Steven Drozd Weighs In on Flaming Lips Departure: A Bittersweet Move Onwards
In a rare interview with Tulsa's local Fox station, former Flaming Lips multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd spoke out about his decision to step back from the band. The news came as a surprise, especially given that Drozd had been an integral part of the group since its inception in 1991.
Drozd expressed that he hoped to continue working with the band in the studio, despite not being involved in touring. However, creative differences between him and lead vocalist Wayne Coyne led to Drozd's departure from the group. The two allegedly disagreed on how Drozd should move forward, ultimately resulting in his decision to step back.
While some fans might have been upset by Drozd's departure, he took a clever approach to discussing the situation. In response to criticism for speaking out publicly, he joked about making a "Boomer mistake" and embracing his own generational quirks. The lighthearted remark seems in line with Drozd's playful personality.
Interestingly, Drozd drew inspiration from the Beach Boys' experience of keeping co-founder Brian Wilson off tour. Although this may have been an unusual move for the Flaming Lips, Drozd saw it as a viable option and believed that moving on was "kind of right." The 33-year veteran band member made his decision to leave with a sense of closure.
Drozd's tenure with the Flaming Lips has left an indelible mark. As a multi-instrumentalist, he played every standard rock-band instrument at some point during his decades-long stint with the group. Some of their most celebrated albums, including "The Soft Bulletin" and "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots," were co-written by Drozd.
Despite the band's continued success without him, it seems that Drozd has moved on to a new chapter in his life. His departure serves as a reminder that even in creative endeavors, personal growth and change are inevitable.
In a rare interview with Tulsa's local Fox station, former Flaming Lips multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd spoke out about his decision to step back from the band. The news came as a surprise, especially given that Drozd had been an integral part of the group since its inception in 1991.
Drozd expressed that he hoped to continue working with the band in the studio, despite not being involved in touring. However, creative differences between him and lead vocalist Wayne Coyne led to Drozd's departure from the group. The two allegedly disagreed on how Drozd should move forward, ultimately resulting in his decision to step back.
While some fans might have been upset by Drozd's departure, he took a clever approach to discussing the situation. In response to criticism for speaking out publicly, he joked about making a "Boomer mistake" and embracing his own generational quirks. The lighthearted remark seems in line with Drozd's playful personality.
Interestingly, Drozd drew inspiration from the Beach Boys' experience of keeping co-founder Brian Wilson off tour. Although this may have been an unusual move for the Flaming Lips, Drozd saw it as a viable option and believed that moving on was "kind of right." The 33-year veteran band member made his decision to leave with a sense of closure.
Drozd's tenure with the Flaming Lips has left an indelible mark. As a multi-instrumentalist, he played every standard rock-band instrument at some point during his decades-long stint with the group. Some of their most celebrated albums, including "The Soft Bulletin" and "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots," were co-written by Drozd.
Despite the band's continued success without him, it seems that Drozd has moved on to a new chapter in his life. His departure serves as a reminder that even in creative endeavors, personal growth and change are inevitable.
he's been with the band since 1991 and was like the heartbeat of it all! I get why creative differences happened but man it's sad to see him go 
he's still gonna be involved in studio stuff which is a plus I guess? I love how he took the whole situation with a grain of salt tho made that funny Boomer joke lol 
anyway I think it's cool he's embracing change and moving on like Brian Wilson did with the Beach Boys 
drozd's contributions to their discography are legendary btw Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is still one of my faves! 
They're like my favorite band from back in the day 
when Wayne Coyne was still with them. I remember listening to "The Soft Bulletin" on repeat during college 
. It's crazy how much creativity goes into making music, and sometimes it just doesn't work out. Drozd was a huge part of their sound, so it'll be weird not hearing his beats in their live shows anymore... 
.
his guitar work was always so iconic and integral to their sound 
anyway i love how he handled the situation tho - all that "boomer mistake" humor 
gave me life!! but seriously though, it's wild to think about how different some of those albums would've been without him 
still can't wait for what's next for the flaming lips 
?