Conversation so far:
Who were the original band members?
Wayne Coyne on guitar, his brother Mark singing lead vocals, Michael Ivins on bass and Dave Kotska on drums.
How did they meet?
CANNOTANSWER.
Where did they play their first gigs?
The band debuted at Oklahoma City's Blue Note Lounge.
After they got Dave Kotska as the drummer, Richard English joined the band in 1984.

Question: When did they catch their break?
Self-contained rewrite: When did the Flaming Lips catch their break?