Wayne Coyne Addresses Steven Drozd’s Exit From The Flaming Lips

Wayne Coyne has spoken publicly about Steven Drozd leaving The Flaming Lips, claiming that “what he told everyone was a lie”.

Last week, Drozd, who has long been a key songwriter and multi instrumentalist in the band, appeared to acknowledge his exit in a now deleted post on Threads. “They’re done with me but we’re not talking about it,” he wrote. “So yes I’m moving on. Just keep it to yourself for now. OK?”

Drozd has not appeared at recent Flaming Lips shows, with AJ Slaughter stepping in to fill his role. Until now, neither the band nor Coyne had commented publicly on the situation.

That changed yesterday on December 23, when Coyne shared a statement on Instagram addressing the situation directly. “For anybody who read Steven’s post about why he is no longer in The Flaming Lips, I can say that it is absolutely not true,” he wrote.

“The real reason he left is sad and infuriating,” Coyne continued. “It is his responsibility to tell everyone what actually happened. What he told people was a lie. I was trying to give Steven the space and time to explain what really happened in his own way.”

Coyne added that he plans to “post more” in the coming days, before thanking fans for their ongoing support and for “giving us the greatest life anyone could ever live”.

Drozd later shared another message on Sunday December 21, offering his own perspective. “At the end of 2024 I started thinking it would be best for me and my family if I stopped touring,” he said. “So I didn’t tour in 2025 and it felt right. From there it just kind of unfolded. Wayne and I have parted ways after 33 to 34 years. I’m working on new music that I’m really excited about and I’m planning to release an LP in spring or summer.”

The Flaming Lips drummer Matthew Duckworth Kirksey also commented on Drozd’s departure over the weekend, speaking positively about the band’s current chapter and teasing that “there is new music on the way and I think it’s the best thing we’ve done in ages”.

The band are set to appear at next year’s Latitude Festival, sharing the bill with artists including Lewis Capaldi, Teddy Swims and David Byrne.

Elsewhere, The Flaming Lips recently joined Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, performing a cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ during their co headline tour stop at the Coca Cola Roxy in Atlanta.

“The reason he left is sad, and infuriating,”