Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story

Guitarist Martin Place pulls a 1976 tape from the archive. It shows five young men in a Sydney pub who have just come up with a name for their band. This is how the story of Mental As Anything began—a group that sold millions of records over four decades but never became global superstars. The 2026 documentary uses archival footage, member interviews, and rare live recordings to trace the journey of this Australian rock band, which balanced underground punk energy with pop radio appeal. The film captures the birth of the Sydney scene, the band's highs and lows, internal tensions, and shifting musical trends, all while staying true to their uniquely quirky style.