The music world has been abuzz lately with talk of The Flaming Lips’ latest work, a track-for-track tribute to The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Titled With a Little Help from My Fwends, the album features their signature multi-layer sound, plus contributions from the likes of Miley Cyrus, Phantogram and Tegan & Sara. Luckily for Singapore, the ’80s psychedelic rock band is coming to perform here Dec. 1, which means we’ll get another taste of their legendary stage antics (unless of course they get censored last minute) plus hopefully, a full blast of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” gone outta whack. But before that, here’s an interview from when we caught up with lead vocalist Wayne Coyne during snack time:
Q: Hey, Wayne. What did you eat today?
It’s already 7pm here, but I haven’t had much, just some good coffee and some yoghurt. When I say “good coffee” I mean Starbucks. Before this interview, which by the way is my first four-way, I was getting ready to eat some chicken. I’d roasted the chicken with some of this Vietnamese peanut sauce, and it’s going to taste great when I eat it.
Q: Are you as experimental with food as you are with music? Tried durian?
Never, what’s that? But since you’ve mentioned it, I must. Our road crew, they’re all pretty serious about trying new things when we’re out and about. We’ll make a note of this “durian” and we’ll seek it out when we’re in Singapore.
Q: What’s with the cover records?
Most musicians write and produce their own music, right? But the dilemma in that is you contantly ask, “are these good lyrics? Is the melody any good?” and that is always with you. When you get work on a song like, by The Beatles, no one asks, “is this a good song?” because they already know it is. It’s fun reinhabiting music like that. Everyone I’ve talked to about covering old music has said, “that sounds like fun”.
Q: You got Miley, you got Tegan & Sara, you got My Morning Jacket. Who didn’t you get?
I contacted Sean Lennon because he’d just finished with his tour, but then he got involved in another tour. I tried to get Warpaint, but they weren’t happy with what we were doing. Jack White was another person I contacted, but at the time I didn’t know he was putting out a record.
Q: You covered Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. What about the new album — you like?
I haven’t heard it. I’ve heard about it, but it didn’t seem that interesting to me. When I think of Pink Floyd I think about the ‘classic period’. I didn’t even like The Wall, I like the stuff before that.
Q: So, no Pink Floyd. What acts do you feel you need to watch before you die?
I’ve been alive a long time. I’ve done most of the things you’d associate with a bucket list. But I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about going into outer space and though it’ll scare the shit outta me I’m actually considering it. We’ve even talked to Virgin about the possibility. So yeah, if I had to find something to do before I die, it’d be that. But honestly, I’m not a thrill seeker now. A lot of things I would do before I die I’ve already done. Because I didn’t know I’d live this long.
Q: Did you get a circular about the stuff you can’t do in Singapore, especially on stage?
We’re aware everywhere we play that there are certain restrictions. Not as much as Singapore, but hey, those videos of naked girls, we can remove them. It’s not that big a deal. Honestly, we’re just very emotional when we play and there’s a kind of radicalness to it, but if you remove the ‘party’ elements the show doesn’t change. We’re aware of the drug laws, of course, and how you can’t chew gum there, don’t know if that’s true. There does seem to be seriousness about these things, and I very much believe that if I’m coming to you, I’ll live by your rules.
Q: What are some major fuck-ups during live shows?
There’s a tendency for younger girls, like those aged 17 to 20, to have a bad reaction to the strobe light and the smoke. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, like once every five or six shows, someone will pass out. It can be frightening for the audience and the paramedics because you know, it’s an epilectic reaction. But they usually come out of it after 20 minutes. Also it’s not just something that happens to The Flaming Lips.
The Flaming Lips are playing as part of The Gathering on Dec. 1 at The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel. Tickets are $78 — 120 from Event Clique.
Photos: George Salisbury
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