The opening footage of the documentary Live It Up: The Mental as Anything Story shows thousands of Scottish fans screaming an Australian song as if it were a war anthem.
For guitarist Reg Mombassa it was an incredible moment: “We were absolutely amazed – and, of course, it felt pretty good when tens of thousands of Glaswegians were singing our song.”
It's the 1985 hit Live It Up, which was adopted by Rangers FC fans and climbed to the top of the British charts. Four decades later, Mombassa and his brother, bassist Peter O'Doherty, are bringing the band back to the stage with a new lineup and a national tour.
From art students to pop stars
The documentary tells the story of a group of art students who formed the band Mental as Anything in Sydney in 1976. Together with singer Martin Plaza, drummer Wayne de Lisle (then known as Dave Twohill) and multi-instrumentalist Greedy Smith, they created a unique blend of classic pop, artistic irony and punk energy.
From gigs in Paddington pubs to a contract with the Regular record label, success came quickly. The song The Nips Are Getting Bigger became a hit, and 24 other Top 40 songs followed – a record for an Australian artist.
Success and Disruptions
The move to Sony in the mid-80s and the album Fundamental brought the band their greatest commercial success, but also tensions. American producer Richard Gottehrer favored a more electronic-oriented sound and Greedy Smith's more sentimental songs, overshadowing other members.
The follow-up album Mouth to Mouth deepened the rifts. O'Doherty has described the period as depressing, feeling unappreciated as a musician. The pressure for new hits and the lifestyle – with alcohol an integral part of the band's "aesthetic" – hastened their decline.
The following years brought departures, side projects like Dog Trumpet, lawsuits, and painful losses. In 2019, Greedy Smith's sudden death from a heart attack seemed to finally close a chapter.
The documentary and a new beginning
Director Matthew Walker saw the band's history as ideal material for a film: the ups, downs, and unique chemistry between visual art and pop music. The documentary not only brings back memories of the peaks and troughs, but also the magic that made the Mentals so beloved.
Inspired by the film, the two brothers decided to return to the stage. Offers quickly came, including an appearance at Bluesfest. The new line-up includes guitarist Simon Rudston-Brown, keyboardist Shannon Stitt and drummer Declan O'Doherty – Peter's son.
They sought approval from former members before embarking on the tour, wanting to preserve the band's "original flavor." The repertoire includes major hits, rare songs that haven't been played in 45 years, and some eccentric covers.
The return is accompanied by a sense of joy, but also by the absence of Greedy Smith. “He would have been incredibly excited to see the stadium full of Scottish fans singing his song,” says Mombassa.
After all these years, Mental as Anything are proving that their story is not just nostalgia – but a chapter that continues to be written on stage. /GazetaExpress/
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