By: Michael Madavi

Flipper
“Sex Bomb” (mp3)
from “Sex Bomb Baby”
(Public Flipper Limited LLC)

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One of the most original and unappreciated bands of their time, early 80′s San Francisco punk legends Flipper seriously influenced how music would evolve after their run. Forefathers of what would become grunge, Flipper weren’t afraid to play slower, droning versions of 80′s punk in a scene that was dominated by bands like the Dead Kennedys. People left by the dozens from their early shows, unable to deal with the squealing feedback from Ted Falconi’s guitar, the fuzzy, distorted bass of Will Shatter, Steve DePace’s pounding drums, and Bruce Loose’s scratchy, raw vocals. They were doing something unlike everyone else from the scene, choosing catchy bass lines backed with heavy drumming and noise-saturated guitar parts over the speed and anger of most punk bands. Their heavier, powerful sound facilitated the expression of everything from silly, meaningless songs about nothing to politically charged protests against the horrors of war and corporate America under Reagan. Since their 80′s lineup’s demise, Flipper has gained a cult status as one of the best and most original punk bands. Kurt Cobain can be often seen in his “Flipper Rules, OK?” t-shirt on the In Utero liner sleeve and on Nirvana’s first Saturday Night Live appearance. Mudhoney’s Mark Arm wrote the liner notes to the 1995 reissue of the band’s odds-and-sods collection Sex Bomb Baby. 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.” Their influence and mark on music is undeniable.

Flipper was formed in 1979 with the aforementioned lineup with the exception of Ricky Williams on vocals. William’s run with the band was short and his contribution to the group is negligible besides naming the group (as a drug addict with a poor memory, he had a habit of naming all of his numerous household pets Flipper, regardless of species, so he could remember all their names) and Bruce Loose quickly replaced him. Under this lineup the band truly began to grow and experiment, resulting in memorable, drunken live shows where audience members were encouraged to come onstage and play instruments, the band would refuse to play until someone bought them more beer, and lots of people would leave. Call it an inability to see the genius in front of you, but you either loved or hated Flipper. Thankfully, the former prevailed and their fish logo can still be spotted around San Francisco (at one point, most of the signs for Clipper street were changed to the band’s name by fans).

Flipper continued to play for the next few years until they began splintering after a long debauched period of touring, finalized when Will Shatter eventually died on December 9th, 1987 of a heroin overdose with Bruce Loose’s own addiction forming. By the early 1990s, the band resurfaced with a new single on Subterranean. Allegedly, Bruce Loose stole the masters of their music from the Subterranean Warehouse and with DePace struck a deal with producer-extraordinaire Rick Rubin in Los Angeles. Rubin’s lawyers overpowered the small San Francisco Label and soon re-released Album Generic Flipper and the singles compilation Sex Bomb Baby on his Infinite Zero label. Even with Henry Rollins onboard as Infinite’s A&R, the label soon went defunct. By 1997, Flipper’s groundbreaking music went largely out of print, with Rubin still holding onto the rights. They briefly toured with GWAR and The Melvins with a new bass player, John Dougherty, but failed to muster the greatness of the old days.

In 1993 Bruce was in a de-habilitating car accident that forced Flipper to take a hiatus; due to his spinal injury he wasn’t quite able to perform live any more. Sadly on Halloween night, 1997, Dougherty also overdosed on heroin, bringing Bruce to state in an interview with SF Weekly that the band is, “like Spinal Tap, except the bass player keeps dying.” Their touring period in the 90′s was sparse and lacked the energy and power of their 80′s performances, so after Dougherty’s death the band rarely performed with the exception of a one-night performance in Berkeley’s Gilman theater under the name “Not Flipper” and a 2005 gig in support of saving legendary New York punk club, CBGB with bassist Bruno DeSmartass and Bruce performing with a walking cane.

Flipper re-emerged in 2006 with DeSmartass replaced by Krist Novoselic of Nirvana for a tour of the UK and Ireland, as well as several US shows. In 2008, the band recorded a new album with Novoselic, but as of early January 2009, they were still searching for a label to release it. In addition, Novoselic announced his departure from the band in September 2008 due to responsibilities at home, forcing a tour cancellation and a search for a replacement bassist (at least he didn’t overdose…).

In 2008 Steve DePace was able to make Flipper’s classic catalogue, , including Sex Bomb Baby, Generic, Gone Fishin‘ and Public Flipper Limited: Live 1980-1985, available on vinyl via Runt and available online via IODA.  Pick up your copy of this legendary band’s great music today and remember, “Flipper Still Rules, OK?”

Flipper
“Get Away” (mp3)
from “Sex Bomb Baby”
(Public Flipper Limited LLC)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album