Steven Drozd Splits with The Flaming Lips After 33 Years

“Steven Drozd with The Flaming Lips” by Kenneth C. Zirkel is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Steven Drozd has revealed that he is no longer a member of the Flaming Lips. After 33 years as the neo-psychedelia outfit’s lead guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and primary songwriter with frontman Wayne Coyne, Drozd shared unceremoniously that he had parted ways with his longtime band in a since-deleted post to Threads.

Drozd posted on Wednesday about his excitement to pick up an Akai MPC Live II drum machine, to which one fan commented, “Are you officially done with the FLips?” Drozd replied, and later deleted, “They’re done with me – but we’re not talking about it. So yes I’m moving on. Just keep it to yourself for now. OK?” Before his response was erased, a fan posted a screenshot to Reddit.

Drozd joined The Flaming Lips in 1991 and has been a creative engine for the band in the three decades since, without any prior temporary breaks. His last show with the group was in October of last year, and for outings since, they’ve enlisted AJ Slaughter has served as touring guitarist. The artist’s departure follows those of co-founding bassist Michael Ivins and eight-year keyboardist Jake Ingalls in 2021, and neither Drozd nor Coyne has offered any official comment on the split.

Find more information on The Flaming Lips and their upcoming tour dates at flaminglips.com.