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Wayne Coyne is the Alien Super Being. Or so he went by that title in Christmas on Mars, a film he also wrote and co-directed. He and the rest of the Flaming Lips also composed the film’s soundtrack. Released at the end of 2008, one would expect the near-fifty year-old musician to take a few breaths after such a daunting task, but not Coyne. He’s also managed to involve himself in a rock band feud, a state rock song controversy and, most notably, a new album planned for release in late summer. Oh, and it’s a double album. No tiptoeing into the twilight years for this star. [Insert Human Torch catchphrase]

There aren’t too many artists or groups that can remain vital after passing their Silver Anniversary. Hell, there aren’t many that even make it that long. But the Flaming Lips are an exception, showing no signs of slowing down long after first forming in 1983. Frontman Coyne has looked beyond his years for quite a while now, exhibiting salt and pepper long before he was forty, but the impish sparkle in his eye has never dulled. Bassist Michael Ivins couldn’t even play his instrument when they first came together and now he plays a variety of instruments for the Lips, mostly bass and keyboards. Drummer (and former Lips roadie) Kliph Scurlock is practically a kid in relation, joining the venerable group earlier this decade for their touring schedules. And Steven Drozd has been the band’s little instrument prodigy since the early 90s, handling whatever odd tool he’s given in creating the Flaming Lips’ lush and dense sonic outpour.

It’s been three years since At War with the Mystics, the Lips’ last studio LP. But they haven’t been keeping quiet in the recent part of the interim. In addition to the Christmas on Mars project, Coyne and Win Butler got themselves into an amusing feud earlier this year when Coyne told Rolling Stone that Butler’s band, the Arcade Fire, were a bunch of “pricks” (profanity ahead…and immediately behind):


“I'm a fan of them on one level, but on another level I get really tired of their pompousness. We've played some shows with them and they really treat people like shit. Whenever I've been around them, I've found that they not only treated their crew like shit, they treated the audience like shit. They treated everybody in their vicinity like shit. I thought, ‘Who do they think they are?’ I don't know why people put up with it. I wouldn't put up with it. I don't care if it's Arcade Fire or Brian Eno. If either of them walked into a room and treated people like shit I'd be like, ‘F--k you, get outta here.’

“People treat Arcade Fire like they're the greatest thing ever and they get away with it. Those sort of opinions change my view of their music. They have good tunes, but they're pricks, so f--k 'em. Who does Arcade Fire think they are? I've been around groups. I've been around the Edge from U2 and he's the f--king sweetest guy ever. I was around Justin Timberlake when he was young and he was just a normal, nice, kind person. Anyone can be polite and kind and people who have the privilege and money and attention should understand that. If they don't, then f--k 'em.”


It would not be the first time Coyne has talked shit about other artists. In recent years, he’s said derogatory things about artists of various value, including the Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, Beck, Duffy, Animal Collective and Razorlight. It would be sad if it wasn’t so funny; being a member of rock royalty doesn’t give him license to be an S.O.B., but it sure is a hell of a lot more entertaining and endearing than being a kiss ass. Besides, I know none of these people intimately, so who knows, maybe he’s right and they deserve it. Coyne later admitted that he felt bad about saying nasty stuff about Arcade Fire and (sort of) apologized, so hopefully they’ve buried the hatchet and will plan some more shows together—you can place odds on backstage fighting if you want, but I’ll take any wager against it not being a kick ass concert.

Then there was that whole business recently about “Do You Realize??” being possibly elected as Oklahoma’s state rock song. Ten songs were voted upon; their relationship to Oklahoma can be read here. The nominees were as follow:

“After Midnight” by J.J. Cale
“Do You Realize??” by the Flaming Lips
“Endless Oklahoma Sky” by John Moreland & the Black Gold Band
“Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley
“Home Sweet Oklahoma” by Leon Russell
“Let’s Have a Party” by the Ventures
“Move Along” by All American Rejects
“Never Been to Spain” by Three Dog Night
“Oklahoma” by the Call
“Walk, Don’t Run” by the Ventures

“Do You Realize??” ended up winning with just over fifty percent of the vote, a stunning victory in numbers. But the Oklahoma House of Representatives refused to confirm the pick after Republican Rep. Mike Reynolds slammed the band for using offensive language in their music and Republican Rep. Corey Holland said he was terribly "offended" because one of the band members wore a shirt with a sickle and hammer on it to the announcement ceremony. But Governor Brad Henry signed an executive order in favor of “Realize,” stating, “Oklahomans spoke loud and clear in that vote, and I thought it was important to make sure their choice was heard. Not only are the Flaming Lips among the most original bands in rock music, they are great ambassadors for Oklahoma. They are fiercely loyal and proud Oklahomans, and their fellow Oklahomans are evidently just as loyal and proud about this Oklahoma born-and-bred group.” The order was signed on April 28; that day was proclaimed to be “Flaming Lips Day” in the state. In doing so, Oklahoma became the third state to have an official "state rock song," joining Ohio ("Hang on Sloopy" by the McCoys) and Washington ("Louie Louie" by Richard Berry). I’m glad the Lips got the honor, though I wish they had chosen a different song, since I always thought that “Do You Realize??” was one of the weaker singles they’ve released.

But more than any controversy, the Flaming Lips are a rock band, and their music always speaks loudest. They’ll be performing live off and on all summer long, mostly in Europe and Australia. They’re also set to head for Chicago and play the 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival in July (and are going to be taking requests). And then there’s that whole business with a new album; kinda cool news…

Unless you count the four-disc experimental release Zaireeka, the Lips have never planned a double LP before. As reported recently, they have thirteen tracks in the can and are expecting another eight or nine more. In an interview with Billboard, Coyne describes the album as a reflection and response to artists like John Lennon, Joy Division and Miles Davis, and they plan to make the album a sprawling and unfocused go-for-broke work in line with Physical Graffiti and The White Album. The new album has the working title of Embryonic and will be released through Warner Bros.

So why is fifty-ish Coyne at it like he still has the energy of someone half his age? Why hasn't he slowed down to greatest hits tours and once-a-decade filler albums? I can’t answer that, and I doubt he’d give a straight answer if asked. Never ask the creative types to fade; the sun certainly hasn’t set on them yet. Guess I can only count the days until September. Take it away, Johnny Storm.