Bow Wow Wow

Bow Wow Wow
Company type	Musical group
Industry	Music
Founded	1980
Founder	Malcolm McLaren
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Music albums, singles, EPs

Bow Wow Wow is a British new wave ensemble established in 1980 by manager Malcolm McLaren. McLaren assembled the band by recruiting former members of Adam and the Ants—David Barbarossa (drums), Matthew Ashman (guitar), and Leigh Gorman (bass)—and introduced 13-year-old Annabella Lwin as the lead singer. Their initial release was the EP Your Cassette Pet in 1980, and they secured a UK top 10 single with "Go Wild in the Country" in 1982. Their sound combined a dance-oriented new wave approach with Burundi beat influences, propelled by Barbarossa’s percussion and Lwin’s unique vocal style.

Formation

In 1980, McLaren persuaded Barbarossa, Ashman, and Gorman to leave Adam Ant and form a new band under his guidance. After an extensive six-month search for a vocalist, talent scout Dave Fishel found 13-year-old Annabella Lwin working at a dry cleaner’s shop in West Hampstead and convinced McLaren to give her an audition. Shortly following Lwin’s addition, McLaren briefly included George Alan O'Dowd ("Lieutenant Lush") as a co-lead singer. O'Dowd soon exited to create Culture Club, where he rose to fame as "Boy George."

EMI Records

In July 1980, Bow Wow Wow signed with EMI Records and promptly released their debut single, "C·30 C·60 C·90 Go!". Initially available exclusively on cassette, it became the first-ever cassette single worldwide (with a 7" vinyl version released months later). EMI refrained from promoting the "cassingle" due to its lyrics endorsing home taping, which was controversial amid growing concerns about music piracy. The B-side, "Sun, Sea and Piracy," also supported home taping. Both songs occupied side one of the tape, while side two was left empty, presumably for listeners’ own recordings. Despite minimal promotion, "C·30 C·60 C·90 Go!" reached number 34 on the UK Singles Chart and remained charted for seven weeks.

On 20 October 1980, Bow Wow Wow recorded a Peel Session, followed by the November release of their cassette-only mini-album Your Cassette Pet. Containing eight tracks without a vinyl edition, it was ineligible for the UK Albums Chart but peaked at number 58 on the UK Singles Chart. Highlights included "Sexy Eiffel Towers," featuring provocative vocals from then-14-year-old Lwin, alongside other daring songs such as "Louis Quatorze," "Uomo Sex Al Apache," and "Radio G-String." All tracks were credited to Ashman, Barbarossa, Gorman, and McLaren except for "Fools Rush In." McLaren was known for leveraging controversy as a promotional tool.

Both "C·30 C·60 C·90 Go!" and Your Cassette Pet were ranked among the top 10 "Tracks of the Year" for 1980 by NME. Following the failure of their second single, "W.O.R.K. (N.O. Nah, No No My Daddy Don't)," to chart, EMI terminated their contract.

RCA Records & See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang, Yeah! City All Over, Go Ape Crazy

After parting ways with EMI in 1981, Bow Wow Wow signed with RCA Records UK under A&R head Bill Kimber. Their first full album appeared in October under the title See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah, City All Over! Go Ape Crazy!. The cover image by Andy Earl recreated Édouard Manet's painting Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe, featuring then-14-year-old Lwin posing nude but tastefully concealed. The provocative artwork triggered public outrage and an investigation by Scotland Yard after Lwin’s mother accused the band of exploitation. As a result, the group was prohibited from traveling outside the UK until McLaren agreed to refrain from marketing Annabella as a "sex kitten". Despite this restriction, the same photograph was reused on their subsequent EP The Last of the Mohicans.

From this album emerged Bow Wow Wow’s first UK top 10 single with "Go Wild in the Country" in early 1982, which also featured artwork inspired by Manet. The band toured the United States supporting the Pretenders and the Police, but were removed from a European tour opening for Queen due to poor audience reception. In May of that year, they supported Madness during their tour in Japan.

