Levitation Q&A: Wayne Coyne

Sunday night, the Flaming Lips headline Levitation. On the phone, frontman Wayne Coyne can talk about anything even if he’s making it up as he goes along. We touched base on Roky Erickson, whose 13th Floor Elevators celebrate a 50th anniversary prior to the Lips’ set, plus their circus-like stage show, and continuing collaboration with Miley Cyrus.

Geezerville: You’re playing this festival right after the 13th Floor Elevators. Are you a Roky Erickson fan?

Wayne Coyne: [Laughs] Of sorts. I think there are times when I’m put in the same category as him, because we’re weird old guys with beards playing drug-damaged American music. I don’t know if that’s a good comparison really.

G: It’s a stretch if you ask me.

WC: We’ve been on festival bills with him and it’s a great, classic thing. Most of the world that appreciates music probably has read about him, heard about him, and considered him. To see him in real life is kinda like seeing Santa Claus. I think it’s really cool we’re playing on the same bill.

G: Y’all played Austin often when the Lips were getting starting in the early and mid Eighties. What do remember about those days?

WC: Coming from Oklahoma City it was about a six-hour drive. If we weren’t playing until 1am, we would leave here after we got off work at 5pm and just drive like hell to get there – then unload and play. We were ushered into the scene by a band that I think still exists called the Hickoids.

G: Yep, they still play.

WC: We got to be friendly with the singer and one of the guitar players. They didn’t seem to be the most stable group, but they showed us around town. It’s not like what it was then. We were just there for South by Southwest and look what it’s become. Then it was a freak scene, a very inspirational place, a little community. We loved it.

G: When did the all-out circus atmosphere of the Lips’ live performances begin?

WC: We were always drawn to doing stuff like that even though we were like a punk rock band. We had strobe lights and smoke machines. Then we’d run into bands like the Butthole Surfers. We’d like to do things like those guys. I think it’s always been more than just the music. It’s an experience.

It got more original around 1999 or 2000 when we did The Soft Bulletin. That got us to thinking that we weren’t really a rock group and we were trying to do things that were very un-rock, like having puppets and balloons. It freed us up from the standard stuff. There was just the bizarreness of having people in animal costumes onstage with us. We would do whatever we want and the audience would completely love it.

G: I remember seeing you at the Austin Music Hall a couple of years back and everyone was given a laser pointer. That was crazy fun, but I really thought someone was going to get hurt.

WC: Goddamn right. That’s the kind of insane shit that nobody else would do. But the other side is we like it. You have to be entertaining yourself. That’s why it started getting more absurd. Previous to that, we weren’t able to carry that much stuff.

So in the Nineties, we were taking this giant truck full of Christmas lights and we’d decorate before we started to play. It got to the point that we figured out nobody cares what you do, so we try and please ourselves. I think that’s what we do now.

G: Is there anything new to report?

WC: We were just in Los Angeles working on what we believe will be a Flaming Lips record and a Miley Cyrus record. I have to tell you that’s been a complete mindfuck.

G: So you’re working with her beyond the collaboration on the Sgt. Pepper’s tribute, With A Little Help From My Fwends, which came out last year?

WC: That was the first time we worked together and I think we had an idea that we wanted to do more together. Pop stars on her level have a lot of producers and a lot of collaborators. Miley probably has less than most, but we’re doing the same songs, so it’s got a different trip to it.

Some of the songs I’m writing I think they’re for her. Then she gets involved and thinks she’s writing for me. I have to tell you I think these are the best songs I’ve ever done. It’s like we’re bringing out the best essence of each other.

She’s not like her image or what people think of her. If you were around her for five minutes you’d be in love with her. She’s a cool, powerful, generous, and deep-down freaky person.