Adam and the Ants

Adam and the Ants

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1977 in London, England
Founder	Adam Ant (Stuart Leslie Goddard)
Headquarters	London , England
Products	Music albums, singles

Adam and the Ants emerged as a British rock ensemble formed in London in 1977, led by frontman Adam Ant. The group operated in two distinct periods from 1977 through 1982. Initially launched as the Ants in May 1977, their style evolved from punk rock to post-punk and new wave, producing a single album during this phase. The concluding lineup of this era featured Dave Barbarossa, Matthew Ashman, and Leigh Gorman, who departed in January 1980 following guidance from manager Malcolm McLaren to establish Bow Wow Wow.

The band's second formation, spanning February 1980 to March 1982, included guitarist Marco Pirroni and drummer-producer Chris Hughes, distinguished by their use of Burundi drums. This version attained notable commercial acclaim within the UK market. Their music videos received rotation on MTV, with Adam Ant guest-hosting as a VJ, thereby connecting them to the US Second British Invasion phenomenon.

Formation

Prior to creating Adam and the Ants, Adam Ant (born Stuart Leslie Goddard) played bass guitar in the pub rock band Bazooka Joe, recognized for headlining the event where the Sex Pistols debuted live in 1975. Bazooka Joe soon dissolved thereafter. While searching for new musical collaborators, Ant engaged with prominent figures in London's punk scene, particularly Jordan, linked to Malcolm McLaren's and Vivienne Westwood's SEX boutique. Early in 1977, Ant established The Ants with Lester Square (guitar), Andy Warren (bass), and Paul Flanagan (drums). Their first gathering occurred at the Roxy Club on 23 April 1977 during a Siouxsie and the Banshees concert. About a month later, Square left to pursue academic commitments and subsequently founded The Monochrome Set.

Mark Ryan succeeded Square on guitar, with this lineup commencing regular performances starting at the Institute of Contemporary Arts café on 10 May 1977, supporting various London-based groups. By June, Flanagan was replaced by Dave "Barbe" Barbarossa on drums. This ensemble recorded tracks "Plastic Surgery" and "Beat My Guest" at Chappell Studios. Adam Ant appeared as Kid in the film Jubilee (1978), where the band performed alongside stand-in drummer Kenny Morris from Siouxsie and the Banshees. During one rendition of "Plastic Surgery," Ant suffered a knee dislocation. Later that year, due to management disputes, Ryan was dismissed; Johnny Bivouac took over guitar duties, and the band's name expanded to Adam and the Ants.

Extensively touring throughout the UK—frequently alongside Siouxsie and the Banshees—Adam and the Ants encountered criticism from much of the British music press over their provocative lyrics and imagery. In response, they forged close connections with punk fanzines such as Ripped and Torn that provided more supportive coverage. While cultivating a dedicated cult audience, they faced challenges breaking into mainstream success or securing record contracts—aside from contributing two songs to the Jubilee soundtrack—until signing with Decca Records in 1978. Al Spicer characterized this initial lineup as embodying a "standard black-leather, sour-puss punk image," with compositions escalating toward intense sturm-und-drang climaxes.

Early recordings

Adam and the Ants made their first appearance on John Peel's BBC Radio 1 program with a session recorded on 23 January 1978, featuring tracks such as "Deutscher Girls," "It Doesn't Matter," "Puerto Rican," and "Lou"—the latter sung live by their manager Jordan, who continued performing until departing after a show at the Roundhouse on 14 May 1978. The day following their Peel Session, the band revisited "Deutscher Girls" and incorporated a guitar solo into "Plastic Surgery" during sessions at AIR Studios for the Jubilee soundtrack album released later that year. The film itself contains the original version.

On 15 May 1978, shortly after Jordan's exit, Bivouac also left the group and was succeeded by Matthew Ashman. This configuration developed new songs and recorded a second Peel Session on 10 July 1978, performing "Zerox," "Physical," "Friends," and "Cleopatra." By the end of July, they secured a two-single contract with Decca Records. The lineup—Adam Ant (vocals, guitar), Ashman (guitar), Andy Warren (bass), and Dave Barbe (drums)—embarked on a tour across continental Europe. Decca issued their debut single "Young Parisians" in October 1978. In November, they recorded a planned follow-up single, "Zerox" backed with "Kick," at RAK Studios, produced by Stephen "Snips" Parsons; however, due to the first single’s disappointing sales, Decca canceled its release. Additional tracks were laid down at Decca's West Hampstead studios. January 1979 saw the band touring the UK on the Young Parisians Tour and recording a third Peel Session on 26 March featuring "Ligotage," "Tabletalk," "Animals & Men," and "Never Trust A Man (With Egg On His Face)."

