Flipper (band)
Encyclopedia
Flipper is a punk
band formed in San Francisco
, California
in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005. The band influenced a number of grunge
,Seattle Weekly (author: Nirvana's bassist), The Austinist punk rock and noise rock
bands. Their slowed-down, bass-driven, and heavily distorted style of punk is also considered a key forerunner to sludge metal
and bands such as The Melvins
.
. Founding member and original vocalist Ricky Williams
, who is credited for naming the band, was fired from the band before any recordings. Bruce Loose and Will Shatter then went on to frequently swap vocal and bass duties, both holding a bass onstage. Vietnam war
veteran Ted Falconi played a uniquely distorted style of guitar, and Steve DePace played drums.
Flipper made their first recordings available in late 1979 via the SF Underground 7" compilation series released through the newly-formed Subterranean Records
.
In 1981, a 7" comprising "Love Canal/Ha Ha Ha" followed. The original lineup released their first full album
s on Subterranean, 1982's the now classic punk-rock album Generic Flipper.
The band regularly performed in the San Francisco area, attracting a following. Simultaneously, their uniquely slowed-down and raucous approach to punk managed to infuriate other members in local punk scene, especially with the burgeoning popularity of faster-paced hardcore punk
. Mark Arm
claims in the 2003 documentary American Hardcore
that Flipper's charm as a band lies in their ability to upset audiences, while attracting their undivided attention and curiosity at the same time. The band promoted themselves partly by spray painting "Flipper Rules" around San Francisco, as well as word-of-mouth.
Two more singles on Subterranean followed Generic Flipper, including "Brainwash"/"Sex Bomb" and "Old Lady That Swallowed The Fly"/"Get Away." They became well-known within the punk community for the single "Sex Bomb," a seven minute track with only one lyric, "She's a sex bomb, my baby, yeah." The original release of the "Sex Bomb" single featured individually hand-made covers.
The follow-up studio album in 1984, Gone Fishin', featured the opening track "The Lights, The Sound, The Rhythm, The Noise", "Survivors of the Plague" and "Sacrifice". It was released on Subterranean. The colorful van on the cover, along with figures representing the band and their equipment, could be cut out and folded. Subterranean also offered extra covers through a small mail order fee.
In 1984, the ROIR
cassette label released a live Flipper document of a CBGB
's performance entitled "Blow'n Chunks
" that became available on CD in 1990, and goes in and out of print. A 2001 reissue includes four outtakes from the live sessions. The performance included material from all phases of the band's existence thus far.
Flipper entitled their 1986 double live album, Public Flipper Ltd. The album unfolded into a board game with a cutout spinner and game cards with Subterranean once again providing extra covers through mail order.
The original lineup began splintering after a period of touring, and singer and core member Will Shatter died on December 9, 1987 of a drug overdose
after forming A3I. Subterranean packaged the band's singles and some rarities into a collection entitled "Sex Bomb Baby" released in 1987. The cassette edition and later CD rereleased featured three bonus tracks.
was released in 1991. The band's new lineup released an all-new studio album in 1992, American Grafishy
on Rick Rubin
's Def American imprint, which veered into a somewhat new style and wasn't as well-received as their previous work. After the album, was released, replacement bass player John Dougherty died of a drug overdose. Loose once commented to SF Weekly
on the band's history as "like Spinal Tap
, except the bass player keeps dying".
Rick Rubin
also re-released Album Generic Flipper and the singles compilation Sex Bomb Baby on his Infinite Zero label. By 1997, Flipper's music went largely out of print, with Rubin still holding onto the rights, though tentative plans had been made for the band's catalogue to be re-released on Rubin's American Recordings in 2007. As part of a legal settlement, Subterranean Records was awarded the right to reissue its Flipper records on vinyl in the United States.
space as "Not Flipper". The original members of Flipper, barring the late Will Shatter (with Bruno DeSmartass replacing Shatter once again as he had done for a 1982 tour), reunited to support CBGB on August 22 and August 28, 2005. Singer Bruce Loose appeared on stage with a cane. This line-up of Flipper then continued to play live again beginning in 2006, with plans for a new album to be recorded and released in 2007.
In December 2006, DeSmartass was replaced by Krist Novoselic
of grunge band Nirvana
on bass for a tour of the UK and Ireland, as well as several US shows. The song "Scentless Apprentice", which the band recorded (without Novoselic) for a 2000 Nirvana tribute album, was added to the band's setlist.
