Adam Ant

SOON TO BE RELEASED - ANT DVD (Definitive Video History 1977 - 1993). -. Antvideo - Compilation - released 2001. By comparing the musical styles of these two bands, the nature of any creative differences that may have led to the split become clear. Live in Tokyo - Concert video - released 1994. All five former members continue to make music, Cedric and Omar with The Mars Volta, and Jim, Paul and Tony in Sparta. Antics in the Forbidden Zone - Compilation - released 1990. Though the reasons for their breakup have not been made clear, Bixler Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopez have stated that they wanted their next album to sound like Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn while the other members of the band wanted it to sound more like Weezer, although this claim is not neccesarily made literally.

Prince Charming Revue - Concert video - released 1981. At the peak of their popularity, following an epic world tour and with an ever-growing reputation, as well as an incredibly dedicated cult following that remains to this day, At the Drive-In split up in 2001, initially referring to the split as an "indefinite hiatus". A television special entitled "The Madness of Prince Charming" was aired in the UK in 2003 documenting Adam's career highlights, as well as his struggle with mental illness. The afro has, as a result, become somewhat synonymous with the pair's image. Since the 2002 incident, Adam has occasionally been featured in news stories surrounding potential projects, his medical condition, as well as tribute bands devoted to celebrating his career. At the Drive-In were also noted, by certain sections of the music press, for the afros that Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez sport. The plans were derailed when an altercation in a pub in England led to a brush with the law, and the revelation that Adam suffered from bipolar disorder, the mental illness commonly known as "manic depression" - to which some attibute his extraordinary creativity. Despite this undoubtedly impressive set, it has often been remarked of At the Drive-In that they struggled to recreate their live experience in the studio, although they certainly tried to (their second full-length, In/Casino/Out, for example, was a live studio album).

Adam was poised to join an 80s focused tribute tour in early 2002. It was this reputation that contributed largely to the attention they received in the rock press towards the end of their career together, as well as the release of what is surely their best-known album, Relationship of Command. The box set included 66 tracks on three CDs, and quickly sold through the initial 10,000 units. Influenced primarily by the likes of Fugazi and Drive Like Jehu and making epic, post-hardcore and sometimes almost-stadium rock with complex time signatures and cryptic lyrics, ATD-I's first studio recording was Hell Paso, an EP issued in 1994. They quickly developed a following as intense in loyalty as the band were in their playing - At the Drive-In's reputation for impressive live shows remains legendary to this day. "Antbox," a retrospective box set spanning Adam's career from the late 1970s through the 1990s, was released in late 2001. At the Drive-In were a post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, who formed in 1993 and broke up in 2001. A new generation of Ant-influenced artists covered Adam and the Ants' hits during the 90s, including Elastica, Sugar Ray, Trent Reznor, and Robbie Williams. The Mars Volta.

While Adam and his group (which included longtime partner Marco Pirroni) played in smaller venues than they had played in the 1980s, the houses were often packed with enthusiastic fans. Sparta. in support of the album. Anthology (2005) - Compilation. The mid-1990s was a time of reinvention for Adam, as he re-entered the pop music world with the album "Wonderful." The title track was a success, as was a tour of the U.S. Relationship of Command (2000, re-release 2004) - LP. He had also acquired a stalker which placed him under great stress and as Graham's career took off the relationship faltered. Vaya (1999, re-release 2004) - EP.

By this time Ant had relocated to Los Angeles and had a long term relationship with Heather Graham. In/Casino/Out (1998, re-release 2004) - LP. The album was another moderate success, and featured the hit single "Room at the Top." In 1993, Adam toured in support of a planned album called "Persuasion." For reasons known only to Adam, his entourage, and MCA Records, the album is still unreleased to this day. El Gran Orgo (1997) - EP. The turn of the decade, 1990, saw Adam Ant re-entering the pop music world with the album "Manners and Physique," a collaboration with Andre Cymone, a solo artist and an early member of Prince's band. Acrobatic Tenement (1996, re-release 2004) - LP. In 1985 Ant stlll had enough appeal to secure a spot at the "Live Aid" concert but rather than perform a crowd pleasing set of old hits (as Queen did to revive their career) he did songs from the latest album and as a result his sales continued to decline. As the 80s wore on, Adam's attention turned toward acting, with an emphasis on TV and movie roles. Alfaro Vive, Carajo! (1995) - EP.

Adam's greatest solo success was during the "Friend or Foe" album era, which included the hit single "Goody Two Shoes." Other hits during this early 1980s timeframe were "Desperate but not Serious" and "Hello, I Love You." Later in the 1980s, Adam worked with producers including Phil Collins (on the "Strip" album), and veteran Tony Visconti ("Vive Le Rock"), achieving varying degrees of success on the charts. Hell Paso (1994) - EP. Adam's colorful, charismatic onscreen persona was perfect for the new medium. Tony Hajjar - Drums. Similar to contemporaries Duran Duran, Adam became one of the first pop video stars. Paul Hinojos - Bass. In the first two or three years of the decade, Adam and the Ants had several chart topping hits, including "Stand and Deliver," "Dog Eat Dog," "Prince Charming," and "AntRap." The early days of MTV provided Adam with another vehicle to get his image and message to the masses - the promotional video. Omar Rodriguez - Guitar.

Unquestionably, the high point of Adam Ant's career happened in the very early 1980s. Jim Ward - Guitar,Vocals. One of the tracks from the Jubilee soundtrack 'Deutscher Girls' was released as a single once the Ants had chart success in 1981. Cedric Bixler - Vocals. His first major outing as an actor was in 1978 in the Derek Jarman film "Jubilee" both as a character actor and performing songs. Ant was representative of the 'Art School Punk' contingent that were followers of the original punk groups and can be seen in the audience in film of early Sex Pistols gigs.

Similar to David Bowie, Madonna, and other famous shapeshifters in popular music, Adam was notorious for reinventing his image with each subsequent album release. Though he started out playing jagged punk rock music, he gradually altered his image, evolving to a more mainstream pop star. Adam Ant is the stage name of Stuart Leslie Goddard (born November 3, 1954, London, England), who was the lead singer of the highly successful 1980s pop group Adam and the Ants. Antbox - box set - released 2001.

Antmusic EP - extended play - released 1980. Zerox / Whip in my Valise - single - released 1979. Deutscher Girls / Plastic Surgery - single - released 1979. Young Parisians / Lady - single - released 1978.

Wonderful - released 1995. B-Side Babies - released 1994. Persuasion - unreleased 1993. Manners and Physique - released 1990.

Vive Le Rock - released 1985. Strip - released 1983. Friend or Foe - released 1982. Prince Charming - released 1981, re-issued with bonus tracks 2004.

Kings of the Wild Frontier - released 1980, re-issued with bonus tracks 2004. Dirk Wears White Sox - released 1979, re-issued with bonus tracks 2004.