Adam Ant 158971 226150143 2008-07-17T01:23:23Z Dirtyharry1994 6853795 {{For|similar terms like [[Adam Adamant]], [[Atom Ant]], [[adamant]], [[adamantium (comics)|adamantium]], etc|Adamant (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox Musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | Name = Adam Ant | Img = | Img_capt = | Img_size = 200 | Background = solo_singer | Birth_name = Stuart Leslie Goddard | Alias = | Born = {{birth date and age|1954|11|3|df=yes}} | Died = | Origin = [[London]], [[England]] | Instrument = Vocals, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, harmonica, keyboard | Genre = [[New Wave music|New Wave]], [[post-punk]], [[New Romantic]], [[punk rock]] | Occupation = Musician | Years_active = 1976–present | Label = Sony | Associated_acts = [[Adam & the Ants]], [[Bazooka Joe (band)|Bazooka Joe]] | URL = [http://www.adam-ant.net www.adam-ant.net] | Notable_instruments = }} '''Adam Ant''' (born '''Stuart Leslie Goddard''' on [[3 November]] [[1954]]) is an [[England|English]] [[musician]], who gained popularity as the [[lead singer]] of 1980s [[New Wave music|New Wave]]/[[post-punk]] group [[Adam & the Ants]] and later as a solo artist. He is also an actor, having appeared in two dozen films or television episodes between 1985 and 1999.<ref>{{imdb name|id=0001914|name=Adam Ant}}</ref> ==Biography== ===Early life=== Goddard, an only child, was born in [[Marylebone]], [[London]]. One of the themes he used in his later work - suppressed minorities - was part of his inheritance; he is of [[Romnichal]] stock. His grandfather, Walter Albany Smith, was a full-blooded [[Romani people|Romany]]. Home was two rooms in de Walden buildings, [[St John's Wood]]. Adam Ant recalls "There was no luxury, but there was always food on the table." His father worked as a chauffeur and his mother was a cleaner, briefly working for [[Paul McCartney]]. Although Adam didn't actually meet Paul until many years later, his mother was able to get him an autograph by one of [[The Beatles]]. His first school was Robinsfield Primary where he created a considerable stir by heaving a brick through one of the windows. Matters were presumably settled to everyone's satisfaction for he continued to attend Robinsfield. He then gained a place at [[St Marylebone Grammar School]] and after taking his [[A levels]] there he went on to [[Hornsey College of Art]]. ===Early career=== Ant's early career was as part of the [[punk rock]] movement, firstly as one of the Bromley contingent who followed the original punk groups that included [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]], [[Generation X]], and [[The Clash]]. The first band he joined was [[Bazooka Joe (band)|Bazooka Joe]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Adam%20and%20the%20Ants | title = Adam And The Ants@everything2.com | date = [[2002-06-14]] | accessdate = 2006-09-12 | publisher = The Everything Development Company }}</ref> in which he played bass. It was at a Bazooka Joe gig that Adam was witness to the [[Sex Pistols]] first ever public concert, billed as Bazooka Joe's support act. He acted in [[Derek Jarman]]'s 1977 "punk" film ''[[Jubilee (film)|Jubilee]]''. His debut as a recording artist was the song "Deutscher Girls", which featured on the film's soundtrack, and was re-released as a single in 1982. ===Adam and the Ants=== {{main|Adam & the Ants}} In 1979, having released the album ''[[Dirk Wears White Sox]]'' and gained an enthusiastic fan base, the Ants were recruited by former [[Sex Pistols]] manager [[Malcolm McLaren]]. McLaren then turned around and persuaded the three other band members to leave the Ants and form [[Bow Wow Wow]] instead. In early 1980 Adam Ant recruited old friend [[Marco Pirroni]] to reform the lineup, sound and image of the band, now featuring two drummers and pirate dress. This new look was used to market the album ''[[Kings of the Wild Frontier]]''. Several singles from this album were chart successes. The band's popularity grew, and the follow-up album ''[[Prince Charming (album)|Prince Charming]]'' was highly successful, with three UK top-ten singles (two reaching #1). At the same time he and actress [[Jamie Lee Curtis]] had a brief relationship. The Ants split up in early 1982. Newspaper articles of the time offered various explanations for the motivations behind the split. Initially Adam was quoted as saying that the split was amicable but later he was to say that "the interest just wasn't there anymore. It might have been Adam and the Ants on the billboards but not on stage." In