The Last of the Mohicans

In May 1982, RCA introduced the four-track EP The Last of the Mohicans, produced by Kenny Laguna, which included their most successful single, "I Want Candy". This cover of the 1965 Strangeloves hit gained early visibility on MTV and climbed to No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart. The EP also featured a remix of "Louis Quatorze" from Your Cassette Pet. It reached a peak position of No. 67 on the US Billboard 200, marking Bow Wow Wow's highest placement in the American charts.

Laguna also produced their subsequent single, "Baby, Oh No", which was Bow Wow Wow's first track to enter the US charts, reaching No. 103. Its lyrics were later adapted for a commercial campaign by Shiseido’s Japanese beauty line Perky Jean.

I Want Candy

Capitalizing on the popularity of the "I Want Candy" music video on MTV, RCA released the album I Want Candy aimed at expanding their US fanbase. The album cover displayed a gold-painted nude Lwin. The first side contained all four songs from The Last of the Mohicans plus "Baby, Oh No"; the second side comprised four tracks from See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang, Yeah. City All Over! Go Ape Crazy! alongside "El Boss Dicho," which was the B-side to "Go Wild in the Country". The album reached No. 123 on the Billboard 200.

EMI later reissued all of their works under the same title, I Want Candy, equaling See Jungle's UK chart peak at number 26. In North America, it was released as Twelve Original Recordings, while in other regions it appeared as Original Recordings.

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going

RCA put out Bow Wow Wow's second full album in 1983, titled When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going. At Ashman’s request, Lwin penned all lyrics. The album cover was shot by David Bailey, with acknowledgments to the late James Honeyman-Scott and John Belushi.

The lead single "Do You Wanna Hold Me?" attained No. 47 in the UK and climbed to No. 3 in the Netherlands. With support from an MTV video, it peaked at No. 77 in the United States.

Plans for an international tour were canceled due to internal conflicts and fatigue following an intense US tour schedule. In September 1983, Lwin was unexpectedly dismissed from the band, reportedly learning about it via NME. Shortly thereafter, they appeared performing two songs in the 1984 film Scandalous.

Post-breakup

The remaining members formed Chiefs of Relief, releasing a self-titled record in 1988 through Sire Records. Ashman later played with groups such as Max and Rams and was involved with Agent Provocateur until his death in 1995 from diabetes-related complications. Posthumously, Agent Provocateur issued Where the Wild Things Are in 1997 featuring Ashman.

Barbarossa (also known as Barbe) collaborated with artists including Beats International, Republica, Chicane, Adamski, and Roland Gift. He performed live with Adam Ant in 1995 and reunited for tours with Ant again in 2014 alongside Gorman, bringing together original Ants members for concerts recreating Dirk Wears White Sox. Barbe is also an author of two novels: Mud Sharks and We Were Looking Up.

Gorman shifted focus to production; his work on Silver Bullet’s "Twenty Seconds To Comply" reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart in 1989. He produced Soho’s top-10 hit "Hippychick," earning a gold certification, toured with them across America, and appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show. Collaborating again with McLaren, Gorman co-wrote and produced McLaren’s successful 1994 album Paris, which led to ambient dance remixes and projects for major brands such as Coca-Cola, MCI, Nike, Pepsi, and Renault. His remix of Mr. President’s "I Give You My Heart" reached the UK Dance Chart Top 10 in 1997. In 2006 he joined rave group Electric Skychurch.

Lwin stayed signed to RCA Records; her solo debut single was 1985’s "Don’t Dance With Strangers," produced by the System. Her 1986 album Fever, partially produced by Jim Lea of Slade, included a cover of its title track and "War Boys," which peaked at No. 28 on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Disco chart. Both singles were included on The Best of Bow Wow Wow (1996). She formed Naked Experience and worked with songwriters like Billy Steinberg and Ellen Shipley. In 1994–95 Sony Soho Square released her singles "Car Sex" (Top 10 UK Dance Chart) and "Do What You Do" (No. 61 UK Singles Chart). In 1999 Cleopatra Records featured her rendition of Madonna’s "Like a Virgin" on a tribute compilation.

Reformation

In 1997, Lwin and Gorman revived Bow Wow Wow with guitarist Dave Calhoun and drummer Eshan Khadaroo for their "Barking Mad" tour (1997–1998), releasing a compilation CD titled Wild in the U.S.A., which included live recordings and remixes.

