View source for Flipper (band)

{{Short description|American punk rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Flipper
|image = Flipper_930club.jpg
|caption = Flipper at the [[9:30 Club]], [[Washington, D.C.]], 1984
|image_upright = 1.2
|background = group_or_band
|origin = [[San Francisco, California]], U.S.
|years_active = 1979–1987, 1990–1993, 2005–present
|genre = [[Noise rock]], [[punk rock]], [[post-punk]], [[hardcore punk]],<ref name="goldberg">{{cite magazine |last1=Goldberg |first1=Michael |title=Black Flag, Husker Du and the Replacements Lead Punk's New Wave |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/black-flag-husker-du-and-the-replacements-lead-punks-new-wave-117690/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=December 3, 2022 |date=July 18, 1985}}</ref> [[post-hardcore]]
|label = [[Subterranean Records|Subterranean]], [[Alternative Tentacles]], [[ROIR]], [[American Recordings (record label)|American]], [[Domino Recording Company|Domino]]
|associated_acts = [[The Sleepers (San Francisco band)|The Sleepers]], Rad Command, [[Negative Trend]], A3I, [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], [[Frightwig]], Mudwimin, Van Gough's Daughter, [[Scratch Acid]], [[The Jesus Lizard]], [[Minutemen (band)|Minutemen]]
|website = {{URL|flipperrules.com}}
|current_members = Ted Falconi<br />Steve DePace<br />[[Mike Watt]]
|past_members = Will Shatter<br />[[Ricky Williams (musician)|Ricky Williams]]<br />Bruce Loose<br />John Dougherty<br />[[Krist Novoselic]]<br />Bruno DeSmartass<br />[[David Yow]]<br />Rachel Thoele
}}
'''Flipper''' is an American [[punk rock]] band formed in [[San Francisco]], [[California]] in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pehling |first=Dave |date=December 22, 2021 |title=Iconoclastic SF Punk Band Flipper Headlines Bottom of the Hill for NYE - CBS San Francisco |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/iconoclastic-sf-punk-band-flipper-headlines-bottom-of-the-hill/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818054156/https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/iconoclastic-sf-punk-band-flipper-headlines-bottom-of-the-hill/ |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The band influenced a number of [[grunge]],<ref>[http://www.seattleweekly.com/2008-06-25/music/my-life-into-and-inside-flipper Seattle Weekly (author: Nirvana's bassist)], [http://austinist.com/2008/09/24/funx3_fest_addendum_flipper_cancels.php The Austinist] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115054729/http://austinist.com/2008/09/24/funx3_fest_addendum_flipper_cancels.php |date=January 15, 2012 }}</ref> [[punk rock]] and [[noise rock]] bands. Their slowed-down, bass-driven and heavily distorted style of punk is considered to have inspired bands such as the [[Melvins]] and [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]],<ref name="harrington">{{cite web|last=Harrington|first=Jim|title=Iconic punk rock band is back and trying 'to do it bigger than ever'|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/04/16/iconic-punk-rock-band-is-back-and-trying-to-do-it-bigger-than-ever/|publisher=[[The Mercury News]]|date=April 16, 2019|access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref> whose bass player [[Krist Novoselic]] played with the band in the 2000s.<ref name="harrington"/>

