Exclusive LAUNCH Artist Chat

02/10/2000 4:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Lyndsey Parker

The Flaming Lips are one of the most unique and interesting bands around today, so it's no surprise that their leader, Wayne Coyne, turned out to be one of the most unique and interesting guests to visit the LAUNCH chat room. Unfortunately, some of his skewered humor might have been lost in the translation from his verbal answers to our typist Barbara's fingertips (Wayne demonstrated more consideration for Barbara than any previous chat guest has, trying to keep his answers short and sweet instead of rambling on and on like he sometimes does), but the following transcript will surely keep readers entertained nonetheless.

haldorf: curious about the upcoming webcast, any truth to rumor the lips playing as a five piece?

launch_flaming_lips: Yeah, you know I don't know where that came from, a lot of people have asked me about it. There's no truth to it, but it's an awesome rumor.

sanchos_left_hand: wayne,, why do you suppose amerians are so complacent about the quality of music they buy and listen to?

launch_flaming_lips: Well, I don't really think they are, so, I just don't agree with that. I'd have to reply some other way.

carpcarpcarp: Who's going to be on the MABD 2 tour? I heard Smog might be on it...

launch_flaming_lips: Well, we tried, at the moment there isn't a MABD 2 tour at the minute. We tried to get one together, but our schedule seemed a little too uncertain as to where we would be. We're doing Conan O'Brien on the 3rd of March and we were supposed to be in Detroit on that day. We're doing a tour with Looper, but maybe we can do another MABD tour in the summer.

carpcarpcarp: Will Zaireeka ever be mixed down to stereo in its entirety?

launch_flaming_lips: No, but our single that's coming out tomorrow has two Zaireeka tracks mixed down to stereo tracks. But for some of them, it just wouldn't work.

mrwhirly42: do you plan on keeping with the headphone format for your concerts or will you go back to everyone playing instruments?

launch_flaming_lips: Well, that's kinda weird, the headphone format. We'll always try to have the headphones available 'cause it's easy to do and there's some people that really like it.

tomrobbins79: Is there any way to acquire the wasting pigs album?

launch_flaming_lips: Gosh, a lot of people suggest if you know someone who's rich, then look on eBay, but my only suggestion is to look in cool record stores.

clawbob: Will we ever get to hear Should We Keep The Severed Head Awake in its entirety.

launch_flaming_lips: No, because it's an always evolving sort of song, it never really settles into being one thing.

fancy_book_learnin: Wayne, I adored the notes handed out for the songs for the boom box tour. Do you have any writing published?

launch_flaming_lips: No, other than just the liner note junk in our records and stuff. People have asked me to do stuff here and there, and I'm not really interested in that, per se.

babygirl1971_99: How did you feel when "She Don't Use Jelly" hit big? Was it weird since you are more of an underground band?

launch_flaming_lips: Yes. > But being on Beverly Hills 90210 sure was a gas!

looper_uk: Hi Wayne. This is Karn and Stuart from Looper. We're looking forward to touring with you in March. Do you know where we'll be going yet?

launch_flaming_lips: Yes and no, I think we start in the Midwest. I believe the first date is the 7th of March in Champaign, Illinois.

rocketman_32634: what's the best zaireeka set up/experiment you've heard of?

launch_flaming_lips: There were three radio stations in Portland that tried to broadcast them in sync at the same time. I'm sure it was a disaster sound-wise, but that just sounds too cool.

carpcarpcarp: Has anyone heard from Ronald? Is he in a new band?

launch_flaming_lips: No, I mean, we don't see him very much, and last we heard he was gonna move out to Los Angeles.

flo_henn: if you were reincarnated as an inset, what would you hope to become?

launch_flaming_lips: Well, gosh, they're all so beautiful, aren't they? I would definitely like to be something that flies, like a locust, that'd be fine by me.

clawbob: Wayne, are you into the Beach Boys' "Smile" album- rather the sessions from it that have surfaced? Some of Soft Bulletin reminds me of it a lot.

launch_flaming_lips: I'm into the Beach Boys probably less than people would like to believe.

flo_henn: can you recommend any good thrift stores in okc?

launch_flaming_lips: No, not anymore. Everybody bought all the good junk. But there are still occasionally a good garage sale here and there.

