The Spare Mentals were formed in 1978 in Magherafelt by Rodney Orpheus and Michael Conaghan.  Rodney recalls that initial spark “Michael and I formed the band when we met in a newsagent's shop beside the Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt at lunchtime and fought over the only issue of the NME they had. He had a guitar and by the end of that day so had I. We had our first rehearsal two days later in his parent's front room and wrote three songs.” Things were moving rapidly and the duo quickly located a local drummer. Rodney Orpheus explains how this came about “A few weeks later someone told us about this drummer who lived nearby and I went to see him. He played me records by the Stranglers and Suicide, and I knew we had our man. He even knew who I was, having heard my name asking for requests on the John Peel show. I still think he could have been a great drummer if he had stuck with it.” The group’s initial line up featured Rodney Orpheus (later of Cassandra Complex) vocals, rhythm guitar; Michael Conaghan lead guitar and vocals; Philip Morgan on bass, Stephen Keatley on synthesizer and Mickey Brown drums.

However, Stephen was soon ousted and Rodney took over on synth while retaining guitar and vocal duties. Philip too was replaced on bass by a friend of the band John Marchini. John recalls joining the band “Philip had to leave the band for some reason which I don’t recall and I bought his bass and amp from him despite never having played one before!”  The band’s material was written (separately) by Rodney Orpheus and Michael Conaghan. Their contrasting styles reflected Michael's love of Beach Boys and Beatles influenced melodic pop and Rodney’s love of straight ahead punk. Rehearsals took place in a variety of locations in the mid Ulster area, including Paddy McGarvey’s garage in Gulladuff and Philip Morgan’s aunt’s bar in Moneymore.

The band amassed a challenging set of original compositions and moved base to Coleraine in early 1979. The Spare Mentals gigged extensively around the north coast area, playing Youth Clubs and venues such as Spuds in Portstewart and the Imperial bar and Chesters in Portrush. They also played the Arches Hotel in their home town and the Orchard Gallery in Derry. One of their most memorable gigs took place at the legendary Harp bar in Belfast. Mickey Brown “I remember a difference of musical opinions between the locals and Rodney who also hadn’t taken too well to being taunted. He came out with some comment which required us having to leave very quickly after playing no more than 5 or 6 songs. We did manage to “acquire” the Tuesday night strippers chair on the way out, which was a fabulous trophy. It was duly abandoned on the M2 motorway! Imagine the money that would fetch on Ebay today!” John Marchini “I can remember Mickey holding people off with his boom stand while we got out of there in haste”

Michael Conaghan "We were probably the first Northern Ireland band to use a drum machine, at a gig in Chesters Portrush. As seems to be compulsory in these situations someone asked us to play 'Stairway to Heaven'. We had to politely decline". The Spare Mentals split in the summer of 1979 when Rodney moved to Coleraine to attend the University of Ulster.  John Marchini sums it all up thus “The Spare Mentals were detested by so many people. I suppose we must have been doing something right”.