Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots released

Three years later, in the summer of 2002, the Flaming Lips joined bands Cake and Modest Mouse on the Unlimited Sunshine Tour . They also released the full-length Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots to much critical acclaim. Featuring guest musician Yoshimi P-We (who inspired the album’s title track) and demonstrating more use of electronic instruments and computer manipulation than The Soft Bulletin , Yoshimi is widely considered to be the Flaming Lips’ first critical and commercial success after nearly twenty years as a band. The final track on the album, ” Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia) “, earned a 2003 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance , and the album was certified gold on April 10, 2006. In March 2007, the band revealed that they had recently teamed up with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin to produce a Broadway musical based on the album.