==History==

===Early years (1979–1989)===

Flipper was founded by former [[The Sleepers (San Francisco band)|Sleepers]] member [[Ricky Williams (musician)|Ricky Williams]] (vocals), former Rad Command member Ted Falconi (guitar), and former [[Negative Trend]] members Will Shatter (bass) and Steve DePace (drums).<ref name="cbssf">{{cite web|last=Pehling|first=Dave|title=CBS SF Talks To Flipper Drummer Steve DePace|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2019/07/10/cbs-sf-flipper-drummer-steve-depace-interview-punk/|work=[[CBS]] San Francisco|date=July 10, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> Founding member and original vocalist Williams was credited for naming the band,<ref name="kpbs"/> but was fired before it made any recordings.<ref name="kpbs">{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Kevin L.|title=Meet Flipper's Ted Falconi, Vietnam Vet And Punk Rock Legend|url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/nov/16/meet-flippers-ted-falconi-vietnam-vet-and-punk-roc/|work=[[KPBS Public Media|KPBS]]|date=November 16, 2017|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> Bruce “Loose” Calderwood replaced Williams<ref name="kpbs"/> and he and Shatter then went on to trade vocal and bass duties, with both bringing a bass onstage.<ref name="clash">{{cite web|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Will|title=Life Is The Only Thing Worth Living For: Flipper Interviewed|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/life-is-the-only-thing-worth-living-for-flipper-interviewed|work=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|date=July 26, 2019|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> Falconi, a [[Vietnam War]] veteran, played a uniquely distorted style of guitar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archives.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/riff-raff/Content?oid=2139061|title=Riff Raff|last=Athitakis|first=Mark|website=SF Weekly|access-date=October 16, 2017|archive-date=October 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016230035/https://archives.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/riff-raff/Content?oid=2139061|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.guitarsite.com/news/features/interview_with_flipper_guitarist_ted_falconi/|title=Interview with Flipper guitarist Ted Falconi (Guitarsite)|website=www.guitarsite.com|date=September 15, 2008 |language=en|access-date=October 16, 2017}}</ref>

Flipper's first recordings appeared in late 1979 on the ''SF Underground'' 7-inch EP released on the newly formed [[Subterranean Records]],<ref name="cbssf"/> followed by the "Love Canal"/"Ha Ha Ha" 7-inch single in 1980.

{{Listen
|filename=Ha Ha Ha Flipper short.ogg
|title="Ha Ha Ha"
|description=Sample of the 1981 Flipper single "Ha Ha Ha." Characteristic of the band, the heavy bass and vocals primarily carry the melody. Also exemplified is Ted Falconi's unique style of distorted guitar playing.
|format=[[Ogg]]}} In 1981, the "Sex Bomb"/"Brainwash" single was released, featured individually hand-made covers. The lengthy [[A-side and B-side|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.<ref name="cbssf"/> It was recorded over a year<ref name="clash"/> and 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".

The band regularly performed in the San Francisco area and attracted a large following. Simultaneously, their uniquely slowed-down and raucous approach to punk managed to infuriate other members of the local punk scene,<ref name="clash"/> especially with the burgeoning popularity of faster-paced [[hardcore punk]].<ref name="avclub">{{cite web|last=Ali|first=Reyan|title=Flipper's Steve DePace|url=https://www.avclub.com/flipper-s-steve-depace-1798230614|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=March 29, 2012|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> [[Mark Arm]] claimed, in the 2006 documentary ''[[American Hardcore (film)|American Hardcore]]'', that Flipper's charm as a band lay in their ability to upset audiences while attracting their undivided attention and curiosity at the same time. Fans began spray painting "Flipper Rules" in various locations around San Francisco and eventually the world.<ref name="avclub"/>

In 1983, Flipper appeared in Rick Schmidt's independent film, ''Emerald Cities''. Footage of a live performance was interspersed throughout the film, showcasing three songs: "One By One", "Get Away" and "Love Canal".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085484/soundtrack|title=Emerald Cities (1983) |website=IMDb.com|access-date=November 3, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Gone Fishing.png|thumb|right|160px|The cover of ''[[Gone Fishin' (Flipper album)|Gone Fishin']]'' in 1984. The pictured van was where Ted Falconi lived when not on tour with the band. Photo by Vincent Anton.]]A follow-up 1984 Subterranean studio album, ''[[Gone Fishin' (Flipper album)|Gone Fishin']]'',<ref name="cbssf"/> featured the opening track "The Lights, the Sound, the Rhythm, the Noise", as well as "Survivors of the Plague" and "Sacrifice". 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.  

[[File:Flipper BlowN.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Cover of ''[[Blow'n Chunks]]'', featuring the dead fish used as Flipper's mascot]]Also in 1984, the [[ROIR]] cassette label released ''[[Blow'n Chunks]]'', a live document of a Flipper performance at [[CBGB]]. It included material from all phases of the band's existence to that date. It was reissued on CD in 1990. A 2001 reissue included four outtakes from the live sessions.

