Reg Mombassa, the legendary Australian musician and founding member of Mental As Anything and Dog Trumpet, has made a startling confession about his past drug use. In a candid interview on the latest episode of the Mental As Anyone podcast, Mombassa admitted to consuming approximately 25,000 joints over a 20-year period.
A Lifetime of Smoking
“I did smoke a lot,” Mombassa said. “I think I figured out roughly that I might have had about 25,000 joints, that’s like having two or three a day for … 20 odd years. Obviously not now, but that heavy smoking when you’re younger adds up. Often though, those joints were shared.”
Mombassa, also a respected artist known for his distinctive style and designs for Mambo, was quick to clarify that he is not proud of this statistic. “When I say I might have had 25,000 joints, I’m not boasting about that. It does damage your mental and physical health so I am not advocating that anyone should copy me in attempting that. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
The Industrial Hazard of Music
Joined by his brother and fellow band member Peter O’Doherty, Mombassa spoke openly about the pressures of the music industry. “That’s the big industrial hazard for musicians – the alcohol and the drugs – because you’re, I mean, apart from the fact that you’re playing in venues where that’s what people are doing … the weirdness of being in a famous band, is that … really can derail some people,” he said. “That is a dangerous thing.”
Peter O’Doherty expressed concern that the situation is even more challenging for musicians today. “With drinking, and, you know, there was a lot of heroin around, dangerous things and speed and cocaine, you know, and nowadays there’s probably more drugs than ever,” he said. “I’m sort of glad that I’m not just starting now because it seems to be this much more of a smorgasbord of drugs available to kids. And so you’ve got to be, you’ve got to work your way through that.”
Mental As Anything’s 50th Anniversary Tour
The podcast appearance coincides with Mental As Anything’s 50th anniversary tour, celebrating five decades of iconic hits such as Live It Up, The Nips Are Getting Bigger, and Too Many Times. The tour kicks off in Adelaide on Friday, with subsequent shows in Perth, Sydney, Thirroul, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
Mombassa’s candid remarks serve as a stark reminder of the toll that substance abuse can take, even as the band continues to entertain audiences across the country.
