Flaming Lips plan ode to Steve Jobs played on iPad
updated 07:50 am EDT, Tue October 25, 2011
Flaming Lips plan unusual Steve Jobs tribute
The Flaming Lips said early Tuesday that they would play a special tribute to Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs at the O Music Awards on October 31. The frequently experimental rock group will play a version of The Beatles' "Revolution" using an iPad at the digitally-focused show. The performance should be streamed live on the website during the MTV-run event.
Frontman Wayne Coyne has posted a teaser (video below) of the Mugician app, which might be a clue as to what to what tools might be used for the event.
The ode isn't entirely unexpected for the band, which has often experimented with technology and is a fan of Apple's work, but might be one of the more public uses of the iPad for music. Former Blur lead Damon Albarn made a whole Gorillaz album using the iPad as the core instrument, and the band moe recently paid tribute to Jobs by playing one of its songs at a concert solely with iPads instead of their usual instruments.
The iPad has had success in the music world by serving as a uniquely portable, adaptable instrument. Its app ecosystem lets it serve both as a replacement for traditional instruments as well as a purely digital tool that can include DJ mixing.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005
Poor Steve
If this preview is any indication of how horrible their "musical tribute" is, I'm concerned that S.J. will be rolling over in his grave. He was a total music lover. This is not music by any stretch of the imagination.