Steven Drozd Breaks Silence on Flaming Lips Exit: 'Moving On Felt Right'

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Former Flaming Lips Multi-Instrumentalist Openly Addresses His Departure from the Band

In a rare and candid interview with Tulsa's local Fox station, former Flaming Lips multi-instrumentalist Stephen Drozd finally broke his silence on his departure from the band. The conversation came about a month after Drozd initially hinted at moving on from his role with the group, citing a personal crisis that prompted his exit from touring life in December 2024.

Drozd expressed hope to remain a member of the Flaming Lips even if he doesn't tour anymore, suggesting that his creative contributions could continue in the studio. However, when discussing future plans with lead vocalist Wayne Coyne, Drozd and Coyne diverged on how to proceed. The disagreement resulted in Drozd's decision to step back from the band.

In contrast to the Beach Boys' history of keeping a member who didn't tour, such as Brian Wilson, Drozd acknowledged that this approach wouldn't be suitable for his situation. Despite initial reservations, he ultimately felt it was time to move on and stated that "after 33 years, moving on felt kind of right."

This new development comes after the band replaced Drozd live with A.J. Slaughter in January 2025. The guitarist's exit marked a significant change for the Flaming Lips, whose last album without him remains unreleased.

Drozd first addressed his departure via social media earlier this year, posting a message on Threads that sparked curiosity among fans and the media. In his recent interview with Fox station, Drozd shared a lighter tone, jokingly referring to the initial comment's unintended humor value – "What do you call it when a Gen Xer makes a Boomer mistake?"
 
man i'm kinda surprised steve drozd is speaking out now 🤔 like he's been on his own for months but this interview feels so casual & relaxed 😎 does that mean he's cool with the band moving forward without him? and btw what's up with wayne coyne not talking about it more in their interviews 🤷‍♂️
 
so Drozd is finally speaking up about what really went down and it sounds like he was feeling stuck in the band for a bit. 33 years is a long time, you gotta think about his mental health and all that. I feel bad for Wayne Coyne, they were a team for so long... but I guess some things have to change 🤔. Drozd's still got skills tho, he's not gonna just disappear, he's gonna keep making music in the studio. And lol @ him calling out his own Boomer mistake 😂👊
 
idk why Drozd is still trying to hold on to Flaming Lips. he was part of a band that was all about experimentation and creativity, but now he's just gonna be some guy in the studio? seems like an easy way out after 33 years 🤔. i mean, don't get me wrong, it's cool that he's open about his departure, but what happened to taking risks and pushing boundaries? seems like we're losing something special 💔
 
omg u think wayne coyne is gonna get all bent outta shape over steve drozd leaving? lol no way dude steve was always the weirdo one in the band anyway 🤪🎸 i'm actually kinda relieved he's out so we can hear some new music without him getting all over the place on stage 🎶
 
just read this interview 🤷‍♂️, and i gotta say, Drozd seems like a cool dude. 33 years with Flaming Lips is no joke, but he's ready to move on? that takes courage 🌊. his point about not wanting to be kept on as just a studio guy if he can't tour anymore makes total sense 💡. it's good to see him owning the decision and embracing change 🎉. gotta respect Drozd for speaking up after keeping quiet for so long 👏
 
I gotta say, I'm a bit surprised that Stephen Drozd is still low-key keeping his feelings about leaving the Flaming Lips bottled up. I mean, 33 years with the band and he's finally ready to move on? It's like, we get it, dude, you're done touring and need a break 😊. But at least he's being honest about it now. What's weird is that Wayne Coyne wasn't exactly supportive of Drozd's decision... I feel bad for him, because it sounds like Drozd was genuinely invested in his role with the band 🤷‍♂️. Maybe this will be a great opportunity for both of them to explore solo projects and see what they can create on their own 🔥.
 
🤔 I'm kinda sad to hear that Stephen Drozd is stepping back from the Flaming Lips 🎸. He was an integral part of their sound, especially during Wayne Coyne's time as lead vocalist 👊. It's interesting how Drozd feels about still being a part of the band even if he doesn't tour anymore - I think it's great that he wants to contribute creatively in the studio 🎶.

I'm also kinda surprised that the Flaming Lips went ahead and replaced him live with A.J. Slaughter 🤝. I get why they might've wanted to continue performing, but I feel like Drozd was a huge part of their energy 💥. Now it's gonna be weird seeing them without him on stage 😔.

