The Mummies

The Mummies were an American garage punk band formed by Trent Ruane (organ, vocals), Maz Kattuah (bass), Larry Winther (guitar) and Russell Quan (drums).

Band History

Originally hailing from San Mateo, California, they soon tied in with San Francisco's The Phantom Surfers to create that city's burgeoning garage punk scene. With influences of surf rock, frat rock, and 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 of 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.cite web
last = Schinder | first = Scott | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Mummies | work = TrouserPress | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=mummies | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-04-13] They created and promoted the concept of 'Budget Rock', which rejected professionalism and star status in favor of a simplified do-it-yourself aesthetic.cite web
last = Deming | first = Mark | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Mummies Biography | work = allmusic.com | publisher = Macrovision Corporation | date = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fxfexq95ldae~T1 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-04-13] As part of this concept they performed and recorded only on outdated and often damaged equipment.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 1965 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. Billy Childish would later say that The Mummies were the only garage group he really loved. [ [http://www.artistica.co.uk/2006/04/10/interview-with-billy-childish/ Artistica - Modern Art Blog » Blog Archive » Interview with Billy Childish ] ]

The band's first single, "That Girl" was released on their own Pre-B.S. label, with further singles following on labels such as Estrus, Planet Pimp, and Rekkids. These early singles were compiled for the band's first long player, "The Mummies Play Their Own Records". They toured the US in 1991, playing with Childish's Thee Headcoats on their tour of Northwest America, but broke up on New Year's Day 1992, shortly before their first studio album proper, "Never Been Caught" was released. They later reunited for two European tours, in 1993 and 1994 without Kattuah. One tour had Darin from Supercharger filling in on bass the other had Beez from the Smugglers. Their last LP, a fake live album 'Party at Steve's House,' was actually recorded at a furniture warehouse in Hayward, CA without Maz Kattuah. Kattuah has been involved in several bands since the demise of the Mummies, with his current project being Christina and the Bippies. Russell Quan has been involved in numerous projects since the early nineties, including the Count Backwurds, the Dukes of Hamburg, the Easys, the Phantom Surfers, the Flakes, the Bippies and the Bobbyteens. He is somewhat of a celebrity amongst garage aficionados for his playing, for his discovery/promotion of the band Supercharger, and for the way he dances. Larry Winther played guitar and wrote or co-wrote a handful songs for San Francisco indie rock band The Orange Peels for seven years. At one time Trent Ruane played with the Phantom Surfers and the Untamed Youth, but has maintained a low public profile since the Mummies' breakup. Larry Winther and Maz Kattuah also played in an early Foster City, California band called The Batmen. This band included Allen Clapp from The Orange Peels and Dan Jewett of The Himalayans.

The Mummies played a surprise show in June 2008 at the Stork Club in Oakland, CA and are scheduled to play one final show on October 10th, 2008 in Valencia, Spain at the Funtastic Dracula Carnival. [ [http://www.myspace.com/funtasticdraculacarnivalcom MySpace.com - FUNTASTIC DRACULA CARNIVAL - ES - Garage / Punk / R&B - www.myspace.com/funtasticdraculacarnivalcom ] ]

Discography

ingles

*That Girl 7", 1990. Released independently
*Food, Sickles, And Girls 7", 1990. Released independently
*The Fabulous Mummies 7", 1990. Estrus Records
*Shitsville 7", 1990. Regal Select Records.
*Skinny Minnie, 1990. Rekkids
*Greg Lowery & The Mummies, 1992. Rekkids
*Larry Winther And His Mummies, 1992. Planet Pimp Records
*Estrus Promo Single, 1992. Estrus Records
*Stronger Than Dirt, 1992. Telstar Records
*(You Must Fight To Live) On The Planet Of The Apes. Sympathy for the Record Industry.
*Uncontrollable Urge (Bootleg live single)
*Gwendolyn, 1994. Pinup Records
*1994 Peel Sessions (bootleg)
*Get Late!, 1995. Estrus Records
*That Girl 7" re-issue, 1996. Estrus Records
*Food, Sickles, And Girls re-issue, 1996. Estrus Records
*Double Dumb Ass... In The Face, 1996. Estrus Records

Full Length LPs and CDs

*The Mummies: Play their own records (LP), 1992. Estrus Records.
*Fuck C.D.s! It's The Mummies (LP), 1992. Hangman Records.
*Never Been Caught (LP), 1992. Telstar Records.
*Fuck The Mummies, 1992. Bootleg.
*Party At Steve's House! {LP), 1994. Pinup Records.
*Tales From The Crypt, 1994. Bootleg.
*Runnin' On Empty Vol. 1 (LP), 1996. Estrus Records
*Runnin' On Empty Vol. 2 (LP), 1996. Estrus Records
*Never Been Caught (CD), 2002. Telstar Records
*Death By Unga Bunga!! (CD), 2003. Estrus Records

plits

*1991 Northwest Budget Rock Massacre!, 1991. Pre-B.S..
*The Mummies vs. The Wolfmen, 1991. Sympathy Records.
*Live At Café The Pit's, 1993. Demolition Derby Records.
*The Mummies & Supercharger Tour '93 Flexi, 1993. Pinup Records.

Compilations

*Tales From Estrus Volume One, 1990. Estrus Records.
*The Estrus Half-Rack, 1991. Estrus Records.
*Clam Chowder & Ice vs. Big Macs & Bombers, 1991. Nardwuar The Human Serviette.
*Follow That Munster: Raw Sixties Punk Vol. 2, 1991. Rock Records.
*Groin Thunder, 1992. Dog Meat Records.
*Fuck You Spaceman!, 1992. Planet Pimp Records.
*Turban Renewal: A Tribute To Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs, 1994. Norton Records.
*Blood Orgy Of The Leather Girls Soundtrack LP, 1994. Planet Pimp Records.

References

External links

* [http://www.themummies.com Official Mummies Page]