Scene - Blogs - Flaming Lips warn fans about eBay sale of memorabilia

Flaming Lips warn fans about eBay sale of memorabilia
Published: 7/21/2011 10:29 AM
Last Modified: 7/21/2011 11:20 AM

The Flaming Lips. Courtesy

Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne took to Twitter to boycott eBay this week, claiming a seller was wrongfully selling rare band memorabilia. National music media outlets have picked up the story.

Coyne Tweeted earlier this week: "There are a bunch of Flaming Lips items up on E-Bay... Old costumes and stuff.. Please DO NOT buy this stuff..

"The guy selling this stuff knows we want it back but demands that we give tens of thousands of dollars.. Please DO NOT give him money

"Dude with Flaming Lips costumes and equipment on E-Bay is completely unsympathetic... I've spoke with him and he's a pr*ck!!

"Don't give him your money he is the worst kind of opportunist.. He profits from others misfortune."

An Oklahoma City-based seller who goes by “okiebuysell” claims on the site, however, “These wear(sic) worn by people from the audience on stage at concerts. These were purchased from a defaulted storage locker auction.”

Either way, there have been no bids on the items, which include costumes from a 2003 tour and rare video film, although a “buy it now” option has been added to those sales.

Four items are listed at this time. It seems as though okiebuysell is re-listing and/or slowly doling out the memorabilia, as the number of items for sale has fluctuated throughout the week.

Maybe the seller hopes all the hubub will die down so he can sell the gear. Who knows.

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waltband (last year)

it would seem to me that an objective reporter might find out a little more about the original storage sale of this stuff before they write such a biased story -- if it was indeed a storage locker auction then the current sellar has every right to sell the stuff at whatever price he can get -- the Flaming Lips can warn fans all they want but one has to ask how the stuff ended up in default in the first place. Your story didn't tell us that -- also if indeed the Flaming Lips or their reps were in default on a storage unit then they probably owed a large amount of back rent -- getting it back for less than they owed maybe the whole point of this -- while it is unfortunate that the Flaming Lips seemed to be chapped about this -- maybe they should have made sure the bill was paid for the locker -- If I were the sellar of this item I might be willing to sell it or give it back to the Flaming Lips -- but I also might just tell them to take a running jump at a flaming body part --

PrayingHam (last year)

You must be a real fan of those "Storage Wars" reality shows.

littlemocash (last year)

I hope this guy makes a bunch. I buy lockers, if these guys were run of the miil, instead of semi-famous there be no story. There were over 100 lockers sold on monday. In Ok stats-42-193-k gives the buyer ownership over what he has purchased (LEGAL OWNERSHIP).

Tulsa World Music Reporter Jen Chancellor (last year)

Hi Waltband,

To update, storage facility management has admitted that they never sent a certified letter to the band to notify it that it was behind in payment. Several phone calls went unanswered. They sold the stuff.

Don't know if that's legal. The point is, the eBay seller doesn't really have any interest in working with the band to get it "rightfully returned." To quote the band.

The band has every right to let fans know the eBay sell is in NO WAY official or linked to the band. It's their right.

Tulsa World Music Reporter Jen Chancellor (last year)

Let me phrase more clearly. The storage facility could produce no proof that it send a certified letter when it was confronted by local news media. The band frontman, Wayne Coyne, said he never received a certified letter.

littlemocash (last year)

Has anyone checked with the headquarters for the storage facility. I beleive one may get the correct info there. The person who bought the items has a legal right to sell it and has no obligation to return something he has purchased legally. This is still America and capitalism is our way of life. I hope he makes thousands for his efforts.

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2/15/2013		The Who brings nostalgia, ingenuity to BOK Center
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2/14/2013		The Who talks about 'Quadrophenia' rock opera ahead of BOK show Thursday
2/14/2013		Shawnee songstress Samantha Crain to play Tulsa CD release show Friday
2/14/2013		Rick Springfield to play River Spirit Event Center on Saturday
2/14/2013		Local music roundup: Vaudvillian sideshows? Nerd nights? Live music? Parties? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
2/14/2013		Eli Young band coming to Brady Theater for first time

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