13 February 2026
Hey there you with the sad face, come up to my place and Live It Up! Where’s the place? The Orpheum, which will be hosting the premiere of the documentary, Live It Up – The Mental As Anything Story.
The band helped to define the Australian rock sound throughout the late ’70s and ’80s. Originally formed at East Sydney Technical College (National Art School) in 1976 when Martin Plaza met fellow student, Reg Mombassa. The duo was soon collaborating with Plaza on guitar and vocals, college friend Steve Coburn on bass and Wayne de Lisle on drums. The group played their first gig in May 1976, with the late, great Greedy Smith first playing with the band later that year and Reg’s brother Peter O’Doherty joining in 1977. They started out just drinking beer, but by 1979 they had their first big hit with “The Nips are Getting Bigger”.
From then their rise was meteoric with hits like “You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?” and “Too Many Times” (both from 1981), “Live It Up” (1985) and “Rock and Roll Music” (1988).
Internationally, “Too Many Times” made the Canadian top 40 in 1982, and “Live It Up” peaked at No. 3 in the UK, No. 4 in Norway, and No. 6 in Germany, after it featured in the 1986 Australian film Crocodile Dundee. Over the band’s life they had a record-breaking 25 singles reach the ARIA top 40, selling over 2 million records globally. In 2009 the group was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
From pub band to international fame, Mental as Anything’s art reflected Australian suburban life with warmth, wit, and playfulness. The band captured the heart of the nation as well as fans overseas.
Their remarkable story is now hitting the silver screen in the documentary “Live It Up”. The film will debut Wednesday 24 February at the Orpheum, Cremorne, a fitting venue with two of the band members having strong ties to Sydney’s North Shore.
Andrew “Greedy” Smith, the Mentals’ lovable and eccentric keyboard player and later lead singer went to school just 2km away from the Orpheum at North Sydney Boys. Greedy sadly passed away in 2019, leaving behind a legendary legacy as one of the greatest Australian musicians of all time. Vocalist and guitarist Martin Plaza grew up on the North Shore and went to high school at St Pius Chatswood.
The premiere provides a full-circle moment of sorts for the group. The documentary, Live It Up, delves into how Mental as Anything maintained their humour and creative integrity amidst the challenges of fame, enduring success, and the demands of the music business. The film ultimately illustrates the ongoing appeal and relevance of their music.