addition, it is said that Pirroni quit as he was tired of touring. ===Solo career=== After the split, Ant went solo, taking his songwriting partner Pirroni with him. His greatest chart success was 1982's ''[[Friend or Foe (album)|Friend or Foe]]'' album, which included the hit single "[[Goody Two-Shoes (song)|Goody Two Shoes]]" which made it to #1 in the UK and Australia, and #12 in the U.S. Other hits from that album included "Desperate But Not Serious", the fan-loved "Place In The Country", and the title track. In 1983 Ant worked with [[Phil Collins]] and [[Richard James Burgess]] on the ''[[Strip (album)|Strip]]'' album which was recorded at Polar Studios in Stockholm. The single "Puss 'N Boots" reached #5 on the UK charts, but the BBC banned both the video and the song for the follow-up single "Strip," which peaked at #41. In the same year he was involved in a court case (''Merchandising v Harpbond''), where it was argued his face-paint was a painting and should be therefore protected by copyright. This claim was rejected by the Court of Appeal, which preferred to opt for the more traditional image of a painting as canvas on a wall. In 1985, he worked with veteran producer [[Tony Visconti]] on his third solo album, "[[Vive Le Rock]]". He secured a spot at the [[Live Aid]] concert, but was asked to cut his set to one song. He chose his new single, "Vive le Rock."<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8314-1671546,00.html | title = Sound advice | author = Paphides, Peter | date = [[2005-07-02]] | accessdate = 2006-09-12 | publisher = Times Online }}</ref> ''Vive Le Rock'' was intended to be his ultimate hard rock album but the single underwent a mispressing error and the album received mixed reviews. As a result, Adam decided to end his career in music and focus on his acting career. As the '80s wore on, Ant's attention turned toward acting, especially TV and movie roles. He spent three months in England on stage starring in [[Joe Orton]]'s ''[[Entertaining Mr. Sloane]]''. He also appeared on American television shows, notably ''[[The Equalizer]],'' ''[[Sledge Hammer!]]'' and ''[[Northern Exposure]].'' He began taking roles in films such as ''Nomads'' and ''Slamdance.'' He moved to [[Hollywood]] and appeared in a wide range of productions and shows. In 1990, whilst maintaining an interest in acting, Ant returned to America and re-entered the [[pop music]] world with the album ''[[Manners & Physique]]'', a collaboration with [[André Cymone]], a solo artist and an early member of [[Prince (artist)|Prince]]'s band. The album was another moderate success, and featured the UK and U.S. hit single "[[Room at the Top]]". "Rough Stuff" became the 2nd single for the United States and Germany as "Can't Set Rules About Love" charted in the United Kingdom. In 1993, he toured in support of a planned album called ''Persuasion''. For reasons unknown, however, this album remains unreleased. Ant returned to [[Los Angeles]] where he had a relationship with actress [[Heather Graham (actress)|Heather Graham]]. He also acquired a stalker, which placed him under great stress. Ant was later diagnosed with [[bipolar disorder]]. His erratic behaviour led Graham to decide to end their relationship. In 1995, he released his last album to date, ''[[Wonderful]]''. The title track was a successful single, as was a tour of the U.S. in support of the album. While Ant and his group (which retained longtime guitarist Pirroni) played in smaller venues than they had played in the 1980s, the houses were often packed with enthusiastic fans. The tour was curtailed, however, when Ant and Pirroni both contracted a respiratory illness. Adam also played three shows at Shepherds Bush Empire in London and did a mini tour of [[Virgin Records|Virgin Record]] Shops playing selected tunes from the album ''Wonderful'' and signing records. Adam and his band also played shows in Dublin, Glasgow, Middlesbrough & Stoke. Recently, a new generation of Ant-influenced artists covered Adam and the Ants' hits during the '90s, including [[Elastica]], [[Sugar Ray]], [[Nine Inch Nails]], [[Superchunk]] and [[Robbie Williams]]. ''[[Antbox]]'', a retrospective box set spanning Ant's career from the late 1970s through the 1990s, was released in late 2000. The box set included 66 tracks on three CDs, and quickly sold the initial 10,000 units. The box set was re-released in a different form (with the same tracks) and sold once again in 2003. Ant was poised to join the '80s-focused ''Here & Now'' tour in early 2002, but was unable to do so after he was