Bruce Loose

Loose joined Flipper in 1979 after they kicked out their original lead singer, Ricky Williams.^[4][5] He originally sang as "Bruce Lose" before switching to "Loose" as he "wanted to be less negative".^[4][6][7] The band was unique for having two singer/bassist, Loose and Will Shatter who usually took turns alternating as singer or bassist depending on the song.^[8] When Shatter died in 1987, the band went on hiatus. Loose suffered a broken back due to a car accident in 1994.^[3][9][4]

He returned to the stage in 2002, with support from a walking cane, for a one-off gig at Berkeley's 924 Gilman Street space billed as "Not Flipper". Loose reformed Flipper with Ted Falconi and Steve DePace in 2005. Loose was "voted out" of Flipper in 2015 due to health problems and was replaced by David Yow.^[10][11]

He was born to Beatnik parents in California in 1959.^[4] Loose was married to poet and artist Meri St. Mary and had a child with her.^[12][13]

After many years of health problems, Bruce died on September 5, 2025 at his home in Humboldt County, California from a suspected heart attack aged 66.^{[3][14][4][15]} He had also suffered a stroke in June.^[12]