Flipper titled their 1986 double live album ''[[Public Flipper Limited Live 1980–1985|Public Flipper Limited]]''. 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 splintered after a period of touring, and singer and core member Shatter died on December 9, 1987, of a [[drug overdose]]<ref name="kpbs"/> after forming A3I. Subterranean packaged the band's singles and rarities as the 1988 collection ''Sex Bomb Baby''. The cassette edition and later CD re-releases featured three bonus tracks.

===After Will Shatter (1990–1999)===
The band resurfaced in 1990 with a new single on Subterranean, "Some Day"/"Distant Illusion", and began performing again. ''[[Nürnberg Fish Trials]]'', another live album, was released in 1991. This lineup released an all-new studio album in 1992, ''[[American Grafishy]]'', on [[Rick Rubin]]'s [[American Recordings (US)|Def American]] imprint, which was not as well-received as their previous work. Also in 1992, founding member Ricky Williams also died of a heroin overdose.<ref name="FlipperRedux"/> After the album was released, replacement bass player John Dougherty died of a drug overdose in 1997.<ref name="cbssf"/>

Rubin also reissued ''Album – Generic Flipper'' and the singles compilation ''Sex Bomb Baby'' on his [[Infinite Zero albums|Infinite Zero]] label. By 1997, Flipper's music went largely out of print, with Rubin holding on to the rights. As part of a legal settlement, Subterranean was awarded the right to reissue its Flipper records on vinyl in the United States.

[[File:Krist flipper.jpg|thumb|Krist Novoselic and Bruce Loose perform in the band Flipper in Seattle in 2008.]]

===Reformations (2002–present)===
In 2002, Loose (using a cane) returned for a one-off gig at Berkeley's [[924 Gilman Street]] space as "Not Flipper". He stated that he had changed his name from Bruce Lose to Bruce Loose "because he wanted to be less negative".<ref name="clash"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Will|last=York|title=This punk's not dead|url=http://www.sfbg.com/39/22/noise_flipper.html|publisher=San Francisco Bay Guardian|access-date=June 8, 2014|date=March 2–8, 1999}}</ref>

The original members of Flipper, save for the late Shatter (with Bruno DeSmartass<ref name="clash"/> again replacing Shatter, as he had done for a 1982 tour), reunited to support CBGB on August 22 and 28, 2005.<ref name="clash"/> This lineup then continued to perform live beginning in 2006.

In December 2006, DeSmartass was replaced by Novoselic (ex-Nirvana) on bass for a tour of the UK and Ireland, as well as several US shows.<ref>Jasmin, Ernest. "[http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ej/?title=krist_novoselic_to_play_with_flipper&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 Krist Novoselic to play with Flipper] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108151157/http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ej/?title=krist_novoselic_to_play_with_flipper&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 |date=2009-01-08 }}". TheNewsTribune.com. September 25, 2006.</ref> {{Unreliable source?|date=January 2010}} The song "[[Scentless Apprentice]]", which the band recorded (without Novoselic) for a 2000 Nirvana tribute album, was added to the band's setlist.

[[File:Flipper - Love.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Cover of 2008's ''[[Love (Flipper album)|Love]]'', written and recorded with [[Krist Novoselic]] of Nirvana on bass]]In 2008, the band recorded a new album with Novoselic,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046909/flipper-drafts-novoselic-for-new-album|title=Flipper Drafts Novoselic For New Album|first=Greg|last=Prato|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=January 4, 2008|access-date=January 6, 2008}}</ref> On May 19, 2009, Flipper released a "twin album" featuring one album, titled ''[[Love (Flipper album)|Love]]'', of new studio material, and a second live album, titled ''[[Fight (Flipper album)|Fight]]'' featuring both old and new songs. Both of these albums were produced by Seattle producer [[Jack Endino]] and were well received. Novoselic announced his departure from the band in September 2009 due to responsibilities at home, forcing a tour cancellation.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080923121718/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/09/22/news-ticker-radiohead-aerosmith-war-child-and-flipper/ "News Ticker: Radiohead, Aerosmith, War Child and Flipper"] (September 22, 2008) RollingStone.com.</ref> He was replaced by Rachel Thoele, formerly of [[Frightwig]], Mudwimin and Van Gough's Daughter.<ref name="clash"/>

