Origin Minneapolis, Minnesota Years active 1995–2003, 2016 | Genres Glam rock | |
Flipp was a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based band, which formed in 1995 and attempted to revive the glam rock era of the early 1970s using its combination of tongue-in-cheek social commentary, self-deprecating wit, cartoonish stage costumes and bizarre, non-sensical electronics, pyrotechnics and production elements. For one outdoor show, the band contracted a helicopter pilot to fly over the crowd and dump hundreds of pounds of Kaboom! cereal over the audience.
The band was signed to Hollywood Records and produced three albums. Members of the band included guitarist Brynn Arens and bass player Cherry Forever (Greg Eidem), who were previously known for their work in the band Rattling Bones, a New York City-based hard rock band signed to the Nederlander Management Group. Because of Rattling Bones’ limited recording success (the soundtrack of “Surf Ninjas;” New Line Cinema) and subsequent disenchantment with the hard-rock scene, Arens and Eidem returned to Minneapolis/St Paul and created what would become Flipp. Arens retained his stage name while the other band members adopted the names “Cherry Forever” (Eidem), “Kilo Bale” (Eric Bretl) and “Chia Karaoke” (Arens’ brother Kii.)
Flipp’s first, eponymous album was released in 1997 to critical praise, and was supported with a busy tour schedule as a support act for Oasis, Cheap Trick and other established bands.
In 1999, Flipp performed at Woodstock in New York. They played on the West Stage on July 22. Eidem left the group shortly after, to spend more time with his new family. He was replaced on bass by "Freaky Useless" (Randy Engebritson). Arens teamed up with former Kiss manager Bill Aucoin to help with the band’s second release. “Blow It Out Your Ass!” which was released in 2000.
In 2002, the band was signed to Artemis Records, and released an album entitled "Volume," which was produced by Everclear frontman Art Alexakis. Half of the songs were re-recordings from their previous albums the rest were new. Many featured uncredited backing vocals by Alexakis. Record sales were lackluster, and the band members started working on side projects. In late 2016 the band began playing reunion shows around Minnesota with their original lineup.
In early June 2010, Arens, Eidem, and other members of Flipp, Rattling Bones, and Obsession (another side project of Arens) announced on Facebook that they would be getting back together to record a few more songs, however it is doubtful that any of the bands would begin touring again.
In 2016, the band reunited and began playing club shows around Minneapolis and have introduced new band member Less Able Paul.