Flaming Lips' frontman and Miley Cyrus 'get each other'

Given the wide 32-year age gap, they seem to be the unlikeliest of best pals.

But it does sound like The Flaming Lips' frontman Wayne Coyne and US pop star Miley Cyrus are legit BFFs.

They recently collaborated on the US psychedelic rock band's latest album, With A Little Help From My Fwends.

They allegedly have matching chest and arm tattoos - one in memory of Cyrus' dead dog Floyd and another in honour of The Flaming Lips' 2002 album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots.

They also cannot stop singing each other's praises.

In fact, their friendship is so solid that they keep in contact on a daily basis.

"Not a day goes by without us texting each other, catching up. Well...maybe a day, but only because she's flying or I am," Coyne, 53, told M in a telephone interview from Oklahoma.

He said the pair "get each other", coming from two people who are passionate about their work.

"She had that whole twerking controversy. I just loved her. She knew what she was doing and I love that she doesn't give a f***. I love her, I think she's f****** crazy," said Coyne with enthusiasm.

Coyne and his bandmates - bassist Michael Ivins, drummer-keyboardist Steven Drozd, multi-instrumentalist Derek Brown, guitar-keyboardist Jake Ingalls, as well as drummers Matt Duckworth and Nicholas Ley - will be in town next month to perform at The Coliseum at Resorts World Sentosa.

Their opening act will be Australian psychedelic trio Jagwar Ma.

ECLECTIC ACT

Fans can expect a treat from the eclectic act.

The Flaming Lips are well known for their bizarre, experimental shows involving odd props (anything from a freaky baby doll to giant mushrooms and aliens), odder costumes and fascinating light displays.

Crazy? Not to Coyne.

"I don't think of my ideas as being all that outrageous. (The Flaming Lips) are not pop artists, we're really supposed to do this freaky underground s***. But (look at Miley), she's doing the same thing and she's...pop," he said.

Strangers until earlier this year, Coyne and Cyrus cemented their friendship with a Twitter direct message exchanging numbers. It came after Cyrus wished him a happy 53rd birthday.

What followed was their partnership on With A Little Help From My Fwends.

In the track-by-track tribute album to The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), Cyrus' vocals feature on songs A Day In The Life and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.

Other collaborators include Canadian indie pop duo Tegan and Sara, US singer Moby and US indie rock duo Foxygen.

To avid fans of The Beatles, The Flaming Lips might have committed the cardinal sin of butchering a classic album.

But Coyne explained: "I don't pay attention to them. There are a million people out there who hate you, think you're blasphemous...and then there are people invested in music.

'IT'S STILL THE SAME'

"There are small-minded people who feel we have ruined the music for them, but we're not doing anything. It's still the same, it's our interpretation of the album."

Besides heavily promoting With A Little Help From My Fwends, Coyne revealed that they are working with Australian singer-DJ Alison Wonderland and recording a cover of Atlantis by British singer-songwriter Donovan.

On top of that, he has reunited with Cyrus.

"We're working on some songs that might go on her next record," he said.

What are fwends for, right?

WHAT: The Gathering With The Flaming Lips x Jagwar Ma
WHEN: Dec 1, 8pm
WHERE: The Coliseum, Resorts World Sentosaa
TICKETS: $98 from tickets.eventclique.com/thegathering

ashikinr@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Nov 19, 2014.
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