Several Flipper albums were reissued during 2008–2009 in a variety of formats. ''Album – Generic Flipper'', ''Gone Fishin''', ''Public Flipper Limited'' and ''Sex Bomb Baby!'' were reissued on compact disc by Water Records in the US and [[Domino Recording Company]] in the UK, and on vinyl by the [[Runt Distribution]] imprint 4 Men with Beards.<ref name="myspace">"About Flipper," [http://www.myspace.com/flipper Flipper MySpace page], Retrieved on January 6, 2009</ref>

Flipper played two shows at San Francisco's [[Bottom of the Hill]] on October 10 and 11, 2015, with DeSmartass returning on bass and [[David Yow]] (formerly of [[Scratch Acid]] and [[the Jesus Lizard]]) on vocals.

In 2019, Flipper decided to play some dates to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band.<ref name="harrington"/> The 2019 incarnation of the band consists of Steve DePace, Ted Falconi, and David Yow.<ref name="harrington"/>  With no permanent bass player, the band reached out to friends [[Frightwig|Rachel Thoele]],<ref name="harrington"/> [[Mike Watt]] (whose previous band [[Minutemen (band)|Minutemen]] played with Flipper 36 years earlier<ref name="harrington"/>), and Krist Novoselic.<ref name="harrington"/> Their Northern California dates will be with Thoele on bass<ref name="harrington"/> and supported by No Parents, [[Mike Watt & the Secondmen]], and [[Qui (band)|Qui]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Callwood|first=Brett|title=Music Pick: Flipper|url=https://www.laweekly.com/music/music-pick-flipper-10147306|publisher=[[LA Weekly]]|date=April 11, 2019|access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref> Watt will take over for Thoele when the band embarks on their European tour.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pehling|first=Dave|title=CBS SF Talks To Flipper Drummer Steve DePace|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2019/07/10/cbs-sf-flipper-drummer-steve-depace-interview-punk/|publisher=[[CBS]]|date=July 10, 2019|access-date=July 21, 2019}}</ref>

==Influence on other musicians==
[[Kurt Cobain]] wore a self-made Flipper T-shirt, seen in the booklet pictures of Nirvana's ''[[In Utero (album)|In Utero]]'',<ref name="FlipperRedux">{{Cite web
 |url          = http://www.sfweekly.com/1999-02-10/music/flipper-redux/
 |title        = Flipper Redux
 |access-date  = November 2, 2011
 |publisher    = [[SFWeekly]]
 |date         = February 10, 1999
 |first        = Mark
 |last         = Athitakis
 |archive-date = February 2, 2014
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202123032/http://www.sfweekly.com/1999-02-10/music/flipper-redux/
 |url-status   = dead
}}</ref> on the band's first performance on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in 1992, and also in the music video for "[[Come as You Are (Nirvana song)|Come as You Are]]". Cobain and Novoselic cited Flipper as one of their band's influences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novoselic.com|title=Flipper|quotation="Both Krist & Kurt were influenced by Flipper's heavy, raw punk sound. Krist was honored to join Flipper." (quoting homepage of Novoselic.com)|website=Novoselic.com|access-date=November 3, 2019}}</ref>

In the documentary ''American Hardcore'', [[Moby]] stated that he fronted Flipper for two days while singer Will Shatter was in jail because he "knew all of their songs".<ref>{{cite web|last=Lapatine|first=Scott|title=Moby Blogs About The Flipper Show|url=http://www.stereogum.com/3426/moby_blogs_about_the_flipper_show/news/|work=[[Stereogum]]|date=September 20, 2006|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> Steve DePace recalls that it was only for one night.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pain |first=Jane |date=2015-11-19 |title=INTERVIEW WITH FLIPPER |url=https://jane-pain.com/2015/11/19/interview-with-flipper/ |access-date=2021-07-30 |website=JANE PAIN |language=en}}</ref>

