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The Flaming Lips announced The Teardrop Throbs, their first studio album since 2020’s American Head. Due Jan. 22 on Third Man Records, it is the band’s first album without Steven Drozd since 1992; the group also released the single “God Will Control The Werewolves.”
The Flaming Lips have announced The Teardrop Throbs, a 13-track album due Jan. 22 through Third Man Records, and released its lead single, “God Will Control The Werewolves.” The follow-up to 2020’s American Head is the band’s first album without longtime member Steven Drozd since 1992’s Hit To Death In The Future Head, marking a significant change in the group’s lineup.
The new record is also a change of label. According to Stereogum’s report, The Teardrop Throbs is the Flaming Lips’ first album since 1990’s In A Priest Driven Ambulance not to be released by Warner. The band is now releasing it on Third Man Records, the label founded by musician Jack White. The album has 13 tracks, with titles including “Titan,” “Every Teardrop Cried” and “A Sunset Far Away.”
“God Will Control The Werewolves” is credited to Wayne Coyne, Matthew Kirksey, Derek Brown and Taylor Johnson as songwriters. Johnson co-produced the album with Dave Fridmann and Scott Booker; Jon Fridmann and Mike Fridmann also receive production credits. Stereogum describes the single as a psychedelic pop ballad, with strings and distorted lead guitar.
The tracklist also includes “Ego Tripping At The Gates Of Hell Part Two,” a title that recalls the band’s earlier song. Another track, “Instructions On How To Draw An Eyeball or How To Deal With A Loved One Who Is Addicted To Drugs,” is among the album’s 13 songs. The announcement includes scheduled dates in Nashville, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and London, starting Jan. 22.
A New Era Without Steven Drozd
The album puts two changes to the Flaming Lips’ recorded work at once: a new label and a record made without Steven Drozd, who had been a key contributor for decades. Drozd joined as a drummer in 1991 and became a multi-instrumentalist and a central part of the band’s music alongside founder and frontman Wayne Coyne. His absence makes the album a major lineup marker, while the move to Third Man changes the label relationship behind the group’s first studio album in several years.
For listeners, the announcement offers an initial indication of how the band will sound in this configuration: “God Will Control The Werewolves” is the first released track. The single and album credits identify several contributors, but do not establish how songwriting and instrumental roles are distributed across the full record. The album’s release will provide a fuller view of the group’s new studio lineup.
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Drozd’s Departure and the Album Gap
The Teardrop Throbs follows American Head, released in 2020. Drozd left the Flaming Lips in 2024, and the circumstances have been described differently by Coyne and Drozd. Coyne has said Drozd quit; Drozd has said he was fired after leaving for addiction treatment and missing upcoming shows. Those accounts remain conflicting, and the album announcement does not resolve the dispute.
In an interview with Stereogum this year, Drozd recalled returning to treatment and said Coyne stopped speaking to him while the band continued its activities. He described the result as being “basically fired from the group,” while acknowledging that he had gone to treatment and did not play the scheduled shows. Drozd has since been working on a solo debut, according to the report.
““God Will Control the Werewolves” started as a little story about my 2 boys (Bloom and Rex) and me playing hide and seek at the park as it was getting dark outside.”
— Wayne Coyne, on the inspiration for “God Will Control The Werewolves”
What the Announcement Leaves Open
The announcement confirms the album’s title, tracklist, lead single, label and Jan. 22 release date, but it does not explain how the band’s live or studio lineup is arranged following Drozd’s departure. It also does not address the disagreement over whether he quit or was fired. The available material provides songwriting and production credits for the single and album, but not a full account of who performs on each track.
The source lists concert dates by month and day but does not state the year. It is therefore unclear from the supplied information which year the tour schedule refers to, or whether additional dates will be announced. No further details about the album’s formats or the full recording process are included.
Album Release and Scheduled Shows
The next listed milestone is the release of The Teardrop Throbs on Jan. 22, with “God Will Control The Werewolves” available as the lead single. The published schedule lists two Nashville dates at Brooklyn Bowl on Jan. 22 and 23, followed by New York shows at Irving Plaza on Jan. 26 and 27. Later dates are listed for Los Angeles, Chicago and London.
As the release approaches, further information could clarify the touring lineup, the album’s recording personnel and whether more performances are planned. The announcement itself does not provide those details; for now, the new single is the available preview of the record.
Key Questions
When does The Teardrop Throbs come out?
The Flaming Lips’ 13-track album is scheduled for release on Jan. 22 through Third Man Records.
What is the album’s lead single?
The band released “God Will Control The Werewolves” with the album announcement. Wayne Coyne said its lyrics grew from playing hide-and-seek with his sons on a full-moon evening.
Is this the Flaming Lips’ first album without Steven Drozd?
It is the band’s first album without Drozd since 1992’s Hit To Death In The Future Head, according to the source report. Drozd left the group in 2024.
Why did Steven Drozd leave the band?
The accounts differ. Wayne Coyne has said Drozd quit, while Drozd told Stereogum he was effectively fired after going to addiction treatment and missing upcoming shows. The album announcement does not settle the disagreement.
Where are the Flaming Lips scheduled to play?
The listed dates include Nashville, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and London, beginning with two Nashville shows on Jan. 22 and 23. The supplied schedule does not state the year for the dates.
Source: stereogum.com