carpcarpcarp: Is that Jonathan Winters at the end of "Priest Driven..."?

launch_flaming_lips: No, but I'm curious as to what you're talking about!

elvinways: how do you feel about bootleg recordings?

launch_flaming_lips: We don't say yes, and we don't say no. And we feel like if you really know what you're doing, then no one will know that it's happening. If you're really a pro at bootlegging it will remain a secret to everybody.

fancy_book_learnin: Has Steven cut down his smoking at all? Good lord he sucks them down.

launch_flaming_lips: LOL. No, he hasn't cut down at all.

sheisbeauty: hello iam a superstar in the making can u give some advice

launch_flaming_lips: Try to be a little more humble. Self-aggrandizing is never attractive.

dayglow76: WAYNE IVE HEARD YOU COMMENT YOU DIDNT LIKE THE MOKRAN REMIXES BUT I THINK THERE FANTASTIC DO YOU THINK YOULL WORK WITH HIM AGAIN?

launch_flaming_lips: I don't know, Peter decided to work with us, not that we decided to work with him. If we have remixes to be done and he chooses to do them I'm sure we would.

juicy_q_productions: When you played Vegas you did a puppet show, In Denver you made yer head Bleed, what was yer favorite supplemental maneuver to the music?

launch_flaming_lips: LOL. Well, I do the puppet show and the head-bleeding every night. Now I have a bird as well. It's one of those battery-operated birds that you hang, it flies around--but people think I have a real bird up there.

alice_in_chains_guy: who is your favorite singer or what is your favorite band ? besides your selves

launch_flaming_lips: Well, I don't really consider us to be our favorite band. My favorite singer would probably be Sade. Favorite band, lemme see, I don't know if I'd have one for all time, but I'll pick one: Butthole Surfers.

satirevian: Hey I'm from Norman and well,you've really inspired my best friends band(Insect Lounge Normans only New Mexican based surf band)and I just wanted to say thanks.Because without you he wouldn't be dreamingor reaching his goals.Thanks-Lauren

launch_flaming_lips: Well, there you go. I still don't wanna take too much responsibility for that.

danielcy_: Wayne- Is Zaireeka going to be reissued? I can't find it for less than $60-$70.

launch_flaming_lips: Yes, it will be reissued, you've just gotta wait around. It won't be too long.

clawbob: Any plans to reintroduce a live drummer?

launch_flaming_lips: Gosh, no, but we don't actually know what we'll do. I wouldn't say no for all time, but we don't really have any plans at all.

snivlen: Will there ever be any more of the parking lot experiments?

launch_flaming_lips: Yes, I hope so. I don't have any plans right now, but I hope so, sure.

keenspoon: how much confetti did you go through on sat. and will ever be cleaned up?

launch_flaming_lips: LOL. No, it will never ever fully be cleaned up! It was more than they deserved. It was probably about 50 pounds' worth of confetti.

flo_henn: wayne - are you single?

launch_flaming_lips: No, not per se, no. I'm a single entity, a human being. But I've lived with Michelle, who's my girlfriend or wife, whatever you wanna call her, for 11 years this week. Stability is the most under-appreciated part of relationships.

carpcarpcarp: Why doesn't MTV show videos anymore? How can we in the US see the great videos you're making?

launch_flaming_lips: On the Internet. Heck, people! What do you think we're doin' here?

marienne45: WHY DID U PICK THE NAME FLAMING LIPS ?

launch_flaming_lips: It was just random. The words were just arbitrary random words put together, that we thought we would change as soon as we thought of something better. It's not a sexual reference. That would be ridiculous, a pathetic name if that's why we were called that.

rhyme222: If the world was ending tomorrow, what would you be doing?

launch_flaming_lips: Well, I live life as though the world is ending tomorrow. And I'd be doing exactly what I'm doing now, spending time with the people I love and just trying to be happy.

heatha_g: What was your inspiration for singing "Over the Rainbow" on a Select mag. CD?

launch_flaming_lips: It's just such a great song.

onearmjack_99: what do you think of the new Mecury Rev stuff?

launch_flaming_lips: Well, the newest stuff I haven't heard yet, because they're recording it in the studio as we speak, but the Deserter's Songs, I thought about 60% of it is top-notch.

rocketman_32634: why was the Superman video censored? the blood wasn't that extreme, to me.

