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Started Out Just Drinking Beer is
the official biography of Mental as Anything, by Stuart Lloyd.

The Riotous Rollercoaster Ride of one of Australia's greatest bands, from 1976-2019.

The Mentals went from the top of a pool table to the top of the charts.

Enjoy the untold stories behind Aussie classics like: Live It Up, Too Many Times, If You Leave Me Can I Come Too?, Berserk Warriors, Egypt, The Nips are Getting Bigger, Whole Wide World, Concrete & Clay, and a whole lot more.

Plus tales from the road as told by Greedy Smith, Martin Plaza, Bird Twohill, Peter O'Doherty & Reg Mombassa — and a star-studded cast including Colin Hay, Richard Gottehrer, Mark Opitz, Ross Wilson, Swanee, Anthony Field, Wreckless Eric, and many more.

As seen on TV, radio and in the newspapers! Click here.

Kirk Pengilly, INXS

“Love it!!! Brought up lots of memories. Thoroughly enjoyable."

Jane Gazzo, broadcaster

“Takes us behind the showbiz curtain.

A deep-dive beyond the colourful personalities. Had me glued to every page.”

Anthony Field,

The Wiggles

"This book gives us a big gulp of one of Australia's most uniquely talented and popular bands."

Dave Warner,

From the Suburbs

"I loved the Mentals and I love this book. Captures the alchemy that saw Australian bands flourish from the arid plains of our suburban lives."

Listen as You Read: Spotify Playlists

The book contains four setlists from different years of the band's history, and also four playlists that include all the songs mentioned in the book, divided into the four parts of the book. Deep dive into the Mentals' music catalog here ...