Flipper (band)

Flipper
Flipper at the 9:30 Club, Washington, DC, 1984
Background information
Origin	San Francisco, California, United States
Genres	Noise rock, punk rock, post-punk, hardcore punk, experimental rock, lo-fi
Years active	1979–1987, 1990–1993, 2005–present
Labels	Subterranean, Alternative Tentacles, ROIR, American, Domino
Associated acts	The Sleepers, Rad Command, Negative Trend, A3I, Nirvana, Frightwig, Mudwimin, Van Gough's Daughter, Scratch Acid, The Jesus Lizard
Website	flipperrules.com
Members	Ted Falconi Steve DePace Bruno DeSmartass David Yow
Past members	Will Shatter Ricky Williams Bruce Loose John Dougherty Krist Novoselic Rachel Thoele

Flipper is an American rock 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,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, and influenced bands such as the Melvins and Nirvana, whose bass player Krist Novoselic played with the band in the 2000s.

Flipper was founded by former Sleepers member Ricky Williams (vocals), former Rad Command member Ted Falconi (guitar), and former Negative Trend members Will Shatter (bass) and Steve DePace (drums). Founding member and original vocalist Williams was credited for naming the band, but was fired before it made any recordings. Bruce Loose and Shatter then went on to trade vocal and bass duties, with both bringing a bass onstage. Falconi, a Vietnam War veteran, played a uniquely distorted style of guitar.

Flipper's first recordings appeared in late 1979 on the SF Underground 7" EP released on the newly formed Subterranean Records, followed by the "Love Canal"/"Ha Ha Ha" 7" single in 1980.

In 1981, the "Sex Bomb"/"Brainwash" single was released, featured individually hand-made covers. The lengthy A-side had minimal lyrics ("She's a sex bomb, my baby, yeah") and gained the band notoriety within the punk community. The original lineup released their first full-length album, Album – Generic Flipper, on Subterranean in 1982. It contained a new version of "Sex Bomb". It was followed later in the year with another single on Subterranean, "Get Away"/"The Old Lady that Swallowed the Fly".