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.[1] They created and promoted the concept of 'Budget Rock', which rejected professionalism and star status in favor of a simplified do-it-yourself aesthetic.[2] As part of this concept they performed and recorded only on outdated and often damaged equipment.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 2000's.[1][2] Billy Childish would later say that The Mummies were the only garage group he really loved.[3]
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.[2] These early singles were compiled for the band's first long player, The Mummies Play Their Own Records.[2] 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.[2] Their last LP, 'Party at Steve's House,' was recorded 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 Flakes and the Bobbyteens. He is somewhat of a celebrity amongst garage aficionados both for his playing and for his discovery/promotion of the band Supercharger. Larry Winther played guitar and wrote or co-wrote a handful songs for San Francisco indie rock band The Orange Peels for seven years.[2] 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.
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