In 2008, the band recorded a new album with Novoselic, Flipper have announced that they will finally be releasing their new album as a "twin album" featuring 1 album, titled Love
, with new studio material and a second live album, titled Fight featuring both old and new songs. Both of these albums were produced by Seattle producer Jack Endino
and released on May 19, 2009, and well-received. However, Novoselic announced his departure from the band in September 2009 due to responsibilities at home, forcing a tour cancellation. It was announced on the band's myspace site that Rachel Thoele, formerly of Frightwig, Mudwimin, and Van Gough's Daughter is the new bassist for Flipper.
Also at the end of 2008, Flipper albums were reissued in a variety of formats. Water Records reissued four albums on compact disc: Album – Generic Flipper, Gone Fishin, Public Flipper Limited, and Sex Bomb Baby! Their reissue on vinyl was set for 2009 by the label 4 Men With Beards an imprint of the Runt label. Lastly, on January 6, 2009, those four albums were released digitally. In the United Kingdom
, the Flipper reissues were released by Domino Records.
's My War
(1984), their slowed-down, bass-driven, and heavily distorted style of punk is also considered a key forerunner to sludge metal
and bands such as The Melvins
. Kurt Cobain
wore a self-made Flipper t-shirt seen in the booklet pictures of Nirvana's
In Utero and on the band's first performance on Saturday Night Live
in 1992, and also for the music video for "Come as You Are." Cobain and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic
cited Flipper as one of the punk bands in the early to mid 1980s that was influential on their band.
In the documentary American Hardcore
, Moby
stated that he fronted for Flipper for two days while singer Will Shatter was in jail because he "knew all of their songs". The band denies this however.
Eric Avery
of Jane's Addiction
has said that Flipper's rolling rhythms and repetitive riffs were an influence on Jane's early sound.
In Get in the Van, his memoir of the early '80s punk rock scene, Henry Rollins
of Black Flag
described the Flipper experience: "They were just heavy. Heavier than you. Heavier than anything...When they played they were amazing."
album. They have also covered "Way of the World" which appears on the Singles 1-12
compilation. Belgian Electronica/Industrial band Lords Of Acid
covered Flipper's song "Sex Bomb" and released a live version on the Do What You Wanna Do CD, Maxi-Single, Digipak released in 1995. The track starts by Praga Khan
giving credit to Flipper, stating it was a cover. It was later reinterpreted into the Lords typical style on the album Farstucker
from 2000 and is a staple of their live shows.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band formed in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005. The band influenced a number of grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
,Seattle Weekly (author: Nirvana's bassist), The Austinist punk rock and noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
bands. Their slowed-down, bass-driven, and heavily distorted style of punk is also considered a key forerunner to sludge metal
Sludge metal
Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting...
and bands such as The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
.
Early years (1979-1989)
Flipper was founded from former members of the Sleepers and Negative TrendNegative Trend
Negative Trend was an early San Francisco punk rock band, active from 1977–1979.The former members of Negative Trend would go on to start a number of other notable western US punk bands...
. Founding member and original vocalist Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams (musician)
Ricky Williams , also known as Ricky Tractor, was an American musician based in San Francisco. He is best known as a vocalist and lyricist, but also played drums and guitar. He was the original drummer for Crime , the original singer for Flipper and The Sleepers , and vocalist for Toiling Midgets...
, who is credited for naming the band, was fired from the band before any recordings. Bruce Loose and Will Shatter then went on to frequently swap vocal and bass duties, both holding a bass onstage. Vietnam war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran Ted Falconi played a uniquely distorted style of guitar, and Steve DePace played drums.
Flipper made their first recordings available in late 1979 via the SF Underground 7" compilation series released through the newly-formed Subterranean Records
Subterranean Records
Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk and industrial music scene....
.
In 1981, a 7" comprising "Love Canal/Ha Ha Ha" followed. The original lineup released their first full album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s on Subterranean, 1982's the now classic punk-rock album Generic Flipper.
The band regularly performed in the San Francisco area, attracting a following. Simultaneously, their uniquely slowed-down and raucous approach to punk managed to infuriate other members in local punk scene, especially with the burgeoning popularity of faster-paced hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
. Mark Arm
Mark Arm
Mark Arm is the vocalist for the grunge band Mudhoney. He is also credited with coining the term "grunge" to describe his style of rock music...
claims in the 2003 documentary American Hardcore
American Hardcore (film)
American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
that Flipper's charm as a band lies in their ability to upset audiences, while attracting their undivided attention and curiosity at the same time. The band promoted themselves partly by spray painting "Flipper Rules" around San Francisco, as well as word-of-mouth.
