NOTICE
Question Answer
with Kliph Scurlock, drummer for The Flaming Lips
When Lawrence musician Kliph Scurlock had the opportunity to be a roadie for his favorite band, The Flaming Lips, in 1999, he never dreamed he'd someday end up touring the world as their drummer.
But that's exactly what happened. Since then, he's played massive festival shows with the likes of Beck, The Police, The White Stripes and The Who.
Scurlock still lives in Lawrence when he's not touring with the band. The local rocker recently took some time to chat with Jayplay about bunny suits, meeting his idols and the music scene in Lawrence.
O: So how exactly does a kid from Lawrence make the shift from roadie to drummer for The Flaming Lips?
Kilip Scurlock went from being behind-the-scenes to taking the stage with The Flaming Lips
A: In 2002, the Lips were getting ready to do a tour as Beck's backing band. Beck can be a little difficult at times. He kind of lives in his own world, for lack of a better term. I was going to go with them to LA for practice anyway, in case they needed something during their practices. Wayne couldn't get any solid answers out of Beck about whether he was going to have other musicians there. So I brought my drums and it turned out to be a good thing, because Beck didn't have a drummer; and I ended up practicing with them.
Photo by J. Michelle Martin-Coyne
auditorium is really starting to fill up when it hits me:"Holy shit! I'm actually going on tour as a musician and getting paid to play. This is really cool." I started playing with them that night. I didn't know if it was going to be a permanent thing, and I didn't dare ask. Six years later, I'm still here.
Q: So you ended up playing drums with The Flaming Lips, who were opening for and acting as Beck's backing band on his Sea Change tour?
A: Yeah.The night of the first show of the tour, the Lips were going to open up and then be the backing band for Beck. So the Lips are getting ready to go on, maybe 20 minutes before the show starts, and the
Q: What keeps you coming back to Lawrence?
A: My friends, great record stores like the Love Garden and Kiefs and great bars like The Replay and the Tap Room. I just really like it here. We've got a small town here, and I can just walk everywhere.
Q: What are you listening to right now?
A: I'm really enjoying the new Deerhoof record. It's been out for two or three weeks. I've also been on a bit of a Beatles kick.
Q: Do you have any favorite local bands?
A: I really like The Dead Girls a lot. From Kansas City, I like Namelessnumheadman and The Belles. Pretty much anything Chris Tolle does is excellent. Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers are awesome.There are more, but I'm having a bad allergy day and my head is kind of fuzzy.
Q: You've played in many bands over the years. Is The Flaming Lips' elaborate live show completely different from anything else you've done?
A:Yeah, without a doubt. How do I put this without being too cheesy? I always feel really proud that these people just don't know what's about to happen to them. It's grown over the years and has become like an assault, but in a good way I often get so
wrapped up in playing the songs that I don't even register all the things going on, and it's not until later when I see the video that I'm like, "Holy shit, that is a really cool show!"
O: Tell us about the costumes. Is that just something straight from the mind of lead singer Wayne Coyne?
A: It is. But it started at a show the Lips did in Oklahoma City in 2000. These two guys came dressed up in bunny suits and were handing out acid. Wayne thought that was great because so many people afterwards were like, "Man, that was so great. You had people dressed up in bunny costumes!" And Wayne was like, "Well, no, we didn't. But we sure will in the future!"
Q: You've toured all over the world. What are some of your exciting stories from the road?
A:When I met Pete Townshend from The Who, that was pretty incredible for me. I started playing drums because my mom
took me to see The Kids Are Alright at the drive-in theater in the summer of 1980. When I saw Keith Moon playing drums, that's when I decided this was what I wanted to do.
Q: Will The Flaming Lips be back to the Lawrence area anytime soon?
A: I would think so, but probably not until next year. Right now the focus is working on new material.
Q: Will we be seeing you in the new Flaming Lips movie, Christmas on Mars!
A: I'm in it a little bit, but I helped with building the sets a lot. Anytime I get to be around Wayne or Steven or Michael when they're being creative is pretty amazing for me. It's inspiring to be around them and to see that these guys that I've always revered as one of the all-time great bands are really just a bunch of dudes with no ego.
Matt Bechtold
WESCOEWIT
Girl 1: I don't know many girls named Kayla who aren't bitches.
Girl 2: Midgrade?
Girl: (to friend) This video game is about battling Satan. I'm going to get it for you for Christmas.
Girl 2: Midgets?
Guy: (to group of people) Hey, if you have something to say, say it to my face. Say it to my BRACE face!
Guy: I would totally chat up my grandma on Facebook.
Girl 1: (in line at the Underground) Is the sesame chicken good here?
Girl 2: Oh yeah. I love the ses.
**Guy:** I left his house at one, but I didn't get home until like, four.
**Girl:** How come?
**Guy:** I kind of stopped by Hash.
Girl I: Do you know what you're going to wear tonight?
Girl 2: I don't know. It depends on what kind of ice cream they serve there.
**Guy:** Have you seen the baby bunny?
**Girl:** Wow. Somebody dropped some acid and didn't share.
**Guy:** God, I feel so pathetic when I use a credit card to buy a soda.
Girl: Yeah.And once you do, it's like crack.
Guy I: (finishing a sandwich): That was, by far, one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth.
Guy: (to female friend) When I came out of my closet...Oh, wait. Forget I said that.
Professor: They're like,"You wouldn't be a very good drug addict," and I'm like,"Yes I would!
Guy 2: (chokes on his sandwich laughing)
Girl: (longingly) I want to put God on my iPod.
Guy: Theater is incestuous. Everyone does everyone else.
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Matt Bechtold
October 2,2008