The Mummies

Not to be confused with Here Come the Mummies.
The Mummies
Origin San Mateo, California, United States
Genres Garage punk
Years active 1988–1992, 1993, 1994, intermittently since
Labels Estrus, Telstar, Planet Pimp, Sympathy for the Record Industry
Past members Trent Ruane
Maz Kattuah
Larry Winther
Russell Quan

The Mummies are an American garage punk band from San Mateo, California formed in 1988. The band maintain a webpage, but, consistent with their DIY aesthetic, shun social media including Facebook and Twitter.[1]

Band history

Showmanship

Originally hailing from San Mateo, California, the band was formed by Trent Ruane (organ, vocals), Maz Kattuah (bass), Larry Winther (guitar) and Russell Quan (drums).[2] They became a key part of San Francisco's burgeoning garage punk scene, along with The Phantom Surfers. With influences of surf rock, 1950s and 1960s garage rock bands such as The Sonics and more contemporary garage punk bands like Thee Mighty Caesars the Mummies eschewed the contemporary rock music of their time. Their first show was at the Chi Chi Club in San Francisco in December 1988. The Mummies are especially known for their matching, tattered mummy costumes they wore on stage and their impertinent and insulting attitude that they brought with them.[3] They created and promoted the concept of 'Budget Rock', which rejected professionalism and star status in favor of a simplified do-it-yourself (DIY) aesthetic.[4] As part of this concept they performed and recorded only on outdated and often damaged equipment. For a tour vehicle they used a garishly painted 1963 Pontiac ambulance. As part of their lo-fi manifesto, they released their music only on vinyl for many years, allowing 'official' CD format releases only in the 2000s.[3][4] Billy Childish would later say that The Mummies were the only garage group he really loved.[5]

Early years

The band's first single "That Girl" was recorded in a furniture warehouse in San Francisco. It was released on their own Pre-B.S. label, with further singles following on labels such as Estrus, Telstar, Regal Select, and Rekkids.[4] These early singles were compiled for the band's first long player, The Mummies Play Their Own Records, in 1990.[4] The following year Crypt records sent Mike Mariconda to help the band record their debut album proper. Recorded in the back of a cabinet shop in Belmont, California, the band rejected the material as they preferred the lo-fi sound of their earlier releases.[2] This material was later released on the bootleg album Fuck the Mummies.[2] They started again, and the results were released in 1992 as Never been Caught.[2]

Later years

They toured the US in 1991, playing with Billy Childish's Thee Headcoats on their tour of Northwest America, but broke up on New Year's Day 1992, shortly before Never Been Caught was released. They later reunited for two European tours, in 1993 and 1994.[2] The '94 tour had Beez from the Smugglers filling in on bass.[4] Their next LP, a fake live album 'Party at Steve's House,' was actually recorded at an industrial warehouse in Martinez, CA with Darrin of Supercharger playing bass.

Other projects

Reunions

The band reunited in 2003, releasing Death by Unga Bunga on CD only, leaving behind their original "vinyl only" ethos.

The Mummies played an unannounced show in June 2008 at the Stork Club in Oakland, Cal. as well as a show in October 2008 in Valencia, Spain at the Funtastic Dracula Carnival.[6] They also played in June 2009 at Born Bad Festival[7] at Le Trabendo in Paris, France.

In October, 2009, The Mummies played two shows at the Budget Rock 8 festival in San Francisco.

On July 4, 2015, The Mummies were the headliner at the John Waters hosted music festival, Burger Boogaloo in Oakland, CA at Mosswood Park.

On July 19, 2015, The Mummies headlined a sold-out show at Dante's in Portland, OR.[8][9]

Discography

LPs[10]

Bootlegs[10]

Fuck the Mummies[11]

Splits[10]

Singles[10]

Compilations[10]

Compilation appearances

References

  1. ↑ http://www.themummies.com
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p. 881
  3. 1 2 Schinder, Scott. "The Mummies". TrouserPress. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Deming, Mark. "The Mummies Biography". allmusic.com. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  5. ↑ Archived February 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ Archived October 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "Bornbad records Jb wizz". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  8. ↑ http://www.danteslive.com/calendar/
  9. ↑ http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/born-through-death/Content?oid=16038918
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 The Mummies on Discogs.com
  11. ↑ Discogs.com
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