Adam and The Ants on DeBaser: Antmusic, punk-to-glam, and tribal pop

The Profile

Adam and The Ants were a British band formed in London in 1977, fronted by Adam Ant (born Stuart Leslie Goddard). With guitarist/songwriting partner Marco Pirroni, they evolved from punk to a flamboyant new wave sound marked by tribal double-drum rhythms and theatrical imagery. They scored major UK hits, including the No.1 singles "Stand and Deliver" and "Prince Charming," and the UK No.1 album Kings of the Wild Frontier, before disbanding in 1982 as Adam Ant went solo.

Formed: London, 1977. Core figure: Adam Ant (Stuart Leslie Goddard). Key collaborator: Marco Pirroni. Style: punk roots to new wave/New Romantic with tribal double drums and glam aesthetics. UK No.1 singles: "Stand and Deliver" (1981), "Prince Charming" (1981). UK No.1 album: Kings of the Wild Frontier (1980), which won the 1982 Brit Award for Best British Album. Disbanded in 1982; Adam Ant continued solo. The McLaren/Bow Wow Wow split of the original Ants lineup is documented in contemporary accounts and reflected in the reviews.

Four DeBaser reviews track Adam and The Ants from raw punk beginnings to the Antmusic era: the debut Dirk, the Peel/BBC sessions, the UK-conquering Kings of the Wild Frontier, and the glossy Prince Charming. Themes: tribal drums, glam theatrics, and Adam/Marco Pirroni’s pop instincts. Overall tone is appreciative, with irony and historical context.

Notable Quotes

❝ Therefore a very nice and original album. Recommended for those who need to temporarily detox from the usual three or four genres, but who for this, are not willing to give up the roar of an electric guitar.

❝ The Adam Ant that emerges from the songs of that period is the most light-hearted punkster of his generation, he's funnier, less political, and more (a lot more) erotic.

❝ Want to have fun? Then unplug that juke box, do us this favor: that music has lost its flavor... So try another taste: Antmusic!

❝ "Stand And Deliver" is the killer single with a trumpet intro and horse neighing, while Pirroni bursts in with the hard sound of the guitar: the single cover explains the whole scene that runs to No. 1 in the Anglo-Saxon 45s.