Michael Ivins
Encyclopedia
Michael Lee Ivins is the bassist
and one of the founding members of The Flaming Lips
.
Along with Mark Coyne
and Wayne Coyne
, he formed The Flaming Lips
in 1983 in Oklahoma City
, Oklahoma
. According to Wayne, Michael was found as the bassist for the band because of his punk-rock
look, and not because of his musical ability. In fact, Michael initially couldn't play bass, but he learned how to and has been the bassist for the band ever since. Michael developed an interest in the recording process and has helped engineer the Flaming Lips' studio recordings since 1994.
Ivins often wears a full-body skeleton
suit commonly recognized as a Halloween costume
in tribute to John Entwistle
(He wore this costume when The Flaming Lips performed at the 2008 VH1 Rock Honors, which paid tribute to The Who
). In recent years, he is more commonly seen wearing CCCP
t-shirts.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and one of the founding members of The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
.
Along with Mark Coyne
Mark Coyne (musician)
Mark Coyne is an American musician and one of the original members of the rock band The Flaming Lips. Coyne co-founded the group along with his brother Wayne in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1983. The original lineup of the Flaming Lips was Mark on lead vocals, Wayne on guitar, and Michael Ivins on bass...
and Wayne Coyne
Wayne Coyne
Wayne Michael Coyne is the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter for the band The Flaming Lips.-Early life:...
, he formed The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
in 1983 in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. According to Wayne, Michael was found as the bassist for the band because of his punk-rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
look, and not because of his musical ability. In fact, Michael initially couldn't play bass, but he learned how to and has been the bassist for the band ever since. Michael developed an interest in the recording process and has helped engineer the Flaming Lips' studio recordings since 1994.
Ivins often wears a full-body skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
suit commonly recognized as a Halloween costume
Halloween costume
Halloween costumes are costumes worn on or around Halloween, a festival which falls on October 31. The Halloween costume has a fairly short history. Wearing costumes has long been associated with other holidays around the time of Halloween, even Christmas...
in tribute to John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
(He wore this costume when The Flaming Lips performed at the 2008 VH1 Rock Honors, which paid tribute to The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
). In recent years, he is more commonly seen wearing CCCP
CCCP
CCCP is a Russian abbreviation for the Soviet Union.CCCP may also refer to:* Combined Community Codec Pack, a filter pack developed for Microsoft Windows to play back rich multimedia content* Central Committee of the Communist Party...
t-shirts.
External links
- Interview with Michael Ivins on public radio program The Sound of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young America is a public radio program and podcast based in Los Angeles, California and distributed by Public Radio International...