whole selves to this thing… Because we love it, and believe in it. There is new music on the way and I think it’s the best thing we’ve done in ages. I can’t wait for you to hear it. Come see us this summer if you get a chance. Happy Holidays!” he concludes.
The Flaming Lips first formed in 1983, founded by brothers Wayne and Mark Coyne. The band’s line-up has changed frequently throughout the years, with Drozd joining in 1991 — initially as a drummer — and Kirksey in 2014. The Flaming Lips continues to be fronted by Wayne Coyne on vocals, guitar, and keys. In addition to Kirksey, the present line-up now consists of Derek Brown on keys, guitar, percussion, AJ Slaughter, who has been responsible for covering Drozd’s live parts across guitar, keys, and pedal steel, and Tommy McKenzie on bass.
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