| THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO... WHIPS IN MY VALISE! Last update July 14th 2008 |
| KICK MY CHEEKBONES IN! 30 years ago this month Adam And The Ants released one of my fave Ant tracks 'Whip In My Valise' on a b-side. Adam And The Ants have always held a fascination for me. I think it was the name which first caught my attention, even before I heard them. Like Wayne County and The Electric Chairs or Siouxsie And The Banshees its concept conjures up the imaginative aspect of punk. I even remember going for a piss in those old Victorian urinals you used to see in pubs and public conveniences all over England, and spot the "Adamant" manufacturers logo stamped into the white china lol. Well before the 1981 worldwide pop fame loomed, the Ants were an underground hardcore punk band with fetish as their spin on things and hated by the music press which I thought was great. 1976 Adam Ant (real name Stuart Goddard) who is the consistent factor in numerous line up changes was inspired by seeing the Sex Pistols perform in November into forming his own punk band. 1977 Making their world debut as Adam And The Ants in a bedroom in Muswell hill on May 5th 77 attended by Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex only a select few in the early days were to see the young powerful framed curly haired punks potential. On May 10th Adam Ant approached the ICA and told them that he had a country & western band and asked if they could play. His charm worked and the Ants make their official debut at the Institute Of Contemporary Arts restaurant at lunchtime. Adam appeared onstage in his rubber and leather gear with a hood and chains then began singing 'Beat My Guest' Immediately following the number, the woman who had booked them, paid them their £8 pounds and asked them to leave quietly. More support gigs followed and on May 25th saw Adam And The Ants first headline at The Man In The Moon pub, Chelsea, London. Legend has it the audience leave after 2 minutes except Jordan, Siouxsie and Steve Banshee. A pivotal moment and significent move coerced and encouraged by Jordan, who worked in Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's SEX boutique shop. Jordan becomes the Ants manager. By the summer of 77 and with Jordans contacts they are videoed for the Derek Jarman film Jubilee (Jordan would play a leading role in the film) doing 'Plastic Surgery' at Drury Lane Theatre where Adam dislocates his knee in the actual take.The Ants were by now gigging frequently and gaining some impressive stage technique. On December 17th they perform at a private Party for 'Jubilee' film director Derek Jarman. There's no earth on their instuments so the band perform in rubber gloves which was very fitting for their taboo subject matter. 1978 The band make their radio debut on the John Peel show on 23 January recording 'Deutcher Girls', 'Lou' (with Jordan taking lead vocal), 'It Doesnt Matter' and 'Puerto Rican'. Showing a diverse sound that was a little different from the usual punk bands. The following day they recorded 'Deutscher Girls' and 'Plastic Surgery' for the Jubilee soundtrack at Air Studios London. Touring extensively around the UK, often with Siouxsie and the Banshees, they proved to be unpopular with much of the British music press who disliked their fetishistic lyrics and imagery. May 15th they demo 'Young Parisians', 'Lady' and 'Catch A Falling Star' at Virtual Earth Studios London. July 10th they record their second Peel session which includes 'Physical', 'Zerox Machine', 'Friends' and 'Cleopatra'. On July 29th Adam And The Ants eventually sign to Decca records and record 'Young Parisians' and 'Lady' at Island studios London. They take their first jaunt to Europe on September 9th with a short tour in Belgium before more dates in Italy. On October 26th their first single the shockingly different 'Young Parisians' is released to confused reviews and little success. Apparently unable to satisfactorily market a band with fast blitzed or laborious sick songs with black humoured lyrics that often got them in so much trouble. Decca Records was soon to let them go. 1979 They had by now a fanatical heavy punk following and were seen during the late 70's as the last of the underground punk acts left. 