Early Life
Mombassa was born Christopher O'Doherty in Auckland, New Zealand on 14 August 1951. O'Doherty, his parents and younger brother Peter immigrated to Sydney, Australia in 1969. He enrolled in what is now the National Art School in Darlinghurst in 1969 but left the following year. He returned again in 1975 and obtained his Diploma of Painting in 1977. Between his stints at college and whilst there he supported himself with menial jobs such as builder’s labouring, cleaning, house painting and working on the railways. In 1976 he formed the rock band Mental as Anything with four fellow art school students ostensibly to play art school parties. Whilst never intending to be a serious band, the Mentals, as they became known, eventually turned professional (after Mombassa's graduation from college) and went on to become one of Australia’s most popular bands, touring widely in Australia and overseas.
Read more about this topic: Reg Mombassa
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