The Flaming Lips

BIOGRAPHY

Formed in Oklahoma City, OK, in 1983, The Flaming Lips have since become one of the most influential, unpredictable, and vital forces in American alternative rock music. The band has garnered a vast array of honors and accolades spanning three GRAMMY® Awards, a Tony Award nomination, and RIAA Gold certification for 2002’s landmark Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, the latter of which includes the beloved “Do You Realize??,” the Official State Rock Song for the state of Oklahoma and covered by no less of a legend as Willie Nelson.

Over the course of their career, The Flaming Lips have both set and broken countless records, created spectacular interactive audio/visual events now regarded as legendary, made innumerable late-night television appearances, appeared in a Super Bowl commercial, contributed to a number of iconic film soundtracks, and collaborated with a diverse assortment of fans and fellow artists including Miley Cyrus, Chris Martin, Kacey Musgraves, Yoko Ono, Tame Impala, and many more. In addition, founder and frontman Wayne Coyne has been recognized for works of art that graced many of the band’s album covers, along with his traveling art exhibit, “The King’s Mouth,” an audiovisual art installation that has been featured in many contemporary art museums around the US. The Oklahoma Contemporary will present “The King’s Mouth,” a major highlight of the Wayne Coyne retrospective Happily One Freak, which explores Coyne's career beyond music and showcases his extensive visual and conceptual work. The exhibition runs February 11 - August 9, 2027, and includes original artworks, rare and never-before-seen ephemera, and large-scale interactive installations.

2026 saw The Flaming Lips’ classic album, At War With The Mystics, celebrated with a Deluxe 20th Anniversary Edition available now via Rhino / Warner Records. Originally released in 2006, At War With The Mystics found The Flaming Lips at one of the most creatively expansive points in their remarkable career. Following the extraordinary success of Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, the album saw the band continuing to push their music in unexpected directions, combining psychedelic experimentation, electronic textures, orchestral color and huge pop melodies with the surreal, emotionally charged songwriting that had become their hallmark. The Deluxe Edition substantially expands At War With The Mystics, bringing together a remarkable collection of previously unreleased recordings, rarities and material from the wider world surrounding the album, spread across six discs of music. At its heart is a wealth of previously unheard demos, offering a fascinating glimpse into the writing and recording process behind the album. These are joined by non-album tracks, B-sides and alternate versions, alongside music created by The Flaming Lips for film, television, documentaries and other projects, as well as recordings featured on soundtracks, compilations and special releases. Further highlights include radio sessions and other live performances, a selection of covers and additional rarities, while discs 5 and 6 feature two legendary Flaming Lips concerts from 2006, U.F.O.s At The Zoo and Live At The Hollywood Bowl.

Even after a combination of 22 studio recordings, 16 singles, 11 compilations, 11 EPs, and 11 self-released experimental collaborative oddities released in various forms, quantities, and unique mediums, The Flaming Lips remain at a creative apex that has no bounds. As a result, they have become an American Treasure and created a genre all their own.

The Flaming Lips are: Wayne Coyne – Vocals, Guitars, Synths; Derek Brown – Guitars, Synths, Vocals; Matthew Kirksey – Drums, Vocals; Tommy McKenzie – Bass, Synths; AJ Slaughter – Guitar, Synths.

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