Between covering 'Little Drummer Boy' for the new holiday compilation, 'Gift Wrapped II: Snowed In,' and gearing up for their annual hometown New Year's Eve gig, the Flaming Lips are never ones to sit idle.
"We're always doing something: Making videos, or making music, then we just go on tour for two weeks," frontman Wayne Coyne tells Spinner. "One doesn't begin or end."
During the interview, Coyne warns Spinner that his small dog, which is sitting with him, is a barker and might start up at any moment. The dog is one of many Coyne and his wife have adopted over the years.
"We live in a part of Oklahoma City where there are too many pet owners that get them and then don't take care of them," he says. "There are so many strays and people who fight dogs. I think it's the worst spot in America for unwanted dogs. At one time we had four stray dogs that we took in. Everyone I know has stray dogs that they took in from the streets. We only have one now -- all the others have gotten old and died. Everybody says how lucky the dog is and I say how lucky we are. We've been enriched by the experience."
As the gift-giving season nears, Coyne agrees with a growing consensus that dog breeders, especially puppy mills that sell to pet stores, are adding to a horrific problem, where thousands of dogs are euthanized each week simply because they don't have a home. "There doesn't need to be breeders. There's enough dogs already," he says, sighing. "I don't think it's a battle that we'll win anytime soon."
'Gift Wrapped II' is available digitally now and features songs by Devo, Regina Spektor, Tegan and Sara,
