Live It Up was written by Greedy Smith and appeared on the 1985 album Fundamental As Anything by Mental As Anything.
Music video directed by Kimble Rendall.
Mental As Anything were a legendary band from Sydney, Australia. The members met at art school, and each was a visual artist as well as a musician. Guitarist Reg Mombassa also became widely known in Australia for his iconic artwork for the surfwear brand Mambo. Even if the band is unfamiliar to you, their reach was remarkable: Elton John bought their artwork in the 1980s, and Elvis Costello produced one of their singles.
The band’s creative and commercial peak stretched across the entire 1980s, when they were a dominant presence on the Australian charts. If you’re from the Northern Hemisphere, you may know their song “Live It Up”, which featured in the film Crocodile Dundee.
The Mentals were a little New Wave, mostly Pop Rock, and always full of flair, humour, and charm. They had a rare gift for writing catchy songs, delivering them both live and on record with fine musicianship and a style that was entirely their own.
In 2026, a brilliant documentary about the band was released called Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story. It is well worth your time and makes a terrific entry point into the colourful world of Mental As Anything.
The Mentals were:
Martin Plaza — lead vocals, guitar
Wayne DeLisle — drums
Reg Mombassa — guitar, vocals
Greedy Smith — lead vocals, keyboards, harmonica
Peter O’Doherty — bass guitar, vocals
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