Mental As Anything is marking five decades in the music industry with a special reunion tour, bringing together the iconic Australian rock band's founding members for the first time in 25 y...
Mental As Anything is marking five decades in the music industry with a special reunion tour, bringing together the iconic Australian rock band's founding members for the first time in 25 years. The Sydney-bred outfit emerged from humble beginnings in 1976 when two art school students began collaborating, ultimately becoming one of Australia's most significant contributions to rock music.
Original brothers Reg Mombassa and Peter O'Doherty departed the band around the turn of the millennium but have now reunited to celebrate the milestone. The pair haven't performed these classic tracks together since leaving in late 1999 or early 2000, making the experience particularly poignant as they revisit material spanning four decades of their career.
Peter O'Doherty reflected on the reunion, noting that while Mental As Anything continued without them through various lineup changes, the band experienced significant turbulence over nearly two decades. The passing of harmonica player Greedy Smith in 2019 marked a turning point, eventually leading to discussions about reviving the original formation.
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The national tour represents a chance for audiences to reconnect with the songs that defined a generation and cemented Mental As Anything's place in Australia's cultural fabric. Their catalogue of timeless tracks has become synonymous with Australian rock identity, making this anniversary celebration particularly significant for the local music landscape.
For Mombassa and O'Doherty, returning to material they haven't performed in 25 years—and in some cases, 40-45 years—brings a renewed freshness to their approach. The reunion tour promises to deliver both nostalgia and the energy of rediscovering their own musical legacy with fresh ears.
Originally reported by Scenestr.