Flipper

Flipper is a US punk band from San Francisco, formed in 1979 from members of Sleepers and Negative Trend. The group is associated with punk, hardcore punk, post-hardcore, art punk, post-punk and noise rock. Its early recordings appear in late 1979 on the SF Underground 7-inch compilation series on Steve Tupper’s Subterranean Records.

Early releases and sound

The band releases a run of influential records in the early 1980s, including the 7-inch singles Love Canal and Ha Ha Ha, and the albums Generic and Gone Fishin', both issued on Subterranean. Flipper’s sound is marked by slow tempos, shambolic playing and harsh, dissonant noise, which becomes a defining part of the group’s identity. Ted Falconi fits spikes to the head of his guitar to stop the instrument being knocked out of tune during crowded shows, and the resulting out-of-tune sound becomes part of the band’s signature.

Line-up and later history

The original line-up includes Will Shatter, Bruce Loose, Ted Falconi and Steve DePace. Will Shatter dies in 1987 from a heroin overdose. The surviving members later reform for the 1993 album American Grafishy on Def American Recordings. The band also issues the compilation Sex Bomb Baby on Rick Rubin and Henry Rollins’ Infinite Zero label. Bruce Loose is later left using a cane after a car accident that causes a serious spinal injury. In December 2006, former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic joins the band, and he leaves in September 2008.

Performance style and members

At early shows, the band often has audience members onstage singing backup, and it encourages horn players to join in on Sex Bomb. The group’s line-up over time includes Ricky Williams, Steve DePace, Ted Falconi, Bruce Loose, Will Shatter, John Dougherty, Bruno DeSmartass, Krist Novoselic, Rachel Thoele and David Yow.