| Date |
News |
Source |
Probability/Comment |
| 22 December (96) |
Just to follow up on some news mentioned before..... Mercury Rev have not split up any more than they were ever
together... they are concentrating on Harmony Rockets for a while. Jon Donahue is definitely not going back to the
Lips. So there y'go |
David Fridmann |
Hey, we guessed so before.... |
| 21 December (96) |
The Lips are in studio doing demos and stuff. Pictures of Steven's hand have appeared, strange things happening to the band in
general... from a magazine somewhere. |
George |
Well, read for yourself. Hope they don't mind me putting up this scan of the page I got
sent. |
| 10 December (96) |
A report from the latest Parking Lot Experiment: It took place on Saturday
7th December and there were three songs constructed and performed as explained
before. The songs were called Alurism, The Marching
Vegetables and (something like) Christmas Is Coming. The first was a sex song
with eerie orgasm noises (40 at once...) and so on. The second was a marching
song with some 40 drum solos at once and some organ pieces coming in and out of
the soundscape. Finally, was a strange Christmas song with weird vocals (4 track
slowed down?) and bells ringing all round. Overall, it was pretty cool and
crazy. |
Tyler Ley |
Well, Tyler loved the whole thing ("bad mother fucking ass") and says that
it was kind of confusing at times but mostly head expanding really... he does
say that he's not sure how it will sound on tape but we're pretty sure that
Wayne will have that planned well too... |
| 5 December (96) |
Contrary to rumours that have been flying around, Steven is not about to
quit the band and is not joining the Smashing Pumpkins (surprise..). Apparently,
he did get bitten by a spider and has a swollen hand but remains alive and well.
The third parking lot experiment has taken place in OKC and there is a
possibility that it will be appearing live in England next summer at Glastonbury
or Reading... it remains to be sorted out. |
Scott Booker |
Excitement excitement... I have to say that it would be amazing to see the
experiment at Glastonbury... they could do one every two hours or so!!! Really,
that would be something else - just to see what people made of it all.... It
would seem also that we can expect an Ep early next year.... dsh |
| 21 November (96) |
Wayne has carried out the Parking Lot Experiment again - with more success -
and will continue to do it towards the end of the year (next one in early
December). The track performed at the second attempt is tentatively titled
"Sleepin' On The Roof" and has been described as 23 minutes long and
`mindblowing'. Wayne, in typical humble fashion, said he expected it to sound
crappy but apparently it didn't sound like a bunch of car stereos at all. You
can read more details on a new page I'm creating at this
site... |
Bruce McGuire and Jeff Johnson via Scott Booker and lots of other
people |
This is a great (and fairly accurate) description from people involved with the delightful project.
It sounds to me like Wayne is creating something that is perhaps unprecedented
and quite quite mindblowing. I really cannot contain the excitement that this
stirs in me.... it sounds like a new step in music and sound. Wonderful, when
can I buy my copy??? |
| 7 November (96) |
A chance encounter with Wayne yielded the following information: They will
probably start recording a new album around the beginning of the year, without a
new guitarist. No mention of an Xmas show from Wayne.... |
Wade |
Well, it seems that the Dingus rumours were exactly that... and we'll see
what happens to that Lips sound with no second guitarist. Wade points out that
Steven can play most things anyway, and anyone who heard My Brother The Cymbal
Head knows that Wayne could probably make a whole record with just him and a bunch of
guitars, so I guess we'll have to wait to see what happens next time they play
live in order to find out whether there is to be a new guitarist/member and who
that might be.... |
| 6 November (96) |
A report appeared today in the news section of MM saying that Wayne was
recording a solo symphony for cars. It was a confused report but the gist was
that it would involve Wayne putting tapes in 40 car stereos and recording them
playing together. |
Melody Maker, dated 9th November 1996 |
This obviously has something to do with the Flaming Lips
Experiment a couple of weeks ago and we'll see what it is exactly as MM isn't
very accurate on the Lips right now (the report ended with "as previously
stated, bassist Ronald Jones has left the band due to disliking touring"). They
said this would emerge as an Ep in February (i think) but the insinuation was
that this would be a Lips record so I don't quite know what the score is. Maybe
it's something to do with the Spike Jonze soundtrack thingy???? Anyway, journos..
who'd have them? |
| 29 October (96) |
"YOU Are invited to The Flaming Lips Experiment"..... this was a kind of
cryptic flyer arriving in the post to various OKC dwelling lips followers a
couple of weeks back.... Apparently, they had this warehouse in downtown OKC
with `mikes all over the fucking place'. The guests were then invited to pull
their cars into said building and rev their engines at certain times.... some
kind of car organ effect is presumably being created for some new record.. |
Tyler reporting on the experiences of his friends, as he missed it... |
Sounds like the loss of a second guitarist has inspired Wayne to yet more
grand indulgence. I can't wait. |
| 28 October (96) |
The word on the street in OKC is as follows: No hint of any substance to the
Mercury Rev split rumours. Whatever, it doesn't matter because it's said that
Jon Donahue would never ever rejoin the Lips. It would seem that Ron has gone to
some sort of monastery for a while, presumably for a little peaceful
introspection and thought. The Lips are embarking on some kind of recording
experiment....(see above) |
Tyler Ley |
It's the real deal so far as we know.... also it would seem that there is to
be no Xmas show this year.... Wayne said he plans to be recording around then |
| 21 October (96) |
Another occurence of the Dingus returns rumour. Wayne also reported to be in
good spirits - is this just good PR or are the Lips problems solved
already? |
Dan |
Dan says he has no idea what the real score is - he guesses that the annual
Xmas show in OK will reveal all. |
| 19 October (96) |
Apparent conirmation of a recent rumour that Mercury Rev have split up came
along with some fuel to speculation that maybe Jon Donahue was set to return to
the Lips fold.
| Adam |
Well, the return of Dingus is a natural speculation to make and my guess is
that all will become clear when some sort of official news comes. That will
probably cover Ron's departure and the appointment of the new guitarist all at
once. |
| October (96) |
More news on the reasons for Ronald quitting - apparently it was a definite
case of personal differences. Wayne is reported to be rather unhappy that it has
come to this but Ron seems to have had a weight lifted..... |
Tyler Ley |
It would seem that this is the result of a longer term thing.... there were
rumours that Ron was about to quit last year - just before the imminent release of Clouds
Taste Metallic was announced.... |
| 30 September (96) |
Confirmation of the soundtrack story - a report of the fact was made in
Rolling Stone earlier in the year.... |
Hal |
My guess is that it's now on ice |
| 24 September (96) |
The Ronald quits rumours have been well founded.... the lips will be
recruiting a new guitarist it would seem..... It seems that things weren't
working out for some reason and there's some very sad people... |
Ronald Jones |
A mail in response to a request for confirmation of authenticity of the mail
from his brother |
| 17 September (96) |
Ronald Jones has quit the band. |
Michael Jones |
Well, not much doubt it would seem.... |
| 5 September (96) |
Someone else has heard that the Lips are doing the soundtrack for Spike
Jonze |
Chris |
It's looking likely |
| 24 July (96) |
Ronald Jones is alleged to be leaving the Lips. Coming from the manager of
the Archers Of Loaf. |
Joe Caparo |
Joe is unsure whether this was a joke... can anyone help?? |
| 3 June (96) |
The Lips are making the soundtrack for Spike Jonze's first movie.... |
Tom Hughes |
no idea where tom heard this - anyone else? |
