Mental as Anything: ‘Live it Up in the Bush' poster

This 1985 poster promoted the band Mental As Anything's ‘Live it Up in the Bush' tour. The artwork is significant not just as an example of '80s tour posters but also as an early work of lead guitarist and vocalist Reg Mombassa, whose signature art style became synonymous with Mambo Graphics and has been showcased in the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. 

As promotional material, tour posters are usually distinct from album cover art because they have a slightly different purpose – to encourage ticket sales and to draw people to an event. In this case, the 'Live it Up in the Bush' tour poster promises a fun road trip in the outback and plays on the name of the band's hit single 'Live it Up'. That wistful yet danceable song is about living life to the fullest. It featured in the New York party scene in Paul Hogan's Crocodile Dundee (1986), which propelled it to become a huge international hit with a neon-lit video to match. The single was from the album Fundamental (1985) and was composed and sung by band member Greedy Smith. The Mentals were originally art school grads before they hit it big in the music scene and were known for being refreshingly surreal and eccentric.