Two more singles on Subterranean followed Generic Flipper, including "Brainwash"/"Sex Bomb" and "Old Lady That Swallowed The Fly"/"Get Away." They became well-known within the punk community for the single "Sex Bomb," a seven minute track with only one lyric, "She's a sex bomb, my baby, yeah." The original release of the "Sex Bomb" single featured individually hand-made covers.
The follow-up studio album in 1984, Gone Fishin', featured the opening track "The Lights, The Sound, The Rhythm, The Noise", "Survivors of the Plague" and "Sacrifice". It was released on Subterranean. The colorful van on the cover, along with figures representing the band and their equipment, could be cut out and folded. Subterranean also offered extra covers through a small mail order fee.
In 1984, the ROIR
ROIR
ROIR , or Reach Out International Records, is a New York City-based record label founded in 1979 by Neil Cooper.ROIR was founded the same year that the Sony Walkman launched, and initially, the label exclusively distributed its releases in cassette format...
cassette label released a live Flipper document of a CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
's performance entitled "Blow'n Chunks
Blow'n Chunks
Blow'n Chunks is the band Flipper's first live album, released in 1984.- Track listing :# Way Of The World# The Lights, The Sound, The Rhythm, The Noise# Shed No Tears# Love Canal# Ha Ha Ha# In Your Arms# Life Is Cheap# In Life My Friend...
" that became available on CD in 1990, and goes in and out of print. A 2001 reissue includes four outtakes from the live sessions. The performance included material from all phases of the band's existence thus far.
Flipper entitled their 1986 double live album, Public Flipper Ltd. The album unfolded into a board game with a cutout spinner and game cards with Subterranean once again providing extra covers through mail order.
The original lineup began splintering after a period of touring, and singer and core member Will Shatter died on December 9, 1987 of a drug overdose
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
after forming A3I. Subterranean packaged the band's singles and some rarities into a collection entitled "Sex Bomb Baby" released in 1987. The cassette edition and later CD rereleased featured three bonus tracks.
After Will Shatter (1990-1999)
By the early 1990s, the band resurfaced with a new single on Subterranean called "Someday"/"Distant Illusion" and began performing again. Nürnberg Fish TrialsNurnberg Fish Trials
Nurnberg Fish Trials is Flipper's third live album.-Track list:# The Lights# Sacrifice# Love Canal# The John Show# Sex Bomb# Life# Ever# Nothing Prettier Than Elvis...
was released in 1991. The band's new lineup released an all-new studio album in 1992, American Grafishy
American Grafishy
American Grafishy is the third studio album by the band Flipper. The album title is a pun on coming-of-age film American Graffiti.- Track list :* All Songs Written & Arranged By Flipper.# Someday 4:18# Flipper Twist 4:48# May The Truth Be Known 2:51...
on Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
's Def American imprint, which veered into a somewhat new style and wasn't as well-received as their previous work. After the album, was released, replacement bass player John Dougherty died of a drug overdose. Loose once commented to SF Weekly
SF Weekly
SF Weekly is a free alternative weekly newspaper in San Francisco, California. The newspaper, distributed throughout the San Francisco Bay Area every Wednesday, is published by Village Voice Media, a 16-paper alt weekly newspaper chain that also includes the New York City Village Voice and the Los...
on the band's history as "like Spinal Tap
Spinal Tap (band)
Spinal Tap is a parody heavy metal band that first appeared on a failed 1979 ABC TV sketch comedy pilot called "The T.V. Show", starring Rob Reiner...
, except the bass player keeps dying".
Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
also re-released Album Generic Flipper and the singles compilation Sex Bomb Baby on his Infinite Zero label. By 1997, Flipper's music went largely out of print, with Rubin still holding onto the rights, though tentative plans had been made for the band's catalogue to be re-released on Rubin's American Recordings in 2007. As part of a legal settlement, Subterranean Records was awarded the right to reissue its Flipper records on vinyl in the United States.
