Mental As Anything Announce 50th Anniversary Tour Dates

Mental As Anything will celebrate their enduring legacy with a special run of anniversary shows this June.

Mental As Anything(Credit: Supplied)

They’re one of Australia’s most beloved pop rock acts of the ‘70s and ‘80s, and as they mark their 50th anniversary, the great Mental As Anything have announced a run of national tour dates.

First formed in 1976 by guitarist Reg Mombassa, vocalist Martin Plaza, bassist Steve Coburn, and drummer David Twohill, the Mentals’ solidified their line-up in no time, with Andrew 'Greedy' Smith joining on vocals that same year, and Pete O'Doherty replacing Coburn on bass the following year.

By 1979 they'd released their debut album, with the early '80s bringing with it top ten records such as Cats & Dogs, Creatures Of Leisure, and Fundamental – turning them into household names in the process.

Though membership would change at the turn of the millennium, the band would continue releasing new music until 2009, with an induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame that same year. Only Smith would remain from their classic line-up at the time of their disbandment in 2019, which occurred following his unexpected passing just days after their last performance.

Having returned to the stage last year with Mombassa and O'Doherty leading the charge, the impending release of the feature documentary Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story and their recent appearance at the St Kilda Festival has now given way to a full-scale run of national tour dates to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary.

Kicking off in Adelaide on June 12th, the run of dates will see the Mentals hit up Perth, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, and Brisbane over the following two weeks.

According to a post on the band’s website, the 50th anniversary celebrations will offer fans a “rare and unforgettable opportunity to experience the band’s timeless hits live once more — alongside new surprises that showcase their unique blend of songwriting, artistry, and performance flair.”

The current iteration of the group features Mombassa and O'Doherty on guitar and bass, respectively, with O'Doherty’s son Declan on drums, Shannon Stitt on keyboard, and Simon Rudston-Brown on guitar.

Tickets to the upcoming run of dates go on sale at 10am on Monday, March 2nd, with a pre-sale launching at 10am on Thursday, February 26th.