Adam Ant will end his world-spanning 'The Singles Tour: Anthems 2017' tour at a special homecoming gig at the Roundhouse in London on December 21. His current tour has included sell out shows in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. The concert will see the '80s icon performing his classic chart-topping singles, as well as a selection of B-sides, rare tracks and personal favourites. However, with a career that has now spanned an incredible 40 years and Adam still releasing innovative and exciting new music, 'The Singles Tour: Anthems 2017' is far from being just simple nostalgia; it is instead a glimpse into one of the most creative musical minds of all time.
Adam Ant: A brief history
Adam Ant formed Adam and the Ants in 1977, just as Britain was experiencing the advent of punk. The band made their vinyl debut by releasing two tracks on the soundtrack for Julien Temple's classic 1977 punk-era film 'Jubilee.' 'Plastic Surgery' and 'Deutscher Girls.' This was followed by their 1978 debut single 'Young Parisians' and their second single 'Zerox' and debut album 'Dirk Wears White Sox' in 1979. Far from being a straightforward punk album, the lyrics of 'Dirk Wears White Sox' addressed subject matter such as fetishism, historical figures such as Adolf Hitler, John F Kennedy and Cleopatra and art history, particularly the Futurist movement. Frustrated with the limited commercial success of the album, Adam hired former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren with the hope of gaining more widespread success.
However, McLaren convinced Adam's band mates to leave the Ants to form Bow Wow Wow with his new protege, 13 year old singer Anabella Lwin.
In 1980, Adam Ant formed a new version of Adam and the Ants, with former Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist Marco Pirroni; bassist Kevin Mooney and two drummers, Terry Lee Miall and Chris Hughes.
The new line-up were an instant success, with the album 'Kings of the Wild Frontier' hitting the top of the charts and spawning three top five singles, 'Dog Eat Dog'; 'Antmusic' and 'Kings of the Wild Frontier'. Adam, complete with his trademark white make-up stripe became an overnight icon and spent the next few years peering down from bedroom walls all over the world.
With Adam's new found sex symbol status came tensions within the band which reached a head when Mooney spectacularly threw his bass down and quit onstage at the Royal Variety Performance, partly because of his feelings that the band should not be sharing a bill with light entertainment acts such as The Krankies.
The follow-up album to 'Kings of the Wild Frontier,' 'Prince Charming,' hit number two in the UK album charts the following year, with the singles 'Stand And Deliver' and 'Prince Charming' both reaching number one on the UK singles chart and the album's third single, 'Ant Rap' reaching number three. Adam and the Ants were just as famous for their lavish and theatrical videos as they were for their music, with those for 'Stand and Deliver,' and 'Prince Charming' being particularly successful on the then new MTV.
In 1982, Adam disbanded the Ants feeling that the other members lacked his enthusiasm and embarked on a solo career, although he did retain songwriting partner Pirroni. Adam Ant's solo career began with his third number one single, 'Goody Two Shoes.'
After his popularity started to wane in the mid 1980s, Adam Ant paused his solo career to concentrate on acting and wouldn't release another album until 'Wonderful' in 1995. Adam suffered from many well-documented mental health issues during this hiatus, which culminated in him throwing a car alternator through a pub window and threatening people with an imitation firearm in 2002, and resulted in several spells on NHS mental health wards. Shortly before the pub incident, Adam was set to take part in an '80s revival tour.
However, his not taking part may have been a blessing in disguise with Adam never being one to look back and continuously looking to reinvent himself.
Adam finally returned with a new album in 2013. 'Adam Ant is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter' was released to enthusiastic reviews and to promote it, Adam performed extensively with his new band, The Good, the Bad and the Lovely Posse. The Good, The Bad and the Lovely Posse will appear with Adam at his London Roundhouse show.
Adam Ant is back where he belongs
Since the release of 'Adam Ant is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter,' Adam seems to have gone from strength to strength, selling out shows all over the world and gaining a whole new audience of adoring fans along the way.
With his homecoming show at the Roundhouse set to be a runaway success, Adam seems to have put his mental health troubles behind him and is back where he belongs, as one of Britain's most charismatic and powerful performers. Tickets for Adam Ant's 'The Singles Tour: Anthems 2017' concert at the Roundhouse are on sale now.