Reformations (2002-present)
In 2002 Bruce Loose, using a cane to get around, returned for a one off gig at Berkeley's 924 Gilman Street924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street is an all-ages, not for profit, collectively organized music club usually referred to by its fans simply as "The Gilman." It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California about a mile and a half west of the North Berkeley BART station and a quarter-mile west of San...
space as "Not Flipper". The original members of Flipper, barring the late Will Shatter (with Bruno DeSmartass replacing Shatter once again as he had done for a 1982 tour), reunited to support CBGB on August 22 and August 28, 2005. Singer Bruce Loose appeared on stage with a cane. This line-up of Flipper then continued to play live again beginning in 2006, with plans for a new album to be recorded and released in 2007.
In December 2006, DeSmartass was replaced by Krist Novoselic
Krist Novoselic
Krist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
of grunge band Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
on bass for a tour of the UK and Ireland, as well as several US shows. The song "Scentless Apprentice", which the band recorded (without Novoselic) for a 2000 Nirvana tribute album, was added to the band's setlist.
In 2008, the band recorded a new album with Novoselic, Flipper have announced that they will finally be releasing their new album as a "twin album" featuring 1 album, titled Love
Love (Flipper album)
-Musicians and personnel:Flipper*Bruce Loose - lead vocals*Ted Falconi - lead guitar*Krist Novoselic - bass guitar*Steve DePace - drumsProduction personnel*Jack Endino - engineer, producer...
, with new studio material and a second live album, titled Fight featuring both old and new songs. Both of these albums were produced by Seattle producer Jack Endino
Jack Endino
Jack Endino is a producer and musician based in Seattle. Long associated with Seattle label Sub Pop and the grunge movement, Endino worked on seminal albums from bands such as Mudhoney, Soundgarden, and Nirvana...
and released on May 19, 2009, and well-received. However, Novoselic announced his departure from the band in September 2009 due to responsibilities at home, forcing a tour cancellation. It was announced on the band's myspace site that Rachel Thoele, formerly of Frightwig, Mudwimin, and Van Gough's Daughter is the new bassist for Flipper.
Also at the end of 2008, Flipper albums were reissued in a variety of formats. Water Records reissued four albums on compact disc: Album – Generic Flipper, Gone Fishin, Public Flipper Limited, and Sex Bomb Baby! Their reissue on vinyl was set for 2009 by the label 4 Men With Beards an imprint of the Runt label. Lastly, on January 6, 2009, those four albums were released digitally. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the Flipper reissues were released by Domino Records.
Influence on other musicians
Along with Black FlagBlack Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
's My War
My War
My War is the second full length album by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag. It was released in 1984 on SST Records.Black Flag's founder and primary songwriter Greg Ginn played bass guitar in addition to his usual guitar; "Dale Nixon" is a pseudonym.My War was released after a long period...
(1984), their slowed-down, bass-driven, and heavily distorted style of punk is also considered a key forerunner to sludge metal
Sludge metal
Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting...
and bands such as The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
. Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
wore a self-made Flipper t-shirt seen in the booklet pictures of Nirvana's
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
In Utero and on the band's first performance on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
in 1992, and also for the music video for "Come as You Are." Cobain and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic
Krist Novoselic
Krist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
cited Flipper as one of the punk bands in the early to mid 1980s that was influential on their band.
In the documentary American Hardcore
American Hardcore (film)
American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
, Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
stated that he fronted for Flipper for two days while singer Will Shatter was in jail because he "knew all of their songs". The band denies this however.
Eric Avery
Eric Avery
Eric Adam Avery is an American musician and is the former bass player for the rock band Jane's Addiction. Avery played in Jane's Addiction initially from 1985 to 1991, and rejoined the band in 2008 before departing again in 2010....
of Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
has said that Flipper's rolling rhythms and repetitive riffs were an influence on Jane's early sound.
In Get in the Van, his memoir of the early '80s punk rock scene, Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
of Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
described the Flipper experience: "They were just heavy. Heavier than you. Heavier than anything...When they played they were amazing."
