Life On Mars: The Flaming Lips

The twenty year journey of The Flaming Lips encompasses more than is immediately apparent in their musical legacy. The ways in which the band have chosen to express themselves have diversified throughout the years, resulting in a rich tapestry of work that is often only summarized by their euphoric live shows. In the early hours of 2001, leading member Wayne Coyne was struck by the idea of making a movie to add to this collection, which finally sees the light of day next month as 'Christmas on Mars: A Fantastical Film Freakout featuring The Flaming Lips.' Gigwise shared some words with Mr Coyne whilst he relaxed at his home in Oklahoma City, in an attempt to understand the bands incredible journey.

“It was insanely hard work,” Coyne explains, “Probably the hardest thing we’ve done. But part of the reason I did it was because the only way I can be with my family and friends is to have them helping me with something like this.” Starting a film with such intentions led Gigwise to think that the real motive to this project was not to add yet another milestone of artistic achievement to the already bursting Flaming Lips catalogue, but as an indulgence granted only by the freedom they’re allowed due to their commercial success. With a storyline including a colonized Mars, faulty oxygen generators and a compassionate alien super being (played by Coyne of course, who else?), it would be easy to think this may simply be a remake of a forgotten gem from Ed Wood.

However, Coyne is adamant this is not the case. “It's not really like a B-Movie at all. People think I’m part of an Ed Wood appreciation school, but I’m not really like that, I'm more abstract. I know a lot of guys who have helped me do music videos through the years, and so the film is shot by some great photographers, great sound and lighting crews, and the only thing that’s utterly amateur is me! It's a normal movie with a story, it's emotional and it has characters that talk. It may not be a normal movie but it's definitely shaped like one.”

With a track record as impeccable as that of The Flaming Lips, Gigwise are inclined to take his word for it. Coyne not only stars in it, but he also directed the film alongside George Salisbury, known for his work as the bands audiovisual technician. Michael Ivins and Steven Drozd, the remaining full time members of the band, are also amongst the list of leading actors. The impression is that this is a movie heavily drenched in, rather than peppered by, the Flaming Lips influence and so should be held as an equal to their musical offerings, rather than viewed as a whimsical side project.

Coyne explains: “To me these things are really the same, it’s all about being The Flaming Lips, it's all that there is to me. I think there’s value in becoming a product by which you see a philosophical colouring in it over time, whether it's music, or a show, or a film. I think it might have been different if we’d started a couple of years ago, but I’ve been in the band since I was 22, now I’m 48, so it's interesting to take this image (if we have one) and change it into whatever it is we want to be at that time.”

It's remarkable that a band with ambitions as diverse and unique as theirs are allowed to roam free and pursue their avenues of choice, especially as they have been signed to a major record label (an institution under heavy fire of late) since the early 90's. “People can’t realise how much that kind of belief and encouragement can change you,” states Coyne. It's this belief from those around them as well as their fans, that has allowed them to hit such heights throughout their career. Heralded as heroes in their home town, and with fans across the world, the band have had their songs heard by more people than they could ever have imagined.