FLIPPER
TO TOUR AUSTRALIA
Whilst
the band known as Flipper have never earned the status of household names, their
influence of American alternative music in 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 humorous,
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.
FLIPPER
TOUR DATES JUNE 2009:
THURSDAY 4TH AMPLIFIER BAR, PERTH
FRIDAY 5TH 'LIVE'
ON LIGHT SQUARE, ADELAIDE
SATURDAY 6TH ESPLANADE HOTEL, MELBOURNE
SUNDAY
7TH THE BRISBANE HOTEEL, HOBART
THURSDAY 11TH THE STEP INN, BRISBANE
FRIDAY
12TH ANU BAR, CANBERRA
SATURDAY 13TH MANNING BAR, SYDNEY
SUNDAY 14TH CAMBRIDGE
HOTEL, NEWCASTLE
For your chance to win one a double
pass to the Sydney show, simply tell us what your favourite Flipper track is and
why. Winner will be notified via email. Good luck!
