Ben Kweller & The Flaming Lips Dedicate Collaborative Song ‘Killer Bee’ To Nell Smith

Ben Kweller and The Flaming Lips dedicated their collaborative song, “Killer Bee,” to Nell Smith, the teenage musician who tragically died in a car accident in October 2024 at age 17. The song comes from Kweller’s album, Cover The Mirrors, which is set for release on May 30.

The May 30 release date coincides with what would have been the 19th birthday of Kweller’s son Dorian Zev who unexpectedly died at age 16 in 2023. Cover The Mirrors is Kweller’s first new music since the sudden passing of his child.

The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne connected Kweller and his wife Liz with Nell Smith’s parents. In a statement dedicating “Killer Bee” to Nell, who recorded an album with The Flaming Lips, Kweller shared:

“Today we release the song ‘Killer Bee’ in memory of Nell Smith. Nell was a gifted artist who marched to the beat of her own drum. Like my son Dorian, she was taken from us out of nowhere, driving alone, freak car accident, 17 years old.

“Amidst the chaos, Wayne [Coyne] connected me and Liz with Nell’s parents in hopes that we might be able to shed some light on their journey ahead. Since then, Liz and I have spent hours with Jude and Rachel getting to know each other and trying to make sense of it all. Though neither of us knew each other’s child, we’ve discovered how similar these two angels were during their time here on earth.

“Community is one of the only reasons Liz and I are still standing today. Grief makes us feel isolated and the weight seems too heavy to carry alone. Community reunites and lifts us up. Love on your people today and every day.”

Along with The Flaming Lips, other guests on the Waxahatchee (Katie Crutchfield), MJ Lenderman, The Flaming Lips and Coconut Records.

The artwork for “Killer Bee” is a “self-portrait that Nell drew shortly before her departure.” Stream the collaborative track below: