A Mump a Day: Kevin Kiely

Kevin Kiely was the Mumps bass player. He was their second bass player, the first being a guy named Aron Kiely!

Kevin was Pleasant’s favorite Mump, and my favorite Mump photo subject.


Kevin and Pleasant in the cozy darkness of the studio kitchen

Kevin would pose however Pleasant and I chose him too, and was completely up for the conceits we'd try, ranging from Andy Warhol Interview-styled portraits to photo illustrations for fake pulp novels that were never written (but should have been).


Kevin and the Interview style portrait

These photos are mostly from February – March 1978, when Mumps were in Los Angeles for an extended period recording “Muscle Boys,” “That Fatal Charm” and “Rock n Roll This, Rock n Roll That” and playing tons of shows in California.





Readers at home, please note: Don’t try Kevin’s antics at home.


Stealing an airline’s life jacket from under the seat is a big Federal no-no!








And if you have an abandoned refrigerator, best take the door off once you’ve had your photo opportunity with it.





Butif you should find yourself in the Beach Boys recording studio alone and want to have a photo opportunity with their gold records, by all means, go for it!



Be sure to complete your record collection with the fantastic Mumps compilation, "How I Saved the World" which the wonderful Sympathy for the Record Industy released! The Mumps music is available from many places. Don't be left out! Ordering info is here!