'Ant Music For Sex People' was the rallying call. And begin their first major UK tour called 'Parisians'. Febuary 12th the Ants sign to an independent agency securing a new record deal with Do It Records independent label. They were hard to harness or market but one of the most bootlegged bands around and popular with radio. On March 26th they record their 3rd Peel session performing 'Ligotage', 'Tabletalk', 'Animals And Men', 'Never Trust A Man With Egg On His Face'. For an independent punk band the Ants by April 22 were about to play their first sellout gig at the Lyceum show in London. A band who could pack venues out, yet still remained outsiders to the British music press favour. Two days later they record 'Zerox Machine' and Whip In My Valise' at Roundhouse studios London. And straight after fly out to Germany for a couple of dates in Berlin on a whistle stop tour. On July 6th Do It Records release 'Zerox Machine' and 'Whip In My Valise' their most impressive single to date which topped the Alternative charts with the truest Ants sound. 'Zerox Machine' is a replicated catchy number with a nod to a hero of Adams, David Bowie. And proved a great taster for fans of the debut album. On the B-side was the dark slumbering guitar sound of 'Whip In My Valise'. The press called it "slowed down and boring". Initial first 3,000 copies of the single had the equally powerful 'Physical (Your're So)' on the B-Side even though they were marked up as 'Whip In My Valise'. Another version of 'Physical' would later apear on the flip of 'Dog Eat Dog'. The 45 sold out in 3 days, before more copies with the right tracklisting were printed up. They began their second major ('Zerox') tour of the UK to promote the single. On August 1st Adam splits his head open on stage in Plymouth and receives six stitches. The tour culminates with another sold out Lyceum show. August 12th they began recording and mixing their debut album 'Dirk Wears White Sox' at Sound Deveopment studios in London, an album inspired by Dirk Bogarte. However the unpredicable Adam by now had wanted Marco Pirroni in the band on guitar, but he was still busy in his latest band Rema Rema. The Ants at this time were Matthew Ashman (guitar), Andy Warren (bass guitar) and Dave Barbarossa (Drums). Warren was about to leave but It would be this lineup that recorded their debut album 'Dirk Wears White Sox'. The album was somewhat dark, with post-punk riffs and some vestiges of glam rock, as well as attempts to fuse this sound with funk and soul. Lyrically it attempted to address subjects such as fetishism, historical figures like Adolf Hitler, John F. Kennedy and Cleopatra as well as art history, particularly the Futurism movement. It gained a cult following rather than commercial success but still hit hit number 1 in the Alternative album charts. They also apeared in London once more for two nights at another sold out venue, the Electric Ballroom. Despite all this live success more lineup changes ensued with Lee Gorman joining on bass. It was at this juncture in time when Adam met one of his other heroe's Malcolm McLaren former manager of the Sex Pistols at a party. A frustrated Adam wanted to hire Malcolm McLaren's services as manager and svengali in the hope of more widespread recognition for the Ants. According to McLaren for a £1,000 fee. It would prove to be a fateful move. Adam Ant "Most punks were sexless, grey. Blank generation - nonsense. Dole queue martyrdom - nonsense. I just wanted to react against it." 1980 New Years day 1980 saw the Ants yet again play a sell out show at London's Electric ballroom. However dark dealings were being plotted behind Mr Ants back. On January 14th, McLaren convinced the rest of the Ants, then comprising guitarist Matthew Ashman, bassist Leigh Gorman and drummer Dave Barbarossa to leave Adam and form new band Bow Wow Wow, fronted by Annabella Lwin. Leaving Adam in tears and bandless and managerless. Must've been a dark time for Adam and his bipolar affliction. However on January 27th ursurped by his hero and betrayed by bandmates Adam phones Marco Pirroni (ex- Banshees,Models and Rema Rema guitarst). They meet a few days later and agree to a writing partnership and new 'Antmusic' deal. Pirroni would become an influential member of the group, co-writing many of their songs with Adam Ant. During February they get a new manager and recruit drummer/producer Chris Hughes (later known as Merrick). Hughes would gain fame as a future Tears For Fears producer. The new Ants re-record 'Cartrouble' and 'Kick' which is released in March as the final single for Do It Records. This single served as a useful bridge between the old Ant sound and the newer drum orienteated variant. Other new members are recruited with Kevin Mooney (bass guitar), and an additional drummer, Terry Lee Miall (who was in the Models). Adam had become inspired by drums and voices after hearing the chants of the Burundi tribe in Africa and thinks the groups sound should move in a different direction as far away from rock'n'roll as possible. Malcolm Mclaren later claimed he was the inspiration for turning Adam onto the Burundi beat which would also be used in the Bow Wow Wow sound. April 19th the Ants record their first new single together defiantly titled 'Kings Of The Wild Frontier' and 'Press Darlings' a song inspired by a savage Nick Kent review. In May they embark on their 3rd UK tour called 'The Ants Invasion' which begins yet again with a sold out show at the Electric Ballroom in London. On June 8th they finish the tour with another sold out show this time at the bigger Empire Ballron in London. Major labels are now circling and the Ants sign to CBS Records on July 16th 9 days later 'Kings Of The Wild Frontier' / 'Press Darlings' is released on 45 entering the UK charts at 53 (it later re-ntered the charts and went to (#2 in March 1981). The band record a promotional video for 'Kings Of The Wild Frontier' on August 5th. They also go back in the studio and record their debut album for CBS also called 'Kings of the Wild Frontier'. That album would turn out to be an enormous hit in the United Kingdom and put the band at the forefront of the New Romantic movement and teenybopper market. The album reached #1 on the UK album charts on 24 January 1981. There were several hit singles from this LP, including "Dog Eat Dog" 45 (reaching #4 on the UK singles charts in October 1980) after the bands first TV appearance on Top Of The Pops. Also "Antmusic" 45 (#2 in January 1981),which was only held off of #1 spot due to the re-release of "Imagine" after the death of John Lennon. "Kings of the Wild Frontier" went to (#2 in March 1981). In addition, "Antmusic" made it to #1 in Australia for five weeks.... The rest as they say is history! Sadistically Yours Peter Don't Care (July 2009) |
| This Months Playlist ADAM & THE ANTS - 'Demos 1977-78' RANCID - 'Let Ther Dminoes Fall' CD RUNNIN RIOT - 'Boots & Ballads' CD DEVILISH PRESLEY - 'Flesh Ride' CD THE OUTCASTS - 'Self Coscious Over You' LP This Months Punk In Print FEAR N LOATHING 64 APRIL 2009 HELL AND DAMNATION #12/ RIPPING THRASH #25 RIOT ON YOUR OWN 33 MAY 2009 EVERLONG #10 2008 MAXIMUMROCKNROLL 312 MAY 2009 EVERLONG #11 2009 FEAR N LOATHING 63 MARCH 2008 NETWORK OF FRIENDS 2008 FEAR NLOATHING 62 APRIL 2007 MAXIMUMROCKNROLL 313 JULY 2009 MAXIMUMROCKNROLL 314 JULY 2009 This Months Backdrop This months backdrop is Adam Ant circa 1978 proving all good punks love their mum. Born July 27th 2001, conceived 1977. A Cult Status Production © 2009 |
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| Important Announcement "GeoCities is closing on October 26, 2009. On October 26, 2009, your GeoCities site will no longer appear on the Web, and you will no longer be able to access your GeoCities account and files." WEBSITE UPDATE: Time is definitely ticking by and now I have a site deadline for OCTOBER 26TH 2009 from Geocities. Everything will be deleted by then. I have found a new FREE squat without annoying side banners and more space to bring you the pages how they were meant to look without feeling so cramped. Check out PUNK ROCKER for a fuller explanation of events as this will be the new portal for future reference and launched in October. So if anyone has a link maybe you could update it for then. Im still working on page transfers as there's nearly a decades worth of information and material to transfer. However a whole new era and name change will be in order but with the same trusted format and definitely the same attitude! Peter Don't Care (July 2009) |
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