The Flaming Lips comment on split with Steven Drozd

In what was sad news to a lot of Flaming Lips fans, longtime member Steven Drozd, who joined in 1991, revealed that he and the band had parted ways. It was via a since-deleted reply to a post on Threads Drozd started about a new drum machine he bought. “They’re done with me — but we’re not talking about it,” he said. “So I’m moving on.”

Now The Flaming Lips have responded. Via Stereogum, Lips member Matthew Duckworth Kirksey (who’s been in the band since 2014) posted on Instagram which The Flaming Lips were collaborators. Drozed is not named, but it seems pretty obvious who this is about:

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 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. Its fucking FUN. Its 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 its 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!

If Drozd wasn’t “THE musical genius” of The Flaming Lips, he is certainly A musical genius in the band, and The Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi Vs The Pink Robots and other records wouldn’t sound the same without him.