Bruce Free, the influential vocalist and bassist of the legendary San Francisco punk rock and hardcore band Flipper, has handed away. The band’s drummer, Stephen DePace, confirmed the information in an electronic mail to Pitchfork. Free had beforehand suffered a stroke and was convalescing at his residence in Humboldt, California. It’s believed that he died from a coronary heart assault on September 5, on the age of 66.
Born Bruce Richard Calderwood in California, he was raised by beatnik mother and father who typically took him to native live shows, igniting his ardour for music. Free joined Flipper after the unique vocalist, Ricky Williams, was dismissed by the band’s founders—Will Shatter, Ted Falconi, and DePace—for his frequent absences. Initially, Calderwood carried out underneath the identify Bruce Lose however later altered it by including an “o,” turning into Bruce Free.
Flipper was shaped within the late Nineteen Seventies in the course of the early days of the Bay Space hardcore punk scene, characterised by its aggressive and uncooked sound. In contrast to a lot of their contemporaries like Black Flag and the Useless Kennedys, Flipper launched a singular groove to their music, mixing parts of thrash with a psychedelic depth that mirrored their affection for the Grateful Useless.
In 1981, the band gained notoriety with their sludgy, saxophone-infused single “Intercourse Bomb,” which clocked in at practically eight minutes. This was adopted by the discharge of their debut album, Album – Generic Flipper, by way of Subterranean Data. The file grew to become a cult traditional, identified for its nihilistic themes and unconventional tune buildings that resonated with a era of disillusioned listeners. Bruce Free defined their inventive imaginative and prescient in a characteristically convoluted method: “We’re simply making an attempt to point out the absurdity of no matter it’s we’re making an attempt to point out the absurdity of.” Alongside Shatter, Free shared vocal duties, each conveying a palpable sense of discontent that attracted a devoted following, together with notable followers like Kurt Cobain. Cobain famously wore a home-made Flipper T-shirt on Saturday Night time Reside and featured the band in Nirvana’s “Come as You Are” music video.
The band continued their momentum with the discharge of their 1984 album, Gone Fishin’, adopted by a number of reside recordings. Nonetheless, tragedy struck in 1987 when Will Shatter died from a drug overdose, resulting in a brief dissolution of the band. Flipper regrouped within the Nineteen Nineties to carry out a collection of exhibits, culminating within the 1992 launch of the album American Grafishy on Def American, a label led by Rick Rubin, who had beforehand performed in a Flipper tribute band.
Sadly, extra setbacks plagued the group. In 1994, Bruce Free suffered a severe again damage in a automotive accident however continued to carry out at occasional live shows. He was additionally featured on the twin albums Love and Combat in 2009, which included contributions from Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic. Nonetheless, in 2015, the band introduced that Bruce Free can be unable to tour because of ongoing well being points, resulting in David Yow of the Jesus Lizard being named as his substitute.
All through his profession, Bruce Free remained an important determine within the punk rock group, identified for his distinct voice and progressive contributions to the style. His legacy lives on by means of the music of Flipper and the myriad of artists they influenced. As punk continues to evolve, Free’s influence will probably be remembered by followers and musicians alike, showcasing the enduring spirit of a really unique artist.
