The Flaming Lips To Challenge Jay-Z’s World Record

Turns out Jack White isn’t the only musical act gunning for the Guinness World Records.

Following news of White’s beef with the ‘elitist organisation’ and his bizarre attempts at earning the title for ‘most metaphors at a concert;’ The Flaming Lips – no strangers to the bizarre themselves – have announced that they plan to break the Guinness World Record for ‘the most live shows in 24 hours.’

Pitchfork reports that the ‘fearless freaks’ are gunning for the record that’s currently held by Jay-Z, after he played seven shows in seven cities in 2006.

The Lips are now attempting to break that streak on June 27, with eight concerts in the same time-frame, which will coincide with MTV’s ‘O Music’ Awards. The “offbeat, online awards show” will also be streaming live over the internet, which means music fans all over can witness their world-record attempt.

Beginning their eight-city mini-tour in Memphis, the band plans to travel the Mississippi Delta over June 27 to finish their record in New Orleans. With plans to gatecrash several other artists’ concerts along the way.

The band’s frontman/singer/concert provocateur Wayne Coyne issued a statement likening their venture to The Sex Pistols and “their one and only American tour.”

Coyne also added, “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.”

So now we can add bus-commander to the Lips helmsman’s CV. “I’ve explained to the music freaks at MTV, VH1 and CMT that I am not a host,” Coyne continued, “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…”

You can watch Mashable‘s interview with Coyne on the world record below: