The unlikely adoption of Mental as Anything’s 1985 hit “Live It Up” by Scottish football fans has been a source of astonishment and delight for the Australian band, as they prepare to embark on a national tour and the release of a documentary chronicling their five-decade career.
Tens of thousands of Rangers Football Club supporters transformed the song into a stadium anthem, a phenomenon guitarist Reg Mombassa described as “pretty weird” and “astonishing,” according to recent reports. “We were just astonished by that … and reasonably happy about it suddenly being sung by tens of thousands of Glaswegians,” Mombassa said, as reported by The Guardian.
The band’s story is now being told in Live It Up: The Mental as Anything Story, which premieres in Australian cinemas on March 5th. The film details the band’s journey from art school hobbyists to international success, navigating the complexities of record label interference, personal struggles, and legal battles. It as well explores how the band members have come to terms with their legacy and sustained their musical partnership.
Mental as Anything’s current lineup, featuring Mombassa and bassist Peter O’Doherty, recently tested the waters with a performance in Manly, Sydney, before Christmas. “There were about 800 people, and a lot of young people, and they’re all singing along. I found it quite gratifying,” Mombassa stated. Both Mombassa and O’Doherty admitted to pre-show nerves, having not performed these songs for 25 years and with limited rehearsal time.
Formed in 1976 by Mombassa (then known as Reg Mombassa) and Martin Plaza while studying at the Sydney College of the Arts, Mental as Anything quickly gained a following. Plaza’s vocals and Mombassa’s distinctive slide guitar style defined their early sound. Peter O’Doherty joined on bass, alongside Dave Twohill on drums and Andrew “Greedy” Smith on vocals, harmonica, and keyboards. The band became a fixture at the Unicorn Hotel in Paddington, Sydney, throughout 1977, attracting a dedicated audience.
Their first release, “The Nips Are Getting Bigger,” proved successful, launching a string of 24 Top 40 hits in Australia – a record for an Australian artist. A move to Sony Records in 1985 and the release of the album Fundamental marked a turning point. While Fundamental contained their biggest hit, “Live It Up,” it also introduced creative tensions. American producer Richard Gottehrer, known for his work with Blondie, favored Smith’s more sentimental songwriting over the band’s traditionally ironic and quirky style. The resulting albums leaned heavily on drum machines and keyboards, a departure from their earlier organic sound.
The shift in musical direction caused friction within the band. O’Doherty expressed his dissatisfaction with the 1987 album, Mouth to Mouth, stating, “I hated it… I felt dismal as a musician.” Twohill shared similar sentiments. The pressure to replicate the success of “Live It Up” and the band’s penchant for partying further exacerbated the issues. “We did have a tendency of drinking most of our rider before going on stage,” Mombassa acknowledged, suggesting it contributed to their on-stage persona.
The 1990s and 2000s saw further challenges, including the loss of their manager, Jeremy Fabinyi, personal setbacks for band members, and Plaza’s pursuit of a solo career. Mombassa also gained recognition as a visual artist, becoming associated with the Mambo brand. In 2000, the O’Doherty brothers formed Dog Trumpet and focused on their art, while the remaining members experienced a significant rift, culminating in a legal dispute after Twohill’s dismissal in 2004. Plaza’s battle with cancer and his eventual passing in 2016, followed by Smith’s unexpected death in December 2019, further reshaped the band’s landscape.
The documentary was initiated by writer/director Matthew Walker, following the success of his 2021 film, I’m Wanita. Walker brought the project to Beyond Productions, where Martin Fabinyi, the band’s original label boss, was an executive producer.
The renewed interest sparked by the film prompted Mombassa and O’Doherty to revive Mental as Anything for a national tour. They have recruited Simon Rudston-Brown on guitar, Shannon Stitt on keyboards, and O’Doherty’s son, Declan, on drums. The band secured a spot at Bluesfest and will play dates in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, and Brisbane in June.
O’Doherty emphasized the importance of maintaining the band’s original sound, stating, “We were concerned whether it’s gonna sound authentic enough to do justice to the songs themselves.” He also expressed regret that Smith didn’t live to see the band’s recent success in the UK, noting that Smith “would have been delighted” by the enthusiastic reception of “Live It Up” from Scottish football fans and “tickled pink.”
