Steven Drozd Suggests His Time With The Flaming Lips Is Over After Deleted Post: ‘They’re Done With Me’

Steven Drozd has suggested he is no longer part of The Flaming Lips after a deleted social post said the band was “done with me.”

Steven Drozd has suggested that his long-running tenure with The Flaming Lips may have come to an end. The multi-instrumentalist, who has been associated with the band for more than three decades, appeared to confirm his departure in a now-deleted exchange on Threads earlier this week.

The moment came after Drozd shared a post on December 17 about a new drum machine. In the replies, a fan asked whether he was “officially done” with The Flaming Lips. Drozd responded candidly, writing, “They’re done with me — but we’re not talking about it. So yes, I’m moving on. Just keep it to yourself for now. Ok?” Although the comment was quickly deleted, screenshots circulated widely before it disappeared (Stereogum has a screenshot for posterity).

Since the post surfaced, neither The Flaming Lips nor frontman Wayne Coyne have publicly addressed Drozd’s status. A representative for the band declined to comment when asked for clarification by Rolling Stone. Drozd later returned to Threads to acknowledge the situation in a lighter tone, though he stopped short of addressing his future with the group. “What do you call it when a Gen Xer makes a Boomer mistake?” he wrote. “That’s what I did yesterday here on threads lol.”

Drozd has not performed with The Flaming Lips since last year. His most recent appearance with the band took place on October 12, 2024, when they concluded their tour with Weezer at the Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, California. When the band resumed touring in January 2025, guitarist A.J. Slaughter joined the lineup and has continued to perform with them throughout the year.

In a short video shared in September, Coyne discussed Slaughter’s addition to the group without mentioning Drozd. He explained that multi-instrumentalist Derek Brown and band manager Scott Booker recommended Slaughter ahead of the band’s 2025 dates. “All the things that we were doing were just made easier working with A.J.,” Coyne said. “Luckily, we were able to find someone that can play on that caliber.”

Drozd joined The Flaming Lips in 1991, several years after the band initially formed. While he began as the group’s drummer, his role evolved over time to include guitars, keyboards, bass, and occasional percussion, alongside backing vocals. He also became a key creative presence, contributing significantly to the band’s songwriting and overall sound.

At the time of writing, Drozd has not issued a formal statement confirming a departure, and The Flaming Lips have remained silent.