Covers
The Melvins covered their song "Sacrifice" on their LysolLysol (album)
In the CD version of the album, the entire six song program is presented as one continuous and unbroken track.-Personnel:*King Buzzo - guitar, vocals*Joe Preston - bass, backup vocals*Dale Crover - drums, backup vocals...
album. They have also covered "Way of the World" which appears on the Singles 1-12
Singles 1-12
-Track listing :All songs written by The Melvins except where noted.-Personnel:*The Melvins:**Buzz Osborne - guitar, vocals**Dale Crover - drums**Mark Deutrom - bass**Lori Black - bass on "Way of the World" and "Theme"...
compilation. Belgian Electronica/Industrial band Lords Of Acid
Lords of Acid
Lords of Acid is a Belgian-American post-industrial/techno band, led by musician Praga Khan. They debuted with the controversial new beat single "I Sit on Acid" in 1988...
covered Flipper's song "Sex Bomb" and released a live version on the Do What You Wanna Do CD, Maxi-Single, Digipak released in 1995. The track starts by Praga Khan
Praga Khan
Praga Khan is a Belgian techno musician, primarily in the new beat style.-Overview:Praga Khan is one of the pioneers of the new beat / acid house / rave sound, and has contributed to the theatrical scene with his musical collaborations in The Next Dimension and Code Red.In the late 1980s, he...
giving credit to Flipper, stating it was a cover. It was later reinterpreted into the Lords typical style on the album Farstucker
Farstucker
Farstucker is the fourth studio album from Belgian electronic band Lords of Acid. It was released in 2000 on Antler-Subway Records and marks the band's full transition from the techno of their earlier work to an industrial music outfit, with use of more live instruments...
from 2000 and is a staple of their live shows.
Current members
- Bruce Loose – vocals, bass (1979–present)
- Ted Falconi – guitar (1979–present)
- Steve DePace – drums (1979–present)
- Rachel Thoele – bass (2009–present)
Former members
- Ricky WilliamsRicky Williams (musician)Ricky Williams , also known as Ricky Tractor, was an American musician based in San Francisco. He is best known as a vocalist and lyricist, but also played drums and guitar. He was the original drummer for Crime , the original singer for Flipper and The Sleepers , and vocalist for Toiling Midgets...
– vocals (1979) - Will Shatter – bass, vocals (1979–1987)
- Bruno DeSmartass- bass (1982, 2005–2006)
- John Dougherty – bass (1992–1997)
- Krist NovoselicKrist NovoselicKrist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
– bass (2006–2009)
Studio albums
| Title | Year | Label |
| Album - Generic Flipper Album - Generic Flipper Album – Generic Flipper is the debut album by the San Francisco band Flipper. In November 2007, Blender magazine ranked it #86 on their list of the 100 greatest "indie rock" albums of all time. It is also referred to as Album, Album: Generic, Generic Flipper, and just Generic... |
1982 | Subterranean Records Subterranean Records Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk and industrial music scene.... , reissued on Water Records in 2008 |
| Gone Fishin' | 1984 | Subterranean Records Subterranean Records Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk and industrial music scene.... , reissued on Water Records in 2008 |
| American Grafishy American Grafishy American Grafishy is the third studio album by the band Flipper. The album title is a pun on coming-of-age film American Graffiti.- Track list :* All Songs Written & Arranged By Flipper.# Someday 4:18# Flipper Twist 4:48# May The Truth Be Known 2:51... |
1993 | Def American |
| Love Love (Flipper album) -Musicians and personnel:Flipper*Bruce Loose - lead vocals*Ted Falconi - lead guitar*Krist Novoselic - bass guitar*Steve DePace - drumsProduction personnel*Jack Endino - engineer, producer... |
2009 | FLIPPER |
Live albums
| Title | Year | Label |
| Blow'n Chunks Blow'n Chunks Blow'n Chunks is the band Flipper's first live album, released in 1984.- Track listing :# Way Of The World# The Lights, The Sound, The Rhythm, The Noise# Shed No Tears# Love Canal# Ha Ha Ha# In Your Arms# Life Is Cheap# In Life My Friend... |
1984 | ROIR ROIR ROIR , or Reach Out International Records, is a New York City-based record label founded in 1979 by Neil Cooper.ROIR was founded the same year that the Sony Walkman launched, and initially, the label exclusively distributed its releases in cassette format... |
| Public Flipper Limited Live 1980-1985 Public Flipper Limited Live 1980-1985 Public Flipper Limited Live 1980-1985 is Flipper's second live album. The title is a nod to John Lydon's post-punk outfit Public Image Ltd. Earlier the same year Public Image Ltd... |