Following Decca's decision not to release further singles, Adam and the Ants signed with independent label Do It Records, re-recording "Zerox" along with "Whip In My Valise" at Roundhouse Studios. Released in July 1979, this single was promoted through a 17-date UK Zerox Tour, culminating in a sold-out performance at London's Lyceum Theatre on 5 August.

Towards the end of August, recording sessions for their debut album commenced at Sound Development Studios in London, with Adam Ant taking charge of writing and production. Due to thorough rehearsals beforehand, the sessions wrapped up in twelve days. After two sold-out shows at the Electric Ballroom, Ant dismissed Ashman and Warren; he and Barbe then focused on new material while Ashman and Warren pursued other projects—Warren joined The Monochrome Set by October. Leigh Gorman replaced Warren on bass, with Ashman rejoining shortly after. The album’s release was planned for November.

The album Dirk Wears White Sox topped the freshly established UK Independent Albums Chart in early January 1980. At this time, Adam Ant appointed Malcolm McLaren as manager for a fixed fee. The band performed a sold-out New Year's Day show at Electric Ballroom. However, by late January 1980, McLaren persuaded Ashman, Gorman, and Barbe to leave Adam and the Ants to create Bow Wow Wow, fronted by Annabella Lwin.

Breakthrough

A reformed version of Adam and the Ants emerged featuring Marco Pirroni on guitar, Kevin Mooney handling bass duties, alongside drummers Terry Lee Miall and Chris "Merrick" Hughes. Pirroni quickly became an essential creative partner, co-writing extensively with Adam Ant. After McLaren ceased managing the band, Falcon Stuart assumed management responsibilities, steering the group towards incorporating Burundi-style African drumming rhythms and adopting a unique aesthetic that combined Native American face paint with pirate-themed attire.

During this period of reformation, Ant and Pirroni—joined by future Culture Club drummer Jon Moss—re-recorded "Cartrouble Part 2" to fulfill contractual obligations with Do It Records. Hughes was brought in as producer at Rockfield Studios and soon became an official band member. The single "Cartrouble" was released in March 1980. Subsequently, Ant and Pirroni secured a publishing agreement with EMI and developed additional material at Matrix Studios while Stuart actively pitched these songs to record labels during a two-week UK tour concluding at the Empire Ballroom.

In July 1980, Adam and the Ants signed with CBS Records and launched the single "Kings of the Wild Frontier," which reached number 48 on the UK Singles Chart. Hughes produced their Rockfield sessions which were completed by August. Their October single "Dog Eat Dog" entered the UK top ten and marked their debut performance on BBC's Top of the Pops.

The album Kings of the Wild Frontier released in November 1980 became a commercial success in the UK, establishing Adam and the Ants as leading figures within the New Romantic scene. Following this release, they completed an extensive 32-date UK tour; the album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart on 24 January 1981. The third single from this album, "Antmusic," climbed to number two in the UK charts and held number one for five weeks in Australia. Earlier works were reissued: "Young Parisians" peaked at number nine in December 1980; Dirk Wears White Sox attained number sixteen in February 1981; while both "Cartrouble" and "Zerox" charted at numbers thirty-three and forty-five respectively.

In February 1981, Adam and the Ants performed “Antmusic” and “Dog Eat Dog” at the Royal Variety Performance. Due to Kevin Mooney's unprofessional conduct, he was dismissed from the band and replaced by Gary Tibbs. CBS subsequently re-released Kings of the Wild Frontier, which peaked at number two in March 1981.

Significant Achievement

Building on the increasing chart performance of their sophomore album and the reissue of earlier singles, Hughes joined forces with Ant, Miall, and Pirroni to produce the track "Stand and Deliver". With Tibbs now part of the lineup, they created a music video at Hatfield House that illustrated the song’s "dandy highwayman" concept. To support the single’s release, the band embarked on a six-date theatre tour across Great Britain in March, followed by a club tour in the United States during April. This single marked their first UK chart-topper, maintaining the number one position for five consecutive weeks in May 1981. Over the summer, the group toured mainland Europe before returning to AIR Studios in London to finalize their third studio album. The album’s follow-up single, its title track "Prince Charming", also achieved number one on the UK Singles Chart, holding that spot for four weeks in September 1981. That same month, they launched the Prince Charming Revue Tour, with performances in Austria and Japan.

In November 1981, Adam and the Ants unveiled their album Prince Charming, which reached number two on the charts and remained there for three weeks. The album’s third single, "Ant Rap", climbed to number three in January 1982. Throughout 1981, the band ranked among the UK's top-selling singles artists; all three singles from this album plus "Kings of the Wild Frontier" featured in the official top 50 best-selling singles of that year. Notably, "Stand and Deliver" and "Prince Charming" secured third and fourth positions respectively. By January 1982, their touring obligations had concluded.

