Originally published Jan. 1, 2025

• Iconic fan records milestone during summer Freak Out in Oklahoma City

If you’ve bumped into Santa, a.k.a Alan Bass, the beautiful human dressed in a red suit and Daniel Johnston t-shirt, then you’ve met the fan whose followed the band to 11 countries and all over the United States in search of adventure, and positive vibes.

Q: When did you first see The Flaming Lips?

A. BASS

First show: 11-13-02 Jones Hall Houston TX

“I had heard of the Lips but hadn’t listened to them until a friend played Yoshimi for me when it first came out. From the first squishy synth bass notes opening Fight Test, I was entranced with the psych pop beauty, played the album nonstop for months, also got Soft Bulletin pretty quickly. Then within a couple months of the Yoshimi release, they announced the Beck tour with the Lips opening and serving as his backing band. I always say I went to that show a Beck fan and came home a Lips fan. Became obsessed and worked my way back through their discography and listened to all of it nonstop for a few years.

Around the time Mystics came out, 2006-2007, I got to know a bunch of folks from the salmon-colored chat board on the old Warner Brothers Flaming Lips website, still good friends with a bunch of those people. Didn’t see the Lips live again until the run of New Year’s Eve shows in OKC from 2007-2011. I got divorced in early 2010, saw a bunch of shows that year, and since then I’ve seen multiple shows a year other than during Covid.”

Q: What was it about their music that drew you in as a fan?

A. BASS

“What grabbed me about the music?

That’s the toughest question. I love different periods of their music for different reasons. I don’t even have a favorite album. I’d be hard pressed to name a top 5. Musically and lyrically, some of it is achingly beautiful, some of it rocks the fuck out, some of it is profound. I can’t think of any other band or artist with the diversity of their catalog or who arguably made their best music in their second decade or even third decade.”

Q: How long have you been wearing the Santa costume to shows, and what is the story behind that choice?

A. BASS

“I first wore a Santa suit to the Freak Night at the OKC Zoo (10-26-12) Halloween show. I had a bunch of friends who always dressed up and I wanted to fit in so I ordered a suit from SantaSuits.com. It was a nod to Christmas on Mars and also when the Lips had dancers on the sides of the stage. On the Beck tour they had people in animal costumes, and that evolved into Wizard of Oz characters one tour, Santas one tour.

I’m on my third suit. Also I’ve been wearing that Daniel Johnston shirt to Lips shows longer than I’ve been wearing Santa suits, almost every show since 2008.”

Q: Wayne has mentioned you from the stage, when did he first start to recognize that Santa was in the audience?

A. BASS

“I honestly can’t remember when Wayne first acknowledged me as Santa, but maybe 2013 or 2014. It became a regular thing pretty quickly, with him introducing me as the real Santa Claus at almost every show since then.”

Q: How did it feel standing before the stage at the Oklahoma City Zoo celebrating your 100th show?

A. BASS

“In some ways I’m really shy and having a few thousand people chanting “Santa, Santa” is fairly surreal. What I thought about that night was how much gratitude I have. The whole Lips family (band, crew, fans) have opened doors for me with many adventures that have changed my life in very meaningful ways. I’ve thanked every member of the band repeatedly for letting me be their Santa.”

Wayne shines a spotlight on Santa to acknowledge his presence during night one of the 2024 summer Freak Out at the Oklahoma City Amphitheater.

Q: Seeing the Lips now over 100 times, is there any specific songs from the band’s past eras that you specifically are looking for? If so, what songs and why?

A. BASS

“When I saw the Lips the first time they played a couple tacks off of Zaireeka, which I didn’t know at the time. I’ve never seen them do any of those songs since then, so those are highest on my list. I always love when they play anything I haven’t heard in a while, but I don’t dwell much on worrying about the setlist.”

Q: Do you still feel the same excitement seeing the band now that you did as a younger fan?

A. BASS

“It’s the same level of excitement but it’s different. Sometimes I get completely lost in the moment, just let the experience wash over me. Other times, say I’m seeing a run of shows with a similar setlist every night, I can focus on some specific aspect of what’s going on without worrying I’m missing the bigger experience. Also, any time I’m going to a show now, it’s as much about getting to see all the friends I haven’t seen since last time.”

Q: When you meet someone new and explain to them who The Flaming Lips are, what do you say to them?

A. BASS

“I always say they have the most diverse catalog of any band I can think of, so not to make any judgements before you’ve heard stuff from multiple decades. As for the live show, I just tell people to go and experience it, that it’s a sensory overload with a positive vibe.”

Q: From your perspective, how has the music of the band grown over the decades?

A. BASS

“I like that they’re always exploring, never trying to simply recreate what came before. I kind of think of each album as a stepping stone from the album before it to the album after it. For example, Clouds Taste Metallic sounds like a bridge between Transmissions and Soft Bulletin.”

Q: So, any plans in 2025 to see the band? Where will the next Santa sighting be?

A. BASS

“All my friends know I hate to commit too far in advance, so I have no firm plans. A lot of depends on what’s going on in the rest of my life. Now that I live in Oregon, I try to see any show west of the Rockies, but I also use shows as an excuse to roadtrip.”

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