1986 | Subterranean Records Subterranean Records Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk and industrial music scene.... , reissued on Water Records in 2008 |
| Nürnberg Fish Trials Nurnberg Fish Trials Nurnberg Fish Trials is Flipper's third live album.-Track list:# The Lights# Sacrifice# Love Canal# The John Show# Sex Bomb# Life# Ever# Nothing Prettier Than Elvis... |
1991 | Musical Tragedies |
| Live At CBGB's 1983 Live at CBGB's 1983 -Track list:# If It Don't Fit Don't Force It# The Lights, The Sounds, The Rhythm, The Noise# Life# In Life My Friends# Ha Ha Ha# I Saw You Shine# If I Can't Be Drunk# Hopelessly In Love# Love Canal# Sex Bomb... |
1997 | Overground |
| Fight Fight (Flipper live album) -Track list:# Way Of The World# Shine# Be Good, Child!# Why Can't You See# Night Fails# Ha Ha Ha# Triple Mass# Sacrifice# The Light, The Sound-Personnel:* Bruce Loose: Lead Vocals* Ted Falconi: Guitar* Krist Novoselic: Bass* Steve DePace: Drums... |
2009 | MVDaudio |
Singles
| Title | Year | Label |
| Love Canal/Ha Ha Ha | 1980 | Subterranean Records Subterranean Records Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk and industrial music scene.... |
| Sex Bomb/Brainwash | 1981 | Subterranean Records Subterranean Records Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk and industrial music scene.... |
| Get Away/The Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly | 1982 | Subterranean Records Subterranean Records Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk and industrial music scene.... |
| Someday/Distant Illusion | 1990 | Subterranean Records Subterranean Records Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk and industrial music scene.... |
| Flipper Twist/Fucked Up Once Again | 1992 | Matador Records Matador Records Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have... |
| Sex Bomb (remix)/Falconi's Horn Concerto In D-Fault (live) | 1993 | Teen Sensation Records/Def American |
Compilations
| Title | Year | Label |
| Sex Bomb Baby Sex Bomb Baby Sex Bomb Baby is a compilation album by Flipper. It contains singles, b-sides, and compilation tracks from 1979–1982-Track listing:#Sex Bomb#Love Canal#Ha Ha Ha#Sacrifice #Falling #Ever #Get Away... |
1988 | Subterranean Records Subterranean Records Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk and industrial music scene.... , reissued on Infinite Zero Archive/American Recordings in 1995, reissued on Water Records in 2008 |
DVDs
| Title | Year | Label |
| Flipper Live: Target Video 1980-81 | February 19, 2008 | Music Video Distributors |
Other appearances
- "Earthworm" on SF Underground (1979)
- "Falling", "Lowrider" and "End of the Game" on Live At Target (1981)
- "Ha Ha Ha" on Let Them Eat JellybeansLet Them Eat JellybeansLet Them Eat Jellybeans!, subtitled "17 Extracts From Americas Darker Side", is a compilation album released by Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles in 1981. It was one of the earliest compilations of underground music in the United States and its original release included an insert of all of the...
(1981) - "Sacrifice" on Not So Quiet on the Western Front (1982)
- "Life" on Rat Music for Rat People (1982)
- "Ever" on Eastern Front (1983)
- "Ever" and "Sex Bomb" on The Wanna-Be-An-Indie-But-Got-Too-Much-$ Sampler (1992)
- "Some Day" on SXSW (1993)
- "Love Canal" and "Get Away" on Infinite Zero Promotional CD#2 (1994)
- "Ha Ha Ha" on Old School Punk (1998)
- "Scentless Apprentice" (NirvanaNirvana (band)Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
cover) on Smells Like Bleach: A Punk Tribute to NirvanaSmells Like Bleach: A Punk Tribute to NirvanaSmells Like Bleach: A Punk Tribute To Nirvana is a tribute album by various artists to the American grunge band Nirvana, released in 2001.The album's title came from the amalgamation of Nirvana's signature song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and their debut album Bleach...
(2000) - "Sad But True" on "A Punk tribute to Metallica" (2001)
- "Ha Ha Ha" on "American Hardcore's Official Movie Soundtrack" (2006)
External links
- Official Website
- Myspace page
- Flipper/Negative Trend Concert Chronology (archived at Archive.org)
- Band's biography / discography
- Domino Records' Flipper website
Video
- PUNKCAST#1023 live @ North Six NYC, Aug 24 2006. (RealPlayerRealPlayerRealPlayer is a cross-platform media player by RealNetworks that plays a number of multimedia formats including MP3, MPEG-4, QuickTime, Windows Media, and multiple versions of proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo formats.-History:...
, mp4)