launch_flaming_lips: LOL. That's what I would say.

rhyme222: I'm looking for a cheap way I can get really weird sounds out of my guitar. You guys are great at that... any advice?

launch_flaming_lips: Well, the sounds aren't in the equipment, they're in your imagination. And imagination is free.

queenbee_105: I find it intriguing you still live in OKC, do you plan to stay awhile?

launch_flaming_lips: Well, um, yeah, I mean, that's where we live.

flo_henn: do you like to fish/bowl/karaoke?

launch_flaming_lips: No, I don't like to fish, 'cause I hate it when they get the hooks caught in their heads. I like to bowl. And karaoke, I do every day!

fancy_book_learnin: Hey Wayne, what artist/bands do you currently admire for also stretching what a "rock show" can be?

launch_flaming_lips: I don't know if I would say really anybody in that sort of sense. Not that I think people have to, I'm not looking to judge them on doing something different.

musicurl: If you could play a charity show, what cause would you choose?

launch_flaming_lips: Gosh, I would probably play somethin' for one of the dog shelters in Oklahoma City, not something vague like "world peace," but something I know that the money could help.

bloo33: If you had to date one of the teen pop stars out today, or you would die, who would you choose? Or would you choose death?

launch_flaming_lips: Oh, no I wouldn't choose death at all. I'm not really in the market, but I'd have a milkshake with Britney Spears, I don't care. I'm easy.

lostbuddha: What are some of your favorite effects pedals?

launch_flaming_lips: I don't know if I really have any favorites, I like all the good ones.

eric_pnm: Greetings Dr. Coyne, Dr. Litts here. I hope you are well. Send my regards to all. Caught wind of all this a little late, but here's my question: In recent interviews you are somewhat dismissive of the earlier days of the Flaming Lips. Don't you see those days in the context of evolutionary process?

launch_flaming_lips: Hello, Mr. Litts. I'm not dismissive of what ended up happening with it. Frankly, I never listen to it and I don't like it, but I don't think ANY of what we've done (now OR then) is all that great.

ping69_96: Wayne, i notice a lot of themes in your lyrics: bugs, aliens, animals, and Jesus. What gives?

launch_flaming_lips: LOL. Well, my answer that I always give is that I'm not fixated on those things, I talk about everything I'm interested in, and most people aren't interested in aliens and bugs and Jesus altogether. I talk about everything, but people just pick those things, don't they?

karmasoma: mr.coyne, i read somewhere that no one in the band has over size 6 feet. is that an unfounded rumor?

launch_flaming_lips: What do you think we are, those Chinese women who get their feet taped up? We're grown men. Steve's a size 13, mine's 9 1/2. What do you think we are, midgets?

rhyme222: Gear question... what guitar stuff do you use?

launch_flaming_lips: I don't really know. Same old junk we've always had, really. Nothin' special.

flo_henn: do you have kids or plan to? i think more interesting people should procreate...

launch_flaming_lips: LOL, thanks for thinking of me as interesting. No, no kids yet, but hopefully someday.

melina_pav: Heard a rumor that you guys may do something with cheap trick?

launch_flaming_lips: No truth to that at all.

sucktub: ANY PLANS TO RELEASE YOUR MUSIC VIDEOS ON VHS OR DVD?

launch_flaming_lips: Not per se, not at the moment. There's not that many anyway.

fakemailaddress: wayne, have you ever indulged in hard narcotics? if so, do you still use these substances?

launch_flaming_lips: No, I mean I've experimented with things here and there, but mostly when I was younger. Never stuff like heroin, mostly just overrated psychedelic crap.

queenbee_105: Do you ever use your puppets for anything other than shows?

launch_flaming_lips: LOL. Well, like what? No, what would I do with them? Just for the shows.

fakemailaddress: what musician or artist would you say you've learned the most from?

launch_flaming_lips: It would have to be someone that I know, Steven, the drummer.

sk8ter_grrl_2000: What is your opinion on God?

launch_flaming_lips: There isn't one.

flo_henn: are you polictically active? who is your choice for prez?

launch_flaming_lips: My choice, last time I voted for President was for Clinton. This year, let's hope it's not Bush!

kearneyaj: Please release the boombox shows

launch_flaming_lips: No, they were never meant to be something that goes on a single disc. They were meant to be big sound events.

linux_is_good: Wayne, why not play in your hometown more often?? A lot of us would pay to watch you practice.

launch_flaming_lips: LOL, well now that I know that, we might start doin' it!

rocketman_32634: is it true that steven's favorite food is squirel?

launch_flaming_lips: LOL, no. What do you think we are, mountain men or something?

sanchos_left_hand: i heard you might do something for spike jones and his movie "Harold and The Purple Crayon"

launch_flaming_lips: Well, I don't think he's making that movie anymore, but at the time when he was gonna make it we were gonna do it. But I do hope to work with Spike, yes.

flo_henn: who directs your videos?

launch_flaming_lips: I do.

steve_riot19: What Do YOU THINK about THE present state of MUSIC?

launch_flaming_lips: I think it's wonderful. I'm not cynical. We live in great times, and the whole history of music is available to everybody now. Music is cheap and easy to get, and I think it's wonderful.

dieselman98: Wayne, were there any hardships in the group when the lips hit the charts and when the money started to roll in??

launch_flaming_lips: No, not really. It seems weird that people think that having money is bad.

sucktub: Hey Wayne, is there any plans in the near future to release the Peel Sessions you guy did in 1999?

launch_flaming_lips: No, only because they don't really allow you to do it very easily. I think when they (the Peel Sessions people) decide to release the Peel Sessions it's easy to do, but until they want to we can't do anything about it.

elliotjackson: Wayne, I heard you guys might release an album of unreleased material from "The Soft Bulletin" sessions. any truth to that?

launch_flaming_lips: Well, not per se. I mean, there's stuff that we've recorded that hasn't been put on there, but we haven't really thought what we'd do with it or if it'll be released in years to come.

voltarus: Did you really do a song for the "Schoolhouse Rock" album a few years ago?

launch_flaming_lips: No, but they did ask me, but schedules didn't work out. I liked the cartoon more than I liked the music.

rhyme222: I heard that you worked with the guy who did the Metallica symphony on a past album... any thoughts on doing a symphony work?

launch_flaming_lips: No, not a conventional symphony, but the idea of symphony stuff is, we're adding more and more of that into what we do. It isn't that I'd not want to work with Michael Kamen, I'd just rather do it myself.

sanchos_left_hand: what kind of spider bit steven? brown recluse?

launch_flaming_lips: Yes, I believe it was identified as a brown recluse.

nunsterlvr: who was your hero growing up?

launch_flaming_lips: Probably my older brother Ken.

katie0890: What was your most embarrsing moment on stage

launch_flaming_lips: I don't really know if I have one per se; it's been a long, slow embarrassment since 1984.

anxious_siren: Wayne, why do you say per se so much?

launch_flaming_lips: 'Cause I'm being nice to Barbara, she has to type.

fakemailaddress: can a musician change the world for the better?

launch_flaming_lips: I don't think the world needs to be changed, it's a great place as it is.

plauge666: are ya interested in releasing some of your stuff on the MP3 format

launch_flaming_lips: Yeah, but I'm not sure what that format is, just yet. I'm interested, but I'm waiting for results.

genevievepierce: Did the blood you used in the video/shows really taste minty?

launch_flaming_lips: It does, it's awesome theater blood!

danielcy_: why was buggin taken out of the English version of Bulletin

launch_flaming_lips: It wasn't taken off, I think we didn't put it on. Actually, you've got the wrong song, it's "Slow Motion" that's on the English and not the American version. "Buggin'" is on all of them.

melina_pav: A lot of really loyal fans were a bit unimpressed with all the pre-recorded stuff. Do you have anything to say to them? YOur live show is what really knocked people out, so loud and energetic. I was sad cause I left early and had a ticket for the second show and didn't go. It broke my heart. Any chance for the unexpected rock show?

launch_flaming_lips: Sorry, we just do what we like, and hope people tolerate people trying new things.

jen_qt_99: Wayne do you ever get sick of all the girls?

launch_flaming_lips: No, I'm glad we have fans of all kinds.

superfueled_freaksickle: Who is responsible for developing the backing videos and synchronization of the videos used during the M.A.B.D. Revue?

launch_flaming_lips: Me. It's junk from video collections, and you know we've made a bunch of videos ourselves, so we have a bunch of stuff.

rhyme222: Does your brother ever regret leaving the band?

launch_flaming_lips: Yeah, when we make a lot of money, he does. LOL.

dayglow76: HEY WAYNE DID YOU GUYS FILM THE VIDEO FOR TURN IT ON AT THAT LAUNDRY MAT ACROSS FROM THE WILL ROGERS THEATERE IN OKC?

launch_flaming_lips: No, it was in Norman, and they tore it down since then.

flo_henn: did you get to meed aaron spelling when you did 90210?

launch_flaming_lips: No, but we met Tori. She looked a little weird in person.