Anyway, I'm loving the lighthearted vibe that Drozd is bringing to his interviews 🤣. He seems so down-to-earth and humorous 🙃. Can't wait to see what he does next! 🎉
 
idk man... think Drozd is doing the right thing leaving the band tour-wise. 33 years is a long time, and you can't keep pushing yourself like that. still kinda sad to see him go tho 🤔. I get why he wanted to stay creative in the studio though - drozd's been an integral part of their sound for so long... hope he finds new projects or collabs soon 🎸
 
Idk why Drozd felt the need to speak out now after all this time... just seems like he was lookin' for attention 🤔. I mean, 33 years is a lotta time, but he's still gonna be a part of the band even if he doesn't tour? That don't add up. And what about Coyne's side of the story? We're never gonna know what went down between them 💁‍♂️. This whole thing feels like a PR stunt to me... or maybe I'm just too cynical 😒. Either way, I need some more info before I start believin' Drozd's story 📝.
 
🤔 I think its pretty interesting how Stephen Drozd is handling his departure from the Flaming Lips. He's acknowledging that his creative output might be limited if he doesn't tour, but at the same time, he's still holding onto the idea of contributing to the band in a studio setting. It's almost like he wants to keep some connection with the group, even if its just on a behind-the-scenes level 🎶. I mean, 33 years is a long time, and it takes courage to leave something that's been such a huge part of your life. But at the same time, you can't deny that things come to an end, and sometimes those ends are meant to be 💔.
 
idk what's going on with the Flaming Lips, man 🤔. Stephen Drozd just dropped this bombshell that he's done with touring and stuff. I get it, 33 years is a long time, but now he wants to stay part of the band in the studio? It's all good, but also kinda confusing. The lead vocalist Wayne Coyne didn't seem too stoked about it tho 🤷‍♂️. And now they're just gonna keep going with A.J. Slaughter live... I mean, I guess that makes sense, but it feels like a part of the band's identity is missing 💔. Drozd's jokes about his own mistake made me chuckle tho 😂. Guess only time will tell how this all plays out 🕰️
 
just saw this interview with Stephen Drozd 🤔... think its kinda wild how he went from being an integral part of Flaming Lips to stepping away, especially given their history and the band's evolution. Drozd himself seems pretty chill about it though, which is good, 'cause you can tell the tension between him and Wayne Coyne was real 🎸💔. Also, gotta wonder what the future holds for both Drozd and Flaming Lips... will we see more music from them? Maybe a reworked lineup could be exactly what they need to reignite their creative spark 🔥
 
idk about this whole thing 🤔 ... like, i gotta respect steve drozd for speaking up and all, but isn't he kinda being dramatic by saying he needs to move on? i mean, 33 years is a long time, but so are some of our relationships & experiences... maybe he just needs to take a break instead of quitting cold turkey 🤷‍♂️ ... and btw, aj slaughter sounds like a great replacement - i'm not mad about the change 😊
 
🤔 this is wild. i'm not surprised tho. stephen drozd always seemed like he was trying to live his own thing outside of the band. 33 years is a long time, gotta feel some sense of restlessness right? it's cool that he's still down to contribute in the studio tho, even if he can't tour anymore. i wonder what the future holds for him and the flaming lips, but at least it's clear what happened. 👏
 
omg i feel so bad for stephen drozd, he's been with the flaming lips for like 33 yrs & now they're saying goodbye 🤘🎸 he's still got a ton of creativity to share tho, and studio work could be a great way to keep him involved 📚💡 i think it's awesome that he's being so open about his personal struggles too, we should all be supporting each other more 🤗
 
idk what's up with bands these days 🤔. everyone's all about touring life and living in the moment... meanwhile steve drozd was just trying to figure out his own life and creative process 💡. i feel like he made the right call, tho - after 33 years, it's time for some new perspectives & ideas to come in. don't get me wrong, coyne's still a legend, but sometimes you gotta let someone step aside & breathe 🌱. also can we talk about how Drozd is just owning his 'boomer mistake' and making light of the whole thing? that's some mature vibes right there 😎
 
I'm not surprised he left 🤷‍♂️, I mean, 33 years is a long time and it's normal for things to fall apart. Touring life can be toxic and people change or burn out, you know? I just wish they'd given him more of a say in the decision-making process before bringing someone else in 🤔. A.J. Slaughter might be cool, but can he bring that same energy as Drozd? And what's with the album release delay? It's like they're not even prioritizing the music anymore 🎶😒
 
Aw man, I feel bad for Stephen Drozd 🤕, he's been with Flaming Lips for like 33 years and that's a huge commitment 💯. I can imagine how hard it must've been to deal with that personal crisis and then have to figure out what's next 🌪️. It's great that he's still hopeful about staying involved in the band, even if not touring anymore 🎸. And yeah, it's interesting that he acknowledged Brian Wilson's situation was different from his own 👀. Still sad to hear he stepped away from the group though 💔. Wish him all the best with whatever comes next 🌟
 
🤔 I feel like Stephen Drozd was always the one behind the scenes with the Flaming Lips and his departure is kinda like the curtain closing on an act, but still leaving room for more shows to come 🎪💥 The way he talks about wanting to remain part of the band even if not touring anymore is really inspiring - you never know what's gonna happen in the studio! Maybe this change will lead to some fresh sounds?
 
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