They teamed up with DJ Swedish Egil for "Eastern Promise" (1998) and contributed "A Thousand Tears" to the soundtrack of Desperate But Not Serious (1999), also making an appearance in that film.

Performing at KROQ's Inland Invasion festival in 2003 alongside guitarist Phil Gough and drummer Adrian Young (from No Doubt), they added drummer Devin Beaman in 2005.

Several tracks including "I Want Candy" were featured in Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette. To promote this, they performed live in New York City in November 2006.

In that same year, Bow Wow Wow recorded a cover version of The Smiths’ "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish," which appeared on various releases throughout 2007.

A tribute concert held on Ashman’s death anniversary in November 2010 featured original drummer Barbarossa and guitarist Will Crewdson alongside Adam Ant.

With guitarist Jimmy Magoon and drummer Dylan Thomas, Bow Wow Wow toured both California and parts of the UK during 2011–2012.

In December 2012, Gorman began performing under Bow Wow Wow without Lwin after her departure, launching a new Facebook page for this lineup that included vocalist Chloe Demetria, guitarist Matthew Fuller, and drummers Lyle Riddle and Sean Winchester. From 2014 onward Zachary Throne (guitar) and Les Warner (drums) joined this formation. In a 2016 interview Gorman expressed interest in producing fresh material with this ensemble.

Lwin continues performing under “Annabella Lwin of the original Bow Wow Wow,” emphasizing that performances without her lack authorization.

In January 2020 Gorman assembled a new lineup featuring lead singer "Dinzy" Kristen Dinsmore for a Totally '80s U.S. winter tour alongside The Motels and When in Rome II.

By October 2021 Madelyn Feller ("Dame Madelyn") assumed lead vocal duties.

Bow Wow Wow's sound

Bow Wow Wow blended Lwin’s unique vocal style with surf-inspired instrumentation, catchy pop hooks, funk-driven basslines, and Barbarossa’s Burundi-influenced tom-tom rhythms. Their music is generally classified within new wave, pop, and worldbeat genres.

There has been ongoing discussion regarding their incorporation of African tribal beats—particularly those from Burundi—with debates around plagiarism versus artistic influence being extensively examined. Malcolm McLaren provided world music recordings that influenced both Bow Wow Wow’s early sound as well as Adam Ant’s subsequent work. Rather than direct copying, the band integrated these elements into an original pop fusion.

Legacy

The Red Hot Chili Peppers paid homage to Bow Wow Wow in their single "Suck My Kiss", with guitarist John Frusciante acknowledging Ashman as an inspiration.

Adrian Young of No Doubt described drumming for Bow Wow Wow as fulfilling a childhood dream idolizing them.

Film director Sofia Coppola cited Lwin’s aesthetic as inspiration for her movie Marie Antoinette, drawing parallels between their early career trajectories.

On May 25th, 2018 Cherry Red Records released an extensive three-disc collection titled Your Box Set Pet (The Complete Recordings 1980–1984).

Band members

Current

Bow Wow Wow Band

Leigh Gorman – bass (1980–1983, 1997–1998, 2003–present)
Dame Madelyn – vocals (2021–present)
Zachary Throne – guitar (2014–present)
Les Warner – drums (2014–present)

Annabella's Bow Wow Wow

Annabella Lwin – vocals (1980–1983, 1997–1998, 2003–present)

Former

Boy George – vocals (1980)
Dave Barbarossa – drums (1980–1983, 2010)
Matthew Ashman – guitar (1980–1983; died 1995)
Dave Calhoun – guitar (1997–1998)
Eshan Khadaroo – drums (1997–1998)
Phil Gough – guitar (2003–2011)
Adrian Young – drums (2003–2005)
Devin Beaman – drums (2005–2011)
Will Crewdson – guitar (2010)
Jimmy Magoon – guitar (2011–2012)
Dylan Thomas – drums (2011–2012)
Chloe Demetria – vocals (2012–2019)
Matthew Fuller – guitar (2012–2014)
Lyle Riddle – drums (2012–2014)
Sean Winchester – drums (2012–2014)
"Dinzy" Kristen Dinsmore – vocals (2020–2021)

Discography

External links

Official site of Annabella Lwin