Flaming Lips’ ‘Yoshimi’ Musical to Debut Later This Year

With Green Day's 'American Idiot' musical storming across the nation, it's about time that long-awaited Flaming Lips musical finally comes to life. 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,' the stage show based on the group's 2002 album, will be making its debut in late 2012, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The stage production, in the works since 2007, is set to debut in November or December at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. The musical features songs from the 'Yoshimi' album, as well as from 'The Soft Bulletin' and 'At War with the Mystics.'

As one of the most theatrical rock bands around, the Flaming Lips would seem to be the perfect subject for a musical. The show will revolve around a Japanese artist who enters a fantasy world full of evil robots. While the band may not be able to bring its confetti cannons and giant crowd-surfing orb to the playhouse, the production will include heavy use of multimedia effects.

The show will be directed by Des McAnuff, who recently worked on a Broadway revival of 'Jesus Christ Superstar.' Aaron Sorkin, writer of 'The Social Network,' had been involved with the production earlier but is no longer participating.

In the meantime, the Flaming Lips have a new collaborative album coming out later this year, with a confirmed guest appearance from Bon Iver.