Mambo as Everything

In the mid-70s, five guys studying art at East Sydney Tech decided to form a band. The result became an icon of Australian music, Mental as Anything, but the impact of the band members has been even more profound - from surf clothing to the Olympic closing ceremony.

Detail from "Get wet series" by Paul Worstead	Detail from "Get wet series" by Paul Worstead
"Australian Jesus & the golden motorbike" by Reg Mombassa	"Study for large painting" by Martin Plaza.

The art of the Mentals features in a brilliant and amusing new show that opens tonight at Lismore Regional Art Gallery. Inspired by the literally thousands of places and people the band has encountered over the last two decades, Mentals III, shows five renaissance men with a talent for art as well as good rock. While on tour (playing some 3,000 shows), they'd often go back to their hotel rooms and paint and draw.

"Large egg resting softly in parkland" by Reg Mombassa.

As drummer Bob Twohill explained, "Painting and drawing fills up the lonely hours between performances and takes your mind off the deteriorating political situation."

Heading the show is Peter O'Doherty, aka Reg Mombassa, whose designs for Mambo surf-wear became Australian icons. Reg's surreal and bewitching giant characters also formed part of the colourful Olympic closing ceremony.

Mentals III features everything from Mombassa's colourful posters to photographs and memorabilia.

Wayne Delisle, aka David 'Bird' Twohill', takes band paraphenalia as his subject. Reg Mombassa is inspired by clowns, flowers, farm machinery and the wind. Greedy Smith says his inspirations come from British war comics, the TV series Combat and Hogans Heroes, Barbara Cartland, semiotic theory and bad Australian rock journalism (is there another kind?).

"Dangerous dissent" by Greedy Smith

Singer Martin Plaza prefers still life with everyday objects.

The result is fun and fantastic. There's also four competitions for people of all ages - visit the gallery for details.

Mentals III runs until August 5 at Lismore Regional Art Gallery. Entry is by donation.