Earlier recordings were reissued at the start of 1982. In February, Polydor brought back "Deutscher Girls"/"Jubilee" as a 7-inch single, which reached number 13 on the UK charts—granting the original Ants a post-breakup hit. Meanwhile, Do It! Records released Antmusic EP, a 12-inch extended play containing three previously unreleased tracks from the Dirk sessions along with a remix of "Cartrouble (Parts 1 & 2)"; it peaked at number 46. At the 1982 BRIT Awards, Adam and the Ants earned British Album of the Year for Kings of the Wild Frontier and secured nominations for Best British Group as well as Best British Single twice—for "Prince Charming" and "Stand and Deliver". Additionally, they received a nomination for Best New Artist at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards. Furthermore, Ant and Pirroni were honored with Songwriter of the Year at the 27th Ivor Novello Awards for their work on "Stand and Deliver".

Break-up and aftermath

In March 1982, Adam Ant decided to dissolve Adam and the Ants. Early accounts indicated a friendly separation; however, Ant later revealed that "the enthusiasm had simply faded. The name Adam and the Ants appeared on posters, but not in the performances." Pirroni is said to have ceased live touring due to exhaustion.

Shortly thereafter, Ant embarked on a solo path while continuing his songwriting partnership with Pirroni. His single Goody Two Shoes topped the UK charts, followed by multiple album releases throughout the 1980s. Producer Chris Hughes maintained his involvement in the music industry.

Up to now, Ant has produced six solo studio albums. Tracks from both phases of Adam and the Ants remain integral to his live shows. His collaboration with Pirroni extended until their split in March 2010. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Pirroni teamed up with Ant’s former bassist Chris Constantinou in The Wolfmen; they issued two albums.

Hughes and Tibbs formed the duo Merrick and Tibbs, releasing the single "Call of the Wild" in 1983, which reached number 95 on the UK Singles Chart. Mooney subsequently created Wide Boy Awake alongside Jordan, as well as Max with Ashman.

Barbe, Ashman, and Gorman went on to form Bow Wow Wow after leaving the Ants, achieving two Top 10 singles in the UK. The three later established Chiefs of Relief, producing a self-titled album under Sire Records, with Ashman eventually being the last remaining member. Warren and Square of The Monochrome Set have released fourteen albums so far. Bivouac appeared as Strings in the BBC comedy Operation Good Guys.

Re-releases

A ten-track compilation of early radio sessions was issued in 1990 under the title Peel Sessions. All three sessions were fully included on the 2001 release The Complete Radio 1 Sessions, which also featured a 1995 acoustic session by Ant, Pirroni, and Boz Boorer.

Antbox, a comprehensive box set chronicling Ant’s career from the late 1970s through the 1990s, was released in 2000. Containing 66 tracks across three CDs, it quickly sold out its initial run of 10,000 copies. A reissue in 2003 with identical content also enjoyed commercial success.

In 2004, digital remasters of Dirk Wears White Sox, Kings of the Wild Frontier, and Prince Charming were re-released with previously unheard demos included as bonus tracks. These projects were supervised by Pirroni, with Hughes handling remastering duties on Kings of the Wild Frontier and Prince Charming.

In 2014, Ant reunited with Barbe and Gorman—the surviving members from the December 1979–January 1980 lineup—to perform Dirk Wears White Sox in its entirety at Hammersmith Apollo, promoting its reissue on Ant’s Blueblack Hussar label. Following this, Ant and his band played the album over four nights at Islington Assembly Hall in November 2014 and embarked on a UK tour in spring 2015. A portion of the Hammersmith show was released on DVD in 2015 as Dirk Live At The Apollo.

The band toured both the UK and US in 2016 performing Kings of the Wild Frontier to support a deluxe gold vinyl reissue by Sony Records, which peaked at number 69 on the UK Albums Chart.

Released in 2025, The Singles is a compilation credited to Adam and the Ants but also includes material from Adam Ant’s solo career.

Legacy

Between 1980 and early 1982, the visual presentation played a crucial role in Adam and the Ants' achievements. Al Spicer observed that Adam's career was shaped more by his shifting image than by his musical output. Their extravagant stage acts and music videos propelled them to widespread popularity, a phenomenon the British media dubbed "Antmania." Simon Reynolds described this craze as a fusion of "heroic imagery, sexmusic, and tribalism," with early influences from Malcolm McLaren. Paul Evans of Rolling Stone labeled the group as "leering, self-mythologising... loopy faux-teen fun," positioning Adam as a pivotal figure in the New Romantic scene. Critics often compared Antmania to the glam rock era of the 1970s, drawing parallels with icons such as Marc Bolan and David Bowie.

