The Flaming Lips

The Fearless Freaks
(Shout! Factory)

This is the last new pop/rock story left to tell on film: 1) band works hard, 2) band members get weirder, better and more beloved 20 years after their humble beginnings, and 3) everyone in the band lives happily ever after.

The Flaming Lips' story is not completely free of clichés, but you won't see them on "Behind the Music" or "Hit Me Baby One More Time."

The Fearless Freaks, a movie assembled over 15 years by friend and collaborator Bradley Beesley, is closer in spirit to Crumb, the documentary about artist R. Crumb and his tortured brothers.

Charismatic leader Wayne Coyne and charisma-free bassist Michael Ivins started the band with a rotating cast in Oklahoma in 1983.

Initially too-inspired by the Southwestern acid-fried country punk of the Meat Puppets and the Butthole Surfers, by 1991 the Flaming Lips' art project turned into something bigger and better.

While Nirvana and Lollapalooza were redefining the potential of goofy, freaky pop music, Coyne and Ivins recruited percussionist Steven Drozd, a multitalented multi-instrumentalist.

Butthole Surfer Gibby Haynes, who shows up mostly to accuse Coyne of stealing his act, is asked what Coyne's greatest asset is. He laughs and replies, "Steven."



Despite the common perception of the band members as druggies, Coyne is revealed to be a sober workaholic, able to live up to the Butthole Surfers' early potential in part by not succumbing to the drugs that hobbled the latter band.

While Coyne is the voice, persona and ringmaster, Drozd is shown as the truly inspired music maker.

For several years, however, Drozd was addicted to drugs. Filmmaker Beesley's intimate relationship with the band allowed him a trust no one else could've achieved, culminating in a frank discussion with Drozd about his sickness as he prepares to inject heroin.

In addition, we meet the families of Coyne and Drozd. Both were raised in poor families in which drugs were prevalent, a setting that led brothers of both men to addiction and jail time.

Despite the sometimes bleak problems, the band continues to revitalize itself and evolve into the happiest show on Earth.

Ninety minutes goes by without even mentioning their appearance on Beverly Hills, 90210, but there's enough gripping material even without it.