Steven Drozd reveals the real reason he left The Flaming Lips
Multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd has officially explained why he’s no longer a member of The Flaming Lips.
In December 2025, Drozd confirmed he was leaving the group via a hurriedly deleted post on Threads, which read, “[The Flaming Lips] are done with me – but we’re not talking about it. So yes I’m moving on. Just keep it to yourself for now. OK?”
Drozd, who has not played live with the band for some time, has been a pivotal part of the group’s sound since joining in 1991, playing many different instruments and contributing heavily to the songwriting process.
Now, Drozd is open to discussing his unexpected departure after decades of service. During a recent appearance on Fox 23’s One More Thing, Drozd admitted that, after a “personal crisis” at the end of The Flaming Lips’ tour in 2024, he realised that he no longer wanted to be on the road with the band. He still hoped to remain an active member and studio contributor.
However, he shared, “Wayne [Coyne] and I disagreed on what I should do moving forward, so we just kind of agreed that I would step back. Then stepping back turned into not coming back.”
He went on to add, “Part of me hoped I could just be like a guy that doesn’t tour but is still in the band. 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.”
Drozd also spoke about previously confirming his departure via Threads, which he deemed a “blundering mistake,” because he thought the message was private.
“Before I knew it, it was on the timeline,” Drozd recounted. “Someone screenshotted it and ran with it. I wish it had been handled differently, like an official statement, before I blundered with that post.”
As a consequence of this, his current relationship is “on hold, I guess,” he shared. “We’re just taking a break for now.”
When asked about the possibility of a reunion with Coyne down the road, Drozd said, “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.”
Next summer, the band will return to Europe for a run of shows, including a date at The Piece Hall in Halifax on July 23rd, as well as dates in Galway, InMusic in Zagreb, Belgrade, Prague, and Vienna. They are also set to perform at Latitude Festival in Suffolk.
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