The Flaming Lips

Originating from Oklahoma City in 1983, The Flaming Lips purportedly assembled when singer / guitarist Wayne Coyle stole music gear from a local church hall and formed the group with Michael Ivins (bass guitar) and brother Mark Coyle. Since then the group has cycled through drummers (eventually adding Steven Drozd to the mix in 1992) and guitarists (Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev joined in 1989, was replaced by Roland Jones in ’92, who departed after 1995’s Clouds Taste Metallic), but has always maintained a cutting edge approach to music. For instance, 1997’s Zaireeka was a four disc album that required each disc to be played simultaneously, while 1998’s The Soft Bulletin explored the limits of sonic orchestration within a pop format. Their highlight, however, was being featured on Beverly Hills 90210 as a party band following 1993’s unforeseen smash hit, “She Don’t Use Jelly” off of Transmissions From the Satellite Heart, prompting the famous Ian Ziering quote: "You know, I've never been a big fan of alternative music, but these guys rocked the house!".

– Maurice S. Teilmann (July, 2002)