charged with threatening members of the public with an imitation firearm in a London [[pub]]<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2190656.stm | title = Adam Ant admits pub affray | date = [[2002-08-13]] | accessdate = 2006-09-12 | publisher = BBC News }}</ref>. The court also ordered that he undertake rehabilitation, although he was later diagnosed with [[bipolar disorder]]. A television special entitled ''The Madness of Prince Charming'' was aired in the UK in 2003 documenting his career and his struggle with mental illness. In 2004 and 2005, six remastered compact discs were released, spanning the years 1979 (''Dirk'') through 1985 (''Vive Le Rock''). The CDs include previously unreleased demos and material from the "Ant vault." The project was overseen by Marco Pirroni, and includes a written message from Adam Ant. A limited edition boxset, 'Adam Ant Remasters', was made to hold all 6 of the albums and ''[[Redux (Adam Ant album)|Redux]]''. This product was re-released with all 7 albums in 2006. (It was stated on his website that he was writing new music for a new album titled ''Fist In The Skull''.) In September 2006, he published his autobiography, ''[[Stand and Deliver]]''. The paperback edition, published a year later (September 2007) contains a new epilogue which covers the year following the initial hardcover release. Ant performed a live reading from his books (his first live performance in 11 years) at the [[The UCL Bloomsbury|Bloomsbury Theatre]] in London on 24 September 2007. ==Discography== {{Main|Adam Ant discography}} * ''[[Friend or Foe (album)|Friend or Foe]]'' - October 1982 (UK #5/US #16) * ''[[Strip (album)|Strip]]'' - November 1983 (UK #20/US # 65) * ''[[Vive Le Rock]]'' - September 1985 (UK #42/US #131) * ''[[Manners and Physique]]'' - March 1990 (UK #19/US #57) * ''[[Wonderful (Adam Ant album)|Wonderful]]'' - April 1995 (UK #24/US #143) * Fist In The Skull - 2008 (To Be Released) ==Filmography== *''[[Sweetwater (band)|Sweetwater]]'' (1999) Tele-film based on the 1960s band. *''[[Nikita (TV series)|La Femme Nikita]]'' (1999) TV Episode *''[[Face Down]]'' (1997) *''Lover's Knot'' (1996) *''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' (1995) TV Episode *''Cyber Bandits'' (1995) *''Desert Winds'' (1995) *'Drop Dead Rock'' (1995) *''Acting on Impulse'' (1993) *''[[Love Bites]]'' (1993) *''[[Northern Exposure]]'' (1992) *''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]'' (1992) TV Episode *''Midnight Heat'' (1991) *''[[Trust Me (film)|Trust Me]]'' (1989) *''[[Out of Time (1988 film)|Out of Time]]'' (1988) *''World Gone Wild'' (1988) *''[[Spellcaster (film)|Spellcaster]]'' (1988) *''[[Cold Steel (film)|Cold Steel]]'' (1987) *''[[Sledge Hammer!]]'' (1987) TV Episode *''[[Slam Dance (film)|Slam Dance]]'' (1987) *''[[Amazing Stories (TV series)|Amazing Stories]]'' (1987) TV Episode *''[[Nomads (1986 film)|Nomads]] (1986) *''[[The Equalizer]]'' (1985) TV Episode *''[[Jubilee (1977 film)|Jubilee]]'' (1977) ==References== <!--See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags--> {{Refimprove|date=January 2008}} {{reflist}} * {{ cite web | url = http://www.adam-ant.net | title = adam-ant.net: official news service | accessdate = 2006-09-12}} * {{ cite web | url = http://www.cartrouble.nl/antmusic/index.html | title = Carty's AntMusic Page | accessdate = 2006-09-12 }} ==External links== * [http://www.adamandtheants.org Ant Liberation Front - Adam Ant / [[Adam & the Ants]] Fan Organisation] * [http://www.adam-ant.net Adam-ant.net - originally a fan-site, but now the official Adam Ant web presence] * [http://antrap.org/antrap/] * [http://www.cartrouble.nl cartrouble.nl - Carty's Ant site and home of the Carty Mixes] * [http://www.thefamilyofnoise.com The Family of Noise] * {{imdb name|id=0001914}} * [http://www.musicforafutureage.com Music For A Future Age (New Website Featuring Scans and discographies)] * [http://onlyloversleftalive.co.uk Only Lovers Left Alive - Marco Pirroni's label site and forum] * [http://www.panmacmillan.com/extracts/displayPage.asp?PageID=4419 Excerpt from ''Stand and Deliver''] {{DEFAULTSORT:Ant, Adam}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from London]] [[Category:People from Marylebone]] [[Category:People with bipolar disorder]] [[Category:Alumni of Middlesex University]] [[Category:English male singers]] [[Category:Adam & the Ants members]] [[Category:British Romani people]] [[da:Adam Ant]] [[de:Adam Ant]] [[es:Adam Ant]] [[it:Adam Ant]] [[nl:Adam Ant]] [[pl:Adam Ant]] [[pt:Adam Ant]] [[fi:Adam Ant]] [[sv:Adam Ant]]