Few bands carry the icon status of bands like Mental As Anything. Since coming together in 1976, the band has broken into the top 40 again and again with hits like “Live It Up,” “If You Leave Me Can I Come Too?” and “The Nips Are Getting Bigger”. Those 50 years are the focus of a new documentary film, Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story, releasing in theatres this March.
Directed by award-winning writer and director Matthew Walker, the new film focuses on its core lineup, which lasted 21 years, over 3000 gigs and nine albums. Through a mix of interviews with the band and their inner circle, alongside archival footage that’s never been seen by the public before.
The core lineup in question was Martin Plaza on vocals and guitar, the legendary Reg Mombassa on lead guitar and vocals, his brother Peter O’Doherty on bass, David Twohill behind the drums and Andrew Smith on vocals, keyboards and harmonica.
Announcing the film, Mombassa said “It’s slightly weird to think that we started the Mentals 50 years ago but that’s how time works. The film captures the humour and the energy and the art and personalities of the band members. I am grateful that I was able to be in an interesting and popular band and I feel proud of our legacy.”
Peter O’Doherty added, “I joined the band at the age of 19 and we were grafted together like a second family. This film captures the essence of what it was like to be in an Australian band in the 70s, 80s and 90s and I’m reminded of how chaotic, creative, funny, and intense it all was.”
Walker, who won Best Australian Documentary at the Sydney Film Festival in 2021 for I’m Wanita, said, “Growing up in the 80s, Mental as Anything was a part of everyday suburban life. As a kid, it seemed normal and correct that they existed, dressed in tin foil, singing unforgettable songs that made you happy.”
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“Later, you realise how great those songs were and how much of an impact they had,” Walker continued. “This film is a celebration of the magic of The Mentals and their extraordinary story and is well overdue for the big screen”.
Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story is written and directed by Matthew Walker, with Paul Clarke as supervising writer and post producer, produced by Susanne Morrison and Carolina Sorensen, and executive produced by Mikael Borglund, Frank Chidiac, and Martin Fabinyi.
The film will premiere at Sydney’s Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace on Tuesday, February 24th with the band in attendance for a live Q&A, before it hits a wide theatrical release on Thursday, March 5. Following the premiere, Mombassa and O’Doherty will be touring Mental As Anything, with gigs confirmed for St Kilda Festival, Byron Bay Bluesfest, A Taste of the Huon and Lighthouse Rock throughout 2026.
