"Wayne is the Drive": The Flaming Lips Respond to Steven Drozd’s Departure and Tease New Music

Following a week of intense speculation, the drama surrounding The Flaming Lips and the departure of longtime member Steven Drozd has taken a new turn. While the band has yet to release a formal press statement, drummer Matthew Duckworth Kirksey has broken the silence with a raw and revealing post on Instagram.

Defending Wayne Coyne’s Vision

Kirksey’s post, shared via the band's official account, addresses the fan backlash following Drozd's claim that the band was "done with him". Addressing the common fan sentiment that Drozd was the sole "musical genius" of the group, Kirksey was blunt: "This idea that Steven was THE musical genius, and Wayne is just some weirdo artist… It's just not true".

The drummer described life in the psychedelic rock outfit as "brutal" but "fucking fun," creditng Wayne Coyne's relentless drive for making the band's decades of success possible. "Wayne pushes the creativity, the sound, and the show forward like no artist I've ever been around," Kirksey added.

The End of a 34-Year Era

The split was first brought to light when Steven Drozd, 56, replied to a fan on Threads, confirming he was moving on. "They’re done with me – but we’re not talking about it," Drozd wrote before later deleting the post. Drozd had been a cornerstone of the band since 1991, serving as a multi-instrumentalist and primary songwriter alongside Coyne.

Speculation began months ago when fans noticed Drozd's absence from live performances, with AJ Slaughter filling his role on stage.

New Music on the Horizon

Despite the bittersweet departure, there is a silver lining for fans. Kirksey revealed that the current iteration of the band has been busy in the studio. "There is new music on the way and I think its the best thing we’ve done in ages," he promised, adding that the band’s live show is "better than ever".

The Flaming Lips are set to return to the stage this summer, moving forward into a new chapter without one of their most iconic members.