Steven Drozd Explains Contentious Split With The Flaming Lips After 33 Years

A month ago, news came out that multi-instrumentalist and co-producer Steven Drozd was no longer in the Flaming Lips after a 33-year tenure with the band that saw him evolve into a crucial creative partner for founder and frontman Wayne Coyne. Since then, the Lips have posted multiple statements defending the split. First, the band's current drummer Matthew Duckworth Kirksey shared an Instagram message explaining that people can "hack it" in bands for different amounts of time and denying that Drozd was the real musical genius behind the band. After Drozd explained that he had decided not to tour anymore, which led to his dismissal from the group, Coyne then weighed in, denying that Drozd was fired and asserting, "the reason he left is sad , and infuriating…. it is HIS responsibility to tell everyone what happened."

Now Drozd has given an interview to Nathan Thompson from Tulsa's FOX23 for his One More Thing podcast. In the video chat, Drozd doubles down on the idea that he simply decided not to tour anymore, which led to his ouster. "Part of me hoped I could just be like a guy that doesn’t tour but is still in the band," he explained. "I think that can work for some bands — I guess it worked for the Beach Boys — but we’re not the Beach Boys. That just seemed like an odd fit. After 33 years, moving on felt kind of right." In a clip that's circulating on X, he explained the circumstances of his departure like so:

Touring wasn't working for me anymore, and Wayne and I disagreed on what I should do moving forward. So we just kind of agreed that I would step back, and then step back turned into not coming back. And it just felt right to kind of just fade into the mist, really. And that's kind of how it happened. Really, there's not much more of a story, really. I think people want something more salacious or interesting or whatever, but for my own personal wellbeing, that's where I keep it. So I wish them well, and I know they'll have another great 10 years or whatever it's going to be, and the shows will be wonderful and all that, but I'm moving on with my own thing.

Drozd said he wishes he could have broken the news by issuing a more official statement. He first revealed his departure from the band in a public comment on Threads, which he falsely believed to be private — a move he describes as a "blunder." He describes his relationship with Coyne was "on hold" and says any potential reunion would have to be quite a ways down the road: "If that were the case, it would be a long time from now. Everyone is resigned to moving on. I’m working on a solo record that will probably come out in the summer. It won’t be the Flaming Lips."

It'll be interesting to see if Coyne elaborates on the "sad" reason that Drozd is no longer in the Lips. In the meantime, watch the Drozd interview below.