[[Eric Avery]] of [[Jane's Addiction]] has said that Flipper's rolling rhythms and repetitive riffs were an influence on his band's early sound.<ref>{{cite web|last=Welsch|first=Casey|title=Flipper compilation inspires the underground |url=http://www.dailynebraskan.com/flipper-compilation-inspires-the-underground/article_72df8006-7bdc-569e-9e5e-b228b05f7e39.html|work=[[The Daily Nebraskan]]|date=November 7, 2008|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>

In ''[[Get in the Van]]'', his memoir of the early 1980s punk rock scene, [[Henry Rollins]] of [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] described the Flipper experience: "They were just heavy. Heavier than you. Heavier than anything...When they played they were amazing".<ref>''Get in the Van: On the Road with Black Flag'' by Henry Rollins, 1994</ref>

==Covers==
[[R.E.M.]] covered "Sex Bomb" for the A-side of the 1994 edition of their Fan Club Singles 7-inch series.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zaleski|first=Annie|title=The most surprising R.E.M. covers|url=https://www.salon.com/2014/09/26/the_most_surprising_r_e_m_covers/|work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]]|date=September 27, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>

[[The Melvins]] covered several Flipper songs: "Sacrifice" on their ''[[Lysol (album)|Lysol]]'' album;<ref>{{cite web|last=Berlatsky|first=Noah|title=Why the Melvins Are Guitar Music's Best and Most Bizarre Unifier|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/04/why-the-melvins-are-guitar-musics-best-and-most-bizarre-unifier/275422/|work=[[The Atlantic]]|date=April 30, 2013|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> "Love Canal" and "Someday" on a 5-inch single released by Slap-A-Ham Records; and "Way of the World" on the ''[[Singles 1–12]]'' compilation. 

Belgian [[electronica]]/[[industrial music|industrial]] band [[Lords of Acid]] covered Flipper's song "Sex Bomb", and released a live version on the 1995 "Do What You Wanna Do" maxi-single. The track started with [[Praga Khan]] giving credit to Flipper. It was later reinterpreted in the Lords' typical style on the 2000 album ''[[Farstucker]]'', and is a staple of their live shows. 

UK band [[Terminal Cheesecake]] also covered' "Sex Bomb" on their second album, 1989's ''V.C.L.'' ([[Wiiija Records]]). 

[[Unsane (band)|Unsane]] covered the song "Ha Ha Ha" on their 2012 album ''[[Wreck (album)|Wreck]]''.

==Members==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Current members'''
* Ted Falconi – guitar (1979–present)
* Steve DePace – drums (1979–present)
* [[Mike Watt]] – bass (2019, 2022–present); vocals (2022–present)
{{col-2}}
'''Former members'''
* Will Shatter – vocals, bass (1979–1987; died December 9, 1987)
* [[Ricky Williams (musician)|Ricky Williams]] – vocals (1979; died November 21, 1992) 
* Bruce Loose – vocals, bass (1979–2015)
* John Dougherty – bass (1990–1993; died October 31, 1997)
* [[Krist Novoselic]] – bass (2006–2009)
* Bruno DeSmartass – bass, guitar (1983, 2005–2006, 2015)
* Rachel Thoele – bass (2009–2015, 2019, 2019–2022)
* [[David Yow]] – vocals (2015–2022); bass (2015–2019)
{{col-end}}

===Timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize  = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea   = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:0
Alignbars  = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1979 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend     = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1979
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1979

Colors =
 id:vocals 		value:red 		legend:Vocals
 id:guitar		value:green	    legend:Guitar
 id:bass 		value:blue 		legend:Bass
 id:drums	 	value:orange 	legend:Drums
 id:studio      value:black     legend:Studio_album

LineData =
 layer:back
 color:studio
 at:03/30/1982
 at:07/01/1984
 at:01/12/1993
 at:05/19/2009

