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These Fearless Freaks are Expanding Musical and Artistic Boundaries! A SoundPress.net Feature Article by Laura Lynch The Flaming Lips are an alternative rock band and so much more. In many ways they are Fearless Freaks crafting experimental music and films that are brilliant but often quirky. It takes courage to present original and unusual art yet from their early "garage gigs" to contemporary, major music festivals The Flaming Lips have been playing their own unique brand of rock. Their live shows are a spectacle with balloons, confetti, fake blood, lights and smoke. Best of all are the people dressed in animal and various other costumes grooving to the memsmerizing and memorable electronic grooves of The Flaming Lips. Oddly, the band tours with a limited road crew and leader Wayne Coyne is very hands on, checking equipment and moving things around the stage before show time.
In 1983, Wayne Coyne a short order cook at the local Long John Silvers was finally able to purchase the Les Paul guitar that he had been saving for. In a brief time, Wayne had learned the basics and was interested in forming a band. By 1984, they had chosen the name The Flaming Lips and purchased a PA system. Since they were one of the few "hardcore punk" bands in Oklahoma City with a PA the Lips and their equipment were in high demand. Even in the early days, Wayne was a theatrical live performer jumping around, lying down to play and managing to knock things over. In their twenty plus year history the group has seen a lot of personnel changes. The current line up is Wayne Coyne the main vocalist, leader, creative director and songwriter for the Lips. He also enjoys painting and filmmaking. Michael Ivins is the technical expert and Steven Drozd who started out as a drummer plays most of the instruments heard on The Flaming Lip's records. Steven is also a songwriter focusing more on the music and allowing Coyne to craft the lyrics. The Fearless Freaks is directed by Bradley Beesley and was eleven years in the making. The two-disk DVD set is happy, heartbreaking, hilarious and honest. The first disk focuses on the band's history and the second disk is a bit disjointed with a mix of concert footage, outtakes, quirky scenes, "shopping cart guy" and more interviews. Disk one runs a little over an hour and half. It is a look at the band's story including Coyne's childhood home movies. The film explores the upbringings and attitudes that would later influence Wayne and his band mates. Interviews with the group, family members and industry people give some insight into the whimsical world of The Flaming Lips. Filmmaker Bradley Beesley lived in the same neighborhood as Wayne and was enlisted from the start to document the exploits of The Flaming Lips. Early footage is hysterical with clips of bad haircuts and the band playing too loud to cover up their limited abilities. At one gig, a friend brings a motorcycle on stage and reeves it up through a mike thus filling the club with fumes. Another clip shows a drum cymbal set on fire with the potential to burn out of control, a somewhat funny yet scary scene. Interviews reveal the joys and sorrows of The Flaming Lips and the human condition generally. Wayne solemnly recalls his father as a hardworking man saying "We did not have a lot of extras and my Dad was the type that was always doing something," Coyne said commenting on the the work ethic that he also embraces. "We joked that Dad would have a heart attack at age 95 doing chores," Wayne remarked in the video. Sadly, Mr. Coyne died of a lingering illness well before his ninety-fifth birthday. Another jarring scene is the interview with Steven Drozd who spoke candidly about his drug use and heroin addition. As he is preparing a dose of heroin he talks about selling everything he owns to pay for his drugs. Later, Steven would kick heroin and he now continues to be a vital force in the experimental and extravagant music that is The Flaming Lips. Although the two DVDs have dark moments the overall impact is engaging and entertaining. The film captures the fun and magic of the individuals, their music and their additional artistic projects. The Flaming Lips are Fearless Freaks forging experimental rock albums and crafting circus-like concert experiences! Related Links: For more information on The Flaming Lips and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- FlamingLips.com | BUY DVD | BUY CD
(Originally Published on May 30, 2005) |
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