For a quarter-century, a band of 5,000-year-old, bandage-wrapped undead have prowled America with their “terrifying funk from beyond the grave.”

Sometimes sharing the stage with the likes of Parliament-Funkadelic, Al Green, Mavis Staples, and Cheap Trick, other times appearing at massive festivals, and often headlining at clubs, theaters, and festivals, Here Come the Mummies sell tickets by the thousands for their crowd-pleasingly entertaining shows.

Not bad for a group, legend says, that was cursed to wander Earth undead after deflowering a pharaoh’s daughter.

Or, maybe, this is really a collection of Grammy-winning Nashville, Tennessee, studio musicians who’ve adopted the mummy routine to maintain their anonymity and cook up some funk outside the studios where they earn their keep.

Let’s go with the legend, and talk to Mummy Cass (get it?) who dialed in from Music City in late August, the day before Here Come the Mummies hit the road for a 45-date tour, which includes a stop at The Clyde Theatre on Friday, Oct. 18, with The Toxhards.

Conversation with undead

Q: So how do a bunch of 5,000-year-old mummies learn to play guitar, drums, bass, keyboard, trumpet, and more?

Cass: We were around in the invention of guitars. I mean, drums were around before us. We kind of helped invent them. So we made them fit our fingers.

Q: And how did you end up choosing funk?

Cass: I think George Clinton from Funkadelic said it, aliens came down and helped us build the pyramids. The choice of music back then was funky music from outer space. It’s changed through the years, but it’s basically the same kind of funkiness. So, it is the music of the time for us, baby.

Q: Is it tough to get up there and play with all the bandages? Do they get in the way of your instruments? Do you get hot? 

Cass: We’re undead, so the heat doesn’t bother us. I don’t know if the bandages bother us so much. But me, in particular, my joints are so old that I can’t even walk down stairs without groaning and grunting and everything. It’s not easy. But baby, funky music gets me moving. So I don’t even feel it once I got going. But the first couple steps, man, I’m making noise.

Q: When you guys play a bunch of shows, does the strain get worse as the tour goes on or is it the same undead state all the time? 

Cass: I kind of get worn out a little bit, but I am really looking forward to this fall. Lucky for us, Spazmo, he’s been singing a little bit more these days. And Dr. Yo, who’s our bari saxophone player, he’s been singing a few. So I got my backup quarterbacks there, so if I ever need some help, they can help me out.

Q: So, who writes the music?

Cass: Well, it’s all of us. … I’m sitting here, actually, with Eddie Mummy. He’s the drummer, baby. He and I do a lot. Spaz has been doing a lot of music. Midnight Mummy, he’s not new, but he’s one of the later additions to the band. He’s been writing a lot of stuff. People show up with funky ideas, and we’re ready to roll.

Q: You’re looking forward to the fall, why is that?

Cass: Well, that’s our time, baby. We get up and rolling. … We’ve already played a few times this year. We’ve been to Australia and a couple other places. But, man, we’re going out West. We’re going to the Midwest, other places with “west” in the name.

Q: It sounds like you guys have a hell of a lot of fun out there.

Cass: We got lucky. I gotta be honest with you, man. We got cursed, but the curse has been lucky. It’s a bunch of fun. Every night is fun. The music keeps us going. We’re in Year 25 right now and I’m not tired of it yet.”

Q: I didn’t realize you’ve been a band for a quarter-century. Well, I guess if you’re 5,000 years old, that’s nothing though.

Cass: Yeah, we were playing before we got mummified. We got on Earth about 25 years ago. We might be here for another 5,000 years. Who knows?