Capitalizing on MTV's emergence, the band cultivated an elaborate and magnetic image characterized by romantic attire and striking makeup, frequently associated with the New Romantic movement—although Adam Ant himself refuted this link. The band's elaborate videos for "Stand and Deliver," "Prince Charming," and "Ant Rap," all directed and storyboarded by Adam, played a key role in their U.S. breakthrough when MTV began airing them in 1981. The "Prince Charming" video notably featured actress Diana Dors portraying the Fairy Godmother, while Scottish singer Lulu appeared as the "damsel in distress" in "Ant Rap."

Adam and the Ants were mentioned in the Last of the Summer Wine episode titled "The Waist Land."

In 1995, Ant and Pirroni performed alongside Nine Inch Nails on stage, delivering three early Adam and the Ants tracks: "Physical (You're So)," "Red Scab," and "Beat My Guest." Nine Inch Nails had previously recorded a cover of "Physical (You're So)" for their 1992 EP Broken.

On 8 May 2006, DJ Hyper released their first album We Control, which included a rendition of "Antmusic" featuring Leeroy Thornhill from The Prodigy on lead vocals. In April 2009, No Doubt covered "Stand and Deliver" during an episode of the U.S. television series Gossip Girl and later performed it at The Bamboozle festival in May.

The CBBC program Horrible Histories paid homage to Adam and the Ants' "Stand and Deliver" with a 2011 segment titled "Dick Turpin."

The 2002 short film Ant Muzak, starring Nick Moran as Adam Ant and Mackenzie Crook as Tibbs, depicts Adam and the Ants visiting a supermarket alongside Sigue Sigue Sputnik, with Tibbs cast as Dirk, the store manager.

Members

• Adam Ant – vocals, guitar, harmonica (1977–1982), piano (1978–1981), bass (1981–1982)
• Andy Warren – bass (1977–1979)
• Paul Flanagan – drums (1977)
• Lester Square – guitar (1977)
• Mark Ryan – guitar (1977; died 2011)
• Dave Barbarossa – drums (1977–1980)
• Jordan – vocals (1977–1978; died 2022)
• Johnny Bivouac – guitar (1977–1978)

• Matthew Ashman – guitar (1978–1980; died 1995), piano (1979)
• Leigh Gorman – bass (1979–1980)
• Chris "Merrick" Hughes – drums (1980–1982), acoustic guitar (1981), piano (1981–1982)
• Terry Lee Miall – drums (1980–1982)
• Marco Pirroni – guitar (1980–1982)
• Kevin Mooney – bass (1980–1981)
• Gary Tibbs – bass (1981–1982)

Lineups

Early 1977 - 10 May 1977	10 May 1977 - Early June 1977	Early June 1977 - October 1977	October 1977 - May 1978
Adam Ant – vocals, guitar, harmonica Paul Flanagan – drums Lester Square – guitar Andy Warren – bass	Adam Ant – vocals, guitar, harmonica Paul Flanagan – drums Andy Warren – bass Mark Ryan – guitar	Adam Ant – vocals, guitar, harmonica Andy Warren – bass Mark Ryan – guitar Dave Barbarossa – drums Jordan – vocals	Adam Ant – vocals, guitar, harmonica Andy Warren – bass Dave Barbarossa – drums Johnny Bivouac – guitar Jordan – vocals
June 1978 - September 1979	October 1979 - November 1979	December 1979 - 26 January 1980	February 1980 - Early 1981
Adam Ant – vocals, guitar, bass, piano, harmonica Andy Warren – bass Dave Barbarossa – drums Matthew Ashman – guitar	Adam Ant – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica Dave Barbarossa – drums	Adam Ant – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica Dave Barbarossa – drums Matthew Ashman – guitar Leigh Gorman – bass	Adam Ant – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica Chris "Merrick" Hughes – drums Terry Lee Miall – drums Kevin Mooney – bass Marco Pirroni – guitar
Early 1981 - March 1982
Adam Ant – vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica Chris "Merrick" Hughes – drums, acoustic guitar, piano Terry Lee Miall – drums Marco Pirroni – guitar Gary Tibbs – bass

Discography

• Dirk Wears White Sox (1979)
• Kings of the Wild Frontier (1980)
• Prince Charming (1981)

Awards

Year	Work Nominated For	Award Title	Outcome
1982	Adam and the Ants	Grammy Award: Best New Artist	Template:Nominated
	Adam and the Ants	Brit Awards: British Group	Template:Nominated
	"Prince Charming"	Brit Awards: British Single	Template:Nominated
	"Stand and Deliver"	Brit Awards: British Single category	Template:Nominated
	Kings of the Wild Frontier	Brit Awards: British Album of the Year	Template:Won
	"Stand and Deliver"	Ivor Novello Awards: Songwriters of the Year honor	Template:Won

External links

• Official website of Adam Ant
• Miceinfreefall.com archive
• Punk site covering early Adam and the Ants
• The Official Adam Ant Story by James Maw, 1981 (PDF)