PlotData =	
 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,–4)
 bar:Ricky&nbsp;Williams from:start till:07/01/1979 color:vocals
 bar:Bruce&nbsp;Loose from:07/01/1979 till:01/01/2015 color:vocals
 bar:Bruce&nbsp;Loose from:07/01/1979 till:01/01/1990 color:bass width:3
 bar:Bruce&nbsp;Loose from:02/01/1993 till:12/01/2006 color:bass width:3
 bar:David&nbsp;Yow from:01/02/2015 till:01/01/2022 color:vocals
 bar:David&nbsp;Yow from:01/02/2015 till:01/01/2019 color:bass width:3
 bar:Ted&nbsp;Falconi from:start till:end color:guitar
 bar:Will&nbsp;Shatter from:start till:07/01/1979 color:bass
 bar:Will&nbsp;Shatter from:07/01/1979 till:12/09/1987 color:vocals 
 bar:Will&nbsp;Shatter from:07/01/1979 till:12/09/1987 color:bass width:3
 bar:Bruno&nbsp;DeSmartass from:01/01/1983 till:12/31/1983 color:bass
 bar:Bruno&nbsp;DeSmartass from:01/01/1983 till:12/31/1983 color:guitar width:3
 bar:Bruno&nbsp;DeSmartass from:08/22/2005 till:12/01/2006 color:bass
 bar:Bruno&nbsp;DeSmartass from:08/22/2005 till:12/01/2006 color:guitar width:3
 bar:Bruno&nbsp;DeSmartass from:02/01/2015 till:12/31/2015 color:bass
 bar:Bruno&nbsp;DeSmartass from:02/01/2015 till:12/31/2015 color:guitar width:3
 bar:John&nbsp;Dougherty from:01/01/1990 till:02/01/1993 color:bass
 bar:Krist&nbsp;Novoselic from:12/01/2006 till:09/01/2009 color:bass
 bar:Rachel&nbsp;Thoele from:09/01/2009 till:01/01/2015 color:bass
 bar:Rachel&nbsp;Thoele from:01/01/2019 till:07/20/2019 color:bass
 bar:Rachel&nbsp;Thoele from:10/01/2019 till:01/01/2022 color:bass
 bar:Mike&nbsp;Watt from:07/20/2019 till:10/01/2019 color:bass
 bar:Mike&nbsp;Watt from:01/01/2022 till:end color:vocals
 bar:Mike&nbsp;Watt from:01/01/2022 till:end color:bass width:3
 bar:Steve&nbsp;DePace from:start till:end color:drums

}}

==Discography==

===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Title'''
|'''Year'''
|'''Label'''
|-
|''[[Album – Generic Flipper]]''
|1982
|[[Subterranean Records]], reissued on Water Records in 2008
|-
|''[[Gone Fishin' (Flipper album)|Gone Fishin']]''
|1984
|Subterranean Records, reissued on Water Records in 2008
|-
|''[[American Grafishy]]''
|1993
|[[Def American]]
|-
|''[[Love (Flipper album)|Love]]''
|2009
|MVD Audio
|-
|}

===Live albums===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Title'''
|'''Year'''
|'''Label'''
|-
|''[[Blow'n Chunks]]''
|1984
|[[ROIR]]
|-
|''[[Public Flipper Limited Live 1980–1985|Public Flipper Limited]]''
|1986
|Subterranean Records, reissued on Water Records in 2008
|-
|''Nürnberg Fish Trials''
|1991
|Musical Tragedies
|-
|''[[Live at CBGB's 1983|Live at CBGB's]]''
|1997
|Overground
|-
|''[[Fight (Flipper album)|Fight]]''
|2009
|MVD Audio
|-
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Title'''
|'''Year'''
|'''Label'''
|-
|"Love Canal"/"Ha Ha Ha"
|1980
|Subterranean Records
|-
|"Sex Bomb"/"Brainwash"
|1981
|Subterranean Records
|-
|"Get Away"/"The Old Lady that Swallowed the Fly"
|1982
|Subterranean Records
|-
|"Some Day"/"Distant Illusion"
|1990
|Subterranean Records
|-
|"Flipper Twist"/"Fucked Up"
|1992
|[[Matador Records]]/Def American
|-
|"Sex Bomb Remix-Falconi's Horn Concerto In D-Fault (Live)" (Second recording is on the same track. Sides A and B are the same)
|1993
|[[Fear and Loathing]]
|-
|Generic Single: "Sex Bomb"/"Sex Bomb (Single Version)"/"Brainwash"
|2009
|Domino
|-
|"Hot Fish (with The Melvins)"/"Sacrifice (with The Melvins)" (Side A of split single with The Melvins)
|2019
|Amphetamine Reptile Records
|-
|"Love Canal (with David Yow)"
|2019
|Joyful Noise Records
|-
|}

