Mental As Anything's Andrew 'Greedy' Smith dies

"Our grief and confusion at this time are little compared to what Andrew's family will be feeling - our hearts and prayers go out to them".

"I spoke to him two days ago. Grasping had indomitable power and by no means had a horrific word to say approximately anybody", Doherty posted. "He's going to be regrettably overlooked".

Fans have been paying tribute to the musician on social media, with one recalling working with Smith on his 1996 solo album writing: "I don't recall working with a kinder, more giving or more cheerful artist before or since".

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An original member of Mental As Anything alongside Smith when the band formed in 1977, Reg Mombassa said his former frontman was multi-talented and much-loved. He remained the only founding member of the band to still tour, and they were scheduled to perform a gig in Melbourne this week.

The gregarious singer also proved hugely popular as a television personality and was regularly a judge on the Hey Hey It's Saturday talent guest segment Red Faces and a panellist on Spicks and Specks as well as filling in for Steve Vizard as host of the variety show Tonight Live. Their first single in 1979 "The Nips Are Getting Bigger" reached no 16 in Australia. In 1985 "You're So Strong" was hit a in the United States the "Live It Up" went top 10 globally. "Greedy", as he came to be known, wrote a number of the band's hit songs including 1985's smash hit "Live It Up", which also enjoyed success around the world after it was included in the soundtrack for Crocodile Dundee.

He is survived by his fiancee Fiona Docker and son Harvey. Just last month, he was inducted into the Australian Songwriters Hall Of Fame.