Aslan666: you're stranded on a desert island with one cd, one drug, and one person- which would they be?

launch_flaming_lips: Oh, boy. I wouldn't really need any drugs, maybe I could have another person or a dog in its place. mlfmlf555: Was there any music that you listen to as a teenager that you think was formative?

launch_flaming_lips: Oh, sure, all of it. Everything I listened to. You are your experience, sure.

sleep_cadet: how did you come up with the idea of including the giant gong in your music?

launch_flaming_lips: It's an easy instrument for me to play.

looper_uk: Do you ever worry you'll really cut yourself on stage, and no-one will bother and you'll die?

launch_flaming_lips: You have to be joking. You funny Scottish people!

carpcarpcarp: How does it feel to be one of the few survivors of the alternative boom and crash of the early nineties?

launch_flaming_lips: LOL. Well, I don't think we realized we were survivors until people recently pointed it out. It feels good to have people still willing to listen to what we're doing, sure.

sanchos_left_hand: Steven is one of the best all-round musicians i can think of. what was he doing before the lips?

launch_flaming_lips: He was in bands before the Lips, and before that he was with his dad, who's a saxophone player.

dayglow76: WAYNE WHAT DIRECTION DO YOU THINK YOULL TAKE WITH THE NEXT RECORD?

launch_flaming_lips: Gee, hard to say. At the moment I'm thinking about making a movie that takes place at Christmas on Mars. The first celebration of Christmas there once it's been colonized. I'm certain we'll do the music for that.

elvinways: are you sick and tired of "jelly"?

launch_flaming_lips: No, not at all, no.

nunsterlvr: Do you guys have any pets? do they help inspire you?

launch_flaming_lips: Yes, we have four dogs and four cats, and they're just a joy to be around, sure.

jsayr: Was that the brother in the band the same brother that " put the waterbug in the policemans ear" is about?

launch_flaming_lips: No, the brother in the band was my younger brother, and the waterbug brother is one of my older brothers.

limp_bisket_fan_13: Me and my friends started a band and we can't find any record deals....Can you get us a record deal?

launch_flaming_lips: LOL. Sadly, no.

keenspoon: where is michael and steven tonight?

launch_flaming_lips: They're in the studio. We're doing a version of the Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye" for a software commercial. We're just demo-ing it for them, and we'll see if they actually like it.

linux_is_good: Do you see yourself at 80 years of age, performing with a walker to assist your mobility?

launch_flaming_lips: No, I don't think I'll need a walker, I think I'll be able to walk fine when I'm 80. I hope I'll still be able to do whatever I like to do, sure.

superfueled_freaksickle: You said that the Gong was an easy instrument for you to play. Frankly, after seeing your show, it looked like you were realllllllly tired after Race For The Prize. Is this all dramatics?

launch_flaming_lips: It's easy to play. It's like running around the block: it's easy to do but it still wears you out.

lostbuddha: Do you FEEL like a musical genius?(cuz you are)

launch_flaming_lips: LOL. No, I don't feel like one, but thanks anyway.

permanentlyoz: Do you think oj was guilty?

launch_flaming_lips: Gosh, you know, who knows?

rhyme222: Do you think you'll just keep on playing forever... like the stones or something? how do you feel about that idea?

launch_flaming_lips: Well, I hope that we still have something that people think is interesting to say. If people thought of us that way it would awesome. I don't think the Stones have anything to be embarrassed about.

flo_henn: is there anything your CAN'T do, wayne?

launch_flaming_lips: There are billions of things I can't do. You expect too much from me, I'm just an ordinary guy. Thanks for everybody being so interested. I don't mean to be sarcastic, if my answers are short it's just 'cause somebody has to type them!