===Compilations===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Title'''
|'''Year'''
|'''Label'''
|-
|''[[Sex Bomb Baby]]''
|1988
|Subterranean Records, reissued on Infinite Zero Archive/[[American Recordings (US)|American Recordings]] in 1995, reissued on Water Records in 2008
|-
|Not A Flipper Tape (Limited Cassette Release)
|1988
|Cao Din Records
|-
|Problem Child
|2020
|Cleopatra Records
|-
|Flipper's Greatest Misses
|Unreleased
|None
|}

===Videos===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Title'''
|'''Year'''
|'''Label'''
|-
|Flipper Tape/Caught Live!/Flipper Live:1983
|1983
| Ace Video/RIA/Dog Patch
|-
|''Flipper Live''
|February 19, 2008
|Music Video Distributors
|-
|}

===Other appearances===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Title'''
|'''Year'''
|'''Album'''
|-
|"Earthworm"
|1979
|''SF Underground''
|-
|"Falling", "Lowrider" and "End the Game" 
|1981
|''Live at Target''
|-
|"Ha Ha Ha"
|1981
|''[[Let Them Eat Jellybeans!]]''
|-
|"Sacrifice"
|1982
|''[[Not So Quiet on the Western Front (album)|Not So Quiet on the Western Front]]''
|-
|"Life"
|1982
|''Rat Music for Rat People''
|-
|"Ever"
|1983
|''Eastern Front''
|-
|"Ever" and "Sex Bomb"
|1992
|''The Wanna-Be-an-Indie-But-Got-Too-Much-$ Sampler''
|-
|"Some Day"
|1993
|''SXSW''
|-
|"Love Canal" and "Get Away"
|1994
|''Infinite Zero Promotional CD#2''
|-
|"Ha Ha Ha"
|1995
|''Old School Punk''
|-
|"[[Scentless Apprentice]]" ([[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] cover)
|2000
|''[[Smells Like Bleach: A Punk Tribute to Nirvana]]''
|-
|"Sad But True"
|2001
|''A Punk Tribute to Metallica''
|-
|"[[Problem Child (AC/DC song)|Problem Child]]" ([[AC/DC]] cover)
|2002
|''For Those About to Rawk: A Punk Tribute to AC/DC''
|-
|"Ha Ha Ha"
|2006
|''[[American Hardcore (film)#Soundtrack|American Hardcore's Official Movie Soundtrack]]''
|-
|"[[Hash Pipe]]" ([[Weezer]] cover)
|2006
|''A Punk Tribute to Weezer''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080122140508/http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Towers/5752/flip-chrono.html Flipper/Negative Trend Concert Chronology] (archived at [[Archive.org]])
* [http://dominorecordco.com/artists/flipper/ Domino Records' Flipper website]
* [http://joshuamichaelfriedman.podomatic.com/entry/2011-04-17T14_43_06-07_00 WMUC-FM, 88.1, College Park, Maryland, attempts to interview Flipper backstage at Nightclub 930 in Washington, DC, on March 14, 1982]
* {{IMDb name|id=2903604|name=Flipper}}

{{Flipper|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flipper}}
[[Category:American noise rock music groups]]
[[Category:Hardcore punk groups from California]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1979]]
[[Category:Musical groups from San Francisco]]
[[Category:ROIR artists]]
[[Category:Domino Recording Company artists]]
[[Category:Alternative Tentacles artists]]