VIA PRESS RELEASE | Band members included the original reality-TV star Lance Loud (An American Family); some would later play/ work with Patti Smith Group, Iggy Pop, Klaus Nomi, and Lydia Lunch. Packaging contains liner notes by Pat Loud, Kristian Hoffman, Joe Katz, and Paul Rutner.
Mumps were not your ordinary punk rock band. For starters, they had a genuine TV star as their front man. Lance Loud and his family were chronicled in PBS’ 1973 docuseries An American Family, widely considered the first reality TV show, set in Santa Barbara, California. The show was also where Lance revealed his homosexuality—making him a television pioneer on two counts. Loud and his friend, keyboardist Kristian Hoffman, formed Loud, and performed on The Dick Cavett Show when Lance’s mother, Pat Loud, insisted on it, or she wouldn’t appear on the show to promote An American Family.
Driven by Lance’s fascination with Andy Warhol, the band moved to NYC. They were one of the first bands to play at the legendary CBGB and became regulars at Max’s Kansas City. Warhol became a fan, calling them one of the greatest bands of their time. They even opened for Van Halen at the famed Whisky-a-Go-Go in West Hollywood. While their live prowess was never a question, Mumps only released two singles before disbanding, 1977’s “I Like To Be Clean” on Bomp! Records, and “Rock & Roll This, Rock & Roll That” on Perfect Records the following year.
Rock & Roll This, Rock & Roll That: Best Case Scenario, You’ve Got Mumps combines the five tracks from those singles with nine tracks recorded between 1974–1979 compiled by the band’s Hoffman and drummer Paul Rutner with co-producer Greg Allen. The CD and Digital program adds an addition nine tracks, including previously unissued songs from the pre-Mumps band, Loud, which included future Patti Smith Group member Jay Dee Daugherty on drums. Street date for the Mumps set is set for June 4, 2021 via Omnivore Recordings.
Kristian Hoffman recalls the band’s origins: “When I met my BFF Lance Loud in Mr. Baker’s Art class in Santa Barbara High School, who knew we were going to besmirch the First Reality Show, American Family with our ‘gayness’ when we thought we were just acting like rock stars? Of course our template was based on Sparks, the Kinks, and the Stooges, so no wonder people were confused! Fortunately, I worked at Cinemabilia with Richard Hell. Thus the band called Mumps that Lance and I were lucky enough to pull together with the help of Rob Duprey, Paul, and Kevin Kiely (ultimately to be replaced by the equally marvelous Joe Katz).
Mumps somehow stuck together for about seven crazy, marvelous and thrill-filled years! The tours! The fans! The two fabulous 45s! But now, here is the entire Mumps ‘canon’ (if you will … or if you won’t!) plus some classical pre-Mumps rarities with a band that only ever appeared on Dick Cavett and PBS, variously called Fork, and less felicitously, Loud! Mumps’ complete ineptitude at ever grasping the capabilities of our heroes translated our efforts into something even more magical: a truly original crafty pop/punk sound. I still love Mumps, with or without ‘the.’”
Mumps drummer Paul Rutner says, “I am over the moon about the release of Rock & Roll This, Rock & Roll That on Omnivore. To share a label with such heroes as Hank Williams, Mister Rogers, Big Star, Buck Owens and friends like the Continental Drifters, The Miamis, John Wesley Harding and the Muffs, to name just a few, is truly humbling. To think that, 40+ years hence, people are interested enough in our own unique slice of the pop landscape is truly both very exciting and validating. And on an actual vinyl LP, to boot!”
Packaging contains photos, ephemera, and the Mumps story told via contributions from Hoffman, Rutner, bassist Joe Katz, and Pat Loud. So rocket back to the 1970s and experience your new favorite old band: Mumps!
