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The Flaming Lips formed in 1983, originally consisting of Wayne and Mark Coyne, Michael Ivins, and Richard English. Mark left the band shortly after it formed, and Wayne took over as the lead singer and main songwriter. In 1986, they released their first full-length album, Hear It Is, on Pink Dust Records, then two more albums, in 1987 and 1989. Jonathan Donahue and Nathan Roberts joined the band in 1989, with Roberts replacing English on the drums.
The band was signed by Warner Brothers in 1990, and released their first album under the new label, Hit to Death in the Future Head, in 1992. Around this time, Donahue and Roberts, left the band, and were replaced by Ronald Jones, and Steven Drozd. They then released Transmissions from the Satellite Heart in 1993, which included their first big hit, “She Don’t Use Jelly.” Clouds Taste Metallic and Zaireeka were released in 1995 and 1997, respectively.
Zaireeka marked a shift for The Flaming Lips, into a new, strangely produced sound. It also came in a new form, since it consisted of four separate CD’s that were intended to be played simultaneously in four different players. The Soft Bulletin, released in 1999, also pushed The Flaming Lips into some new territory, and it is often compared to Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, because of its experimental, extremely layered sound. In 2002 they released Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, then At War With the Mystics in 2005. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” was the highest ranked song they have had in the UK, reaching 16th. The Flaming Lips just released Embryonic in 2009.
The Flaming Lips have earned several Grammy nominations, a few wins, and had an alley in Oklahoma christened “The Flaming Lips Alley” in 2006. “Do You Realize??” was named the official rock song of Oklahoma in 2009.