Longtime Flaming Lips multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd appeared to reveal he’s no longer part of the band after a tenure of more than 30 years.
Drozd let the news slip on Threads yesterday (Dec. 17) after he posted about a new drum machine. In the replies, someone asked Drozd — who hasn’t performed with the Flaming Lips since last year — if he was “officially done” with the band.
Drozd replied: “They’re done with me — but we’re not talking about it. So yes, I’m moving on. Just keep it to yourself for now. Ok?” While Drozd quickly deleted the post, it was screen-grabbed and shared widely before it vanished. (You can see it over at Stereogum.)
Since the post, neither the Flaming Lips nor frontman Wayne Coyne have made any comment about Drozd or his status in the band. A rep for the group declined to comment further.
Drozd appeared to acknowledge the goof on Threads this morning, but without addressing his future (or lack thereof) in the Flaming Lips. “What do you call it when a Gen Xer makes a Boomer mistake?” he wrote. “That’s what I did yesterday here on threads lol.”
Drozd appears to have played his last show with the Flaming Lips on Oct. 12, 2024, as the band wrapped up their tour with Weezer at the Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, California. When the Lips returned to the road in January 2025, they were joined by guitarist A.J. Slaughter, who’s performed with the group throughout the year.
In a short video shared in September, Coyne spoke about Slaughter joining the band, but made no mention of Drozd. He said multi-instrumentalist Derek Brown and band manager Scott Booker recommended Slaughter ahead of the band’s 2025 tour dates, and the guitarist quickly gelled with the group. “All the things that we were doing were just made easier working with A.J.,” Coyne said. “Luckily, we were able to find someone that can play on that caliber.”
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As for Drozd, he joined the Flaming Lips in 1991, after the group had already been active for about eight years. He started as the group’s drummer, but eventually turned more to other instruments, especially guitars, keyboards, and bass (while still playing some occasional percussion). Drozd also provided backup vocals and made significant contributions as a songwriter.
From Rolling Stone US
