Mental as Anything

A popular urban myth concerns a group of art students who passed themselves off as a band in order to con the local publican into giving them a gig in exchange for free beer. The deception worked better than intended, and the group came to be known as Mental as Anything. Nearly three decades later, they are entertaining the public with their highly listenable, idiosyncratic brand of garage pop.

Debuting in 1978, the Sydney-based group included singer/guitarist Reg Mombasa (born Chris O'Doherty), his bassist brother Peter O'Doherty, lead guitarist Martin Plaza, keyboardist Andrew "Greedy" Smith, and drummer Wayne Delisle; their first gig was held at a nearby hotel, with a pool table serving as a makeshift stage. Their early shows proved surprisingly successful, and soon Mental as Anything had earned enough of a cult following to record a single, 1979's ‘The nips are getting bigger’. The single was a top 20 hit down under, and when their debut LP, Get Wet, achieved similar success, the group was off and running. Mental as Anything resurfaced in 1980 with Espresso Bongo, which generated two more hit singles, ‘Come around’ and ‘(Just like) Romeo and Juliet.’

After 1982's Cats and dogs achieved platinum status on the strength of the smashes ‘If you leave me, can I come too?’ and ‘Too many times,’ Mental as Anything began attracting worldwide notice, and in 1982, they mounted their first tour of the United States.

Elvis Costello produced the single ‘I didn't mean to be mean’ later that same year, and in 1983 the group issued their fourth LP, Creatures of leisure, another Aussie top ten hit. Also in 1983, Mental as Anything launched their first group art exhibition, featuring works from each of the band members; among the buyers were Elton John.

In 1985 they returned with Fundamental as Anything. Their biggest hit to date; the single ‘Live it up’ was a smash throughout much of the globe, reaching the top five in the U.K. and Germany. After their 1986 collection Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 fell just shy of topping the Australian charts, Mental as Anything returned the following year with Mouth to mouth. After 1989's Cyclone Raymond, they mounted a touring art exhibition which travelled across the country, but for the most part, the quintet was out of the limelight for the early part of the next decade, instead focusing on personal lives and the occasional side project (including the O'Doherty brothers' collaboration Dog Trumpet).

A Mental as Anything B-sides collection, Chemical Travel, appeared in 1993, and in 1995 the band's first new studio LP in six years, Liar liar pants on fire, returned them to the top 40 on the strength of the hit ‘Mr. Natural.’ In 1997, Mental as Anything celebrated their 20-year anniversary with the original line up still intact.

In April 2001 Mental as Anything announced the first official change to their line-up since the band was formed in 1976. Peter O'Doherty and Reg Mombassa left to pursue their own musical projects, including their band Dog Trumpet and their art careers. They were replaced by David 'Duck' Barraclough (ex-The Exponents) and Murray Cook (ex-Leah Purcell, Mixed Relations).

Cook left the band after one album and was replaced by New Zealand born Mike Caen. He had also been a member of Split Enz for two weeks in their very early days, and was also briefly a member of Sydney 80s band Dropbears. 
    ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Countdown appearances:

• 27th April 1980 - Mental as Anything perform ‘Come Around’
• 6th September 1981 – Mental as Anything host Countdown (perform ‘Too many times’)
• 13th August 1983 - Greedy Smith hosts Countdown (performs ‘I didn’t mean to be mean’)
• 31st March 1985 - Greedy Smith hosts Countdown
• 29th September 1985 - Greedy Smith hosts Countdown (without studio audience)
• 26th June 1986 – Greedy Smith hosts Countdown
• 19th July 1987 Final Countdown awards – Perform ‘He’s just no good’
• 14th April 1985 – Mental as Anything perform ‘You’re so strong’

Links:
http://www.mentals.com.au/