BURBANK, CA (Warner Bros. Records) - THE FLAMING LIPS 11th studio album, "AT WAR WITH THE MYSTICS," was released last week to global critical praise, landing their highest U.S. chart debut of their 23-year history entering at No 11 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. In equally exciting news the very same week, the band's previous studio effort, the critically acclaimed, Grammy award-winning album "YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS" has been certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. Meanwhile, critical feedback from fans has been overwhelming, to say the least:
"Invitingly freakish, downright pretty and even moving. 'At War With the Mystics' reminds us that life is anything but ordinary." - Newsweek
"Exhilarating and experimental as ever in humorous, daring and wonderfully weird music with surprising sophistication. Far from a flameout, this is a creative bonfire." - USA Today
"One of the great inventive acts in rock." - The Los Angeles Times Also making quite a visual impact is the brand new video for the album's first single, "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song." The video was filmed over a two- day period in Los Angeles and was directed by Traktor (Basement Jaxx, Madonna, Prodigy, Fatboy Slim), debuted online this week. It's been called "disturbing yet hilarious," go to Launch.Com/Yahoo Music to view. You may never eat a burger again.
Part One of The Lips Global trek has been confirmed and will begin next week in the UK and includes a stop at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall on April 22, which sold out in minutes. The band's Summer U.S. tour is expected to be announced shortly; however tickets are already on sale for their show at the Hollywood Bowl on July 23, 2006 in Los Angeles and this year's Lollapalooza in Chicago's Grant Park in early August. Confirmed dates will be listed below.
In other news, The Flaming Lips have made available a handful of new non-LP tracks in cyber-space. Fans interested in purchasing Lips music online can visit iTunes or other digital retailers to buy the "Premium Bundle," which includes the new album plus three non-album tracks: "Gold Mountain Of Our Madness," a special long version of "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song," and their glorious studio version of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."
If record stores are your preference, selected indie outlets are also stocking a limited edition 3-song CD EP called "The W.A.N.D," comprised of the track of the same name, plus two non-album recordings, "You've Got To Hold On," and "Time Travel...Yes!!" Also available and highly collectable, "20 Years Of Weird: The Flaming Lips 1986-2006." This special album is a collection of live and rare recordings available through Tower, Virgin, Amazon.com and various independent retail outlets only. Better hurry, these are extremely limited.
Looking for more? A book about the band by Chicago Sun Times music critic Jim DeRogatis entitled "Staring At Sound: The True Story of Oklahoma's Fabulous Flaming Lips" (Broadway Books) is in-stores now. "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" is also featured in the newly released Electronic Art's FIFA Street 2 (Soccer) video game, out now.
New T-shirt designs and tour dates available at www.flaminglips.com
19-Apr Usher Hall Edinburgh, Scotland
22-Apr Royal Albert Hall London, UK
24-Apr Carling Birmingham Academy Birmingham, UK
25-Apr Carling Apollo Manchester Manchester, UK
27-Apr Paradiso Holland, Amsterdam
28-Apr Bataclan Paris, France
30-Apr Carré d'Auron/Palais des Congrés Bourge, France
2-May Cirkus Stockholm, Sweden
3-May Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen, Denmark
4-May Markthalle Hamburg, Germany
21-May Centennial Park Atlanta, GA
24-May SDSU Open Theatre San Diego, CA
27-May The Gorge/Sasquatch Festival George, WA
28-May Les Schwab Amphitheatre Bend, OR
2-Jun Primavera Sound Barcelona, Spain
4-Jun Vooruit Gent, Belgium
5-Jun Pinkpop "John Peel Stage" Herleen, Holland
6-Jun Live Music Hall Cologne, Germany
10-Jun Wakarusa Festival Lawrence, KS
23-Jun Hyde Park London, UK
24-Jun Nowlan Park Kilkenny, Ireland
25-Jun Harewood House Leeds, UK
28-Jun Elserhalle Munich, Germany
30-Jun ForestGlade Festival Weisen, Austria
1-Jul Giardini Del Frontone Perugia, Italy
3-Jul Villa Ada Rome, Italy
22-Jul Greek Theatre Berkeley, CA
23-Jul Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, CA
29-Jul Red Rocks Denver, CO
3-Aug Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, OH
5-Aug Lollapalooza/Grant Park Chicago, IL
15-Sep Austin City Limits Music Festival Austin TX
Much more TBC...
