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The Flaming Lips Aim to Best Jay-Z’s Record

During a 24 stretch that extended from November 18-19, 2006, Jay-Z performed concerts in seven separate locations in the United States to celebrate the release of his album Kingdom Come. Starting on Wednesday, June 27, the Flaming Lips will aim to top that. The group has been enlisted to accomplish this feat by the O Music Awards, “the world’s first 24-hour livestreamed awards show.” The action will begin in Memphis, Tennessee at 7:30 PM and conclude 24 hours later in New Orleans. Along the way, the Flaming Lips will perform eight shows, in six additional cities yet to be named.

Lips frontman Wayne Coyne recently discussed the feat in the following statement:

Like when the Sex Pistols did their one and only American tour, the weird mid-south (Memphis to New Orleans), has something very absurd about it when contrasted with radical visionary musicians. … Elvis and Jazz were at one time radical, but are now mainstream tourist attractions. … I don’t remember if I was asked or if I volunteered. … But, I’ve accepted the job of, not DRIVING, but commandeering the Magical Mystery Merry Prankster bus. … I’ve accepted the attempt at breaking the world record of performing 8 shows in 24 hours. And I’ve explained to the music freaks at MTV, VH1 and CMT that I am not a host. … But, I always liked the way Jerry Lewis would get all sweaty toward the end of his yearly telethon. … To play and sing Flaming Lips songs at 8:00 in the morning… Well… I’m open to new experiences…