Upcoming events
EVENT
- TITLE:
- Flipper (USA)
- WHEN:
- Fri Jun 12 - Fri Jun 12
- Category:
- Gigs
DESCRIPTION
Flipper (USA)
Fri 12th June
Tickets available @ www.ticketek.com.au
Whilst the band known as Flipper have never earned the status of household names, their influence of American alternative music the last 30 years has been incalculable. Formed in the late ‘70s in San Francisco at the height of that city’s punk explosion, their refusal to abide to the strict fast/loud dictum of their punk peers saw them instantly stand apart from the pack. Their music, a combination of slow, drawn-out sludgey punk – equal parts Stooges and Black Sabbath
– and humourous, observational and biting lyrics made them cult faves throughout the world. Heavily championed by the Dead Kennedys’ Jello Biafra, their most famous single of the era, “Sex Bomb”, almost became the “Louie Louie” of its time, a simplistic, repetitive riff and catch-cry – “She’s a Sex Bomb, my baby, yeah!” – covered by garage/punk bands across the globe.
Following two classic studio LPs, a double live LP and a compilation of singles and rarities, the band went on hiatus in the latter half of the decade until tragedy struck when guitarist/bassist Will Shatter died of a drug overdose in 1987. Reforming again in the early ‘90s, just as grunge was taking hold in mainstream America, the band found themselves hailed as godfathers of the movement, with high praise and lauding tributes from fans such as Nirvana, Melvins, Mudhoney, Soundgarden and even Moby (who claims to have been in the band at one stage), all of whom had been known to play Flipper covers in their live sets. The band signed to mega-fan Rick Rubin’s Def American label in 1992 (Rubin had fronted the Flipper tribute band, Hose, back in the ‘80s), released the American Grafishy album and then disappeared again for over a decade.
…and now they’re back! Requested by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore to play his Nightmare Before Christmas festival in the mid ‘00s, the band re-formed with Nirvana’s Kris Novoselic filling in on bass duties. The performance was such a hit that the band hasn’t stopped playing since, and now they have two new albums to show for their efforts: a studio album, Love, and a live album, Fight. Recorded by grunge luminary, Jack Endino (responsible for many early Sub Pop titles), at Kris’s farm in the North West earlier this year, Love sees the band hasn’t lost its touch in presenting the world some more of their patented dose of chaotic punk, sludge-laden riffs and cutting black humour. The live album, Fight, recorded in late 2007 in both Portland and Seattle and mixed by Endino, sees the band running through old classics and newer songs with the kind of fire they possessed in the ‘80s. Both of these albums have been specially packaged together by Fuse Music to be released on the High Spot label as an Australia/NZ-only 2CD pack.
The best news yet is that Flipper are heading on a world tour and hit these shores this June. Novoselic has now left the band, and filling in is San Fran veteran Rachel Theole, known for her work in proto-Riot Grrrl outfits Frightwig and Mudwimin. The addition of a female into the band for the first time should certainly add an interesting dynamic to their often confrontational live shows.
Flipper will be doing many press and radio interviews before and during the tour, so expect major coverage in street press, Blunt, JMag, fanzines and community radio nationwide.
Love/Fight will be out on May 2nd exclusively through Fuse Music.
Following two classic studio LPs, a double live LP and a compilation of singles and rarities, the band went on hiatus in the latter half of the decade until tragedy struck when guitarist/bassist Will Shatter died of a drug overdose in 1987. Reforming again in the early ‘90s, just as grunge was taking hold in mainstream America, the band found themselves hailed as godfathers of the movement, with high praise and lauding tributes from fans such as Nirvana, Melvins, Mudhoney, Soundgarden and even Moby (who claims to have been in the band at one stage), all of whom had been known to play Flipper covers in their live sets. The band signed to mega-fan Rick Rubin’s Def American label in 1992 (Rubin had fronted the Flipper tribute band, Hose, back in the ‘80s), released the American Grafishy album and then disappeared again for over a decade.
…and now they’re back! Requested by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore to play his Nightmare Before Christmas festival in the mid ‘00s, the band re-formed with Nirvana’s Kris Novoselic filling in on bass duties. The performance was such a hit that the band hasn’t stopped playing since, and now they have two new albums to show for their efforts: a studio album, Love, and a live album, Fight. Recorded by grunge luminary, Jack Endino (responsible for many early Sub Pop titles), at Kris’s farm in the North West earlier this year, Love sees the band hasn’t lost its touch in presenting the world some more of their patented dose of chaotic punk, sludge-laden riffs and cutting black humour. The live album, Fight, recorded in late 2007 in both Portland and Seattle and mixed by Endino, sees the band running through old classics and newer songs with the kind of fire they possessed in the ‘80s. Both of these albums have been specially packaged together by Fuse Music to be released on the High Spot label as an Australia/NZ-only 2CD pack.
The best news yet is that Flipper are heading on a world tour and hit these shores this June. Novoselic has now left the band, and filling in is San Fran veteran Rachel Theole, known for her work in proto-Riot Grrrl outfits Frightwig and Mudwimin. The addition of a female into the band for the first time should certainly add an interesting dynamic to their often confrontational live shows.
Flipper will be doing many press and radio interviews before and during the tour, so expect major coverage in street press, Blunt, JMag, fanzines and community radio nationwide.
Love/Fight will be out on May 2nd exclusively through Fuse Music.
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