This was a milestone for Adam Ant... He got the look, the sound, the artwork... the whole concept he had for this iteration of the Ants... Just right. All the above is all present in this track... And as kids/teenagers, it blew our tiny minds
This takes me right back to when I was 10/11 years old and Adam & The Ants were everywhere! Absolute kudos to Adam Ant: he immersed himself and the band with a distinct theme, image and combined it with a unique sound that was so cohesive and unlike anything else of its time. Marco Pironi was his long time collaborator and songwriting partner, so much of the credit for the distinct sound, particularly the striking guitar work, goes to him. The lyrics relate to the theme of American native Indians, hence the tribal sound, image and artwork/packaging.
Like a previous comment, it was impact of this music (and the image), as a 9 going on 10 year old. It changed everything for many thousands of kids. Their varying sounds, from the first 2 albums, have left a huge 44 year imprint on this sorry soul 😊 Maybe check their videos? They were on of the first bands to truly endorse that medium. Thank you!!!
I was exactly the same age, and absolutely one of those kids. It was exciting, wild, jumping, but most importantly it was DIFFERENT from anything I'd ever heard, and still kinda is. I loved em, but as soon as my Mum heard the phrase "Antmusic for Sex People" she was deeply troubled but I didn't care lol. I would still be bouncing round the living room to this if ma back an ma knees would let me 😂😂😂
I've always said that the videos and visuals of an artist don't matter. There are plenty of great 60s songs I like, and I still have no idea of what the performers look like. It's about the music. However, saying all that, I think you have to see Adam and the Ants, to appreciate their music. I really liked them and this track (and others of theirs). They were completely different, an interesting look and sound.
Adam correctly identified how 'tribal' pop music can be, the details of the tribe don't matter, at 17/18 you just want a tribe, and he was as good a tribal leader as anyone. Love the man and what he tried to do, he was as big a mover in the UK 'punk/New wave' as Malcolm McLaren, those releases were very exciting. I used to lose it on the dance floor when Dog Eat Dog came on. Great times.
Tribal… perfect word. Mad max meets Robin Hood meets the apache Sioux, meets blade runner …just graduated where’s my tribe…exclusive inclusion…all about the drums, that slash makeup as war paint, the new romantic costuming…video essential
A mix of Burundi style African drumming, tribal chanting, punk attitude and 50's guitars, this was a call to rebellion, an invitation to join the new tribe and to free themselves of the normal rules and regulations. Adam had starred in Derek Jarman's 1977 "punk" film Jubilee, along with Toyah, and both went from being on the fringes to mainstream success around the same time, both, in their different ways, promoting rebelliousness and freedom. Adam's previous "Ants" had been lured away from him by Malcolm McLaren to form Bow Wow Wow, fronted by 14 year old Anabella Lwin, and who also based their sound on tribal drumming. Their first single, "C30, C60,C90 Go!" ( a pean to the delights of home-taping music) arrived around the same time as Adam's new band. They never achieved the same success as Adam, who by the end of 1980 had had a big hit with the tracks Dof Eat Dog and Antmusic (though I prefer Bow Wow Wow personally). Kings had been the first single issued but it just missed the Top 40 - it was reissued in early 1981 and got to No. 2.
Yes, i think this track was a vehicle to showcase the drumming that Malcolm was fond of - as well as a swipe at Bow-Wow-Wow. I think the track turned out much better than that- great hooks and vocals with those drums
Brilliant. song, brilliant lyrics, and coated with fierce drumming on top. Thanks!
At 10 years old , i wanted to be Adam Ant .Lol ....... I remember the single sleeve had the lyrics on the back .
This was a milestone for Adam Ant... He got the look, the sound, the artwork... the whole concept he had for this iteration of the Ants... Just right.
All the above is all present in this track... And as kids/teenagers, it blew our tiny minds
Now you’re talking. My most listened to album. It’s about native Americans and the Antmusic for Sexpeople tribe.
This takes me right back to when I was 10/11 years old and Adam & The Ants were everywhere! Absolute kudos to Adam Ant: he immersed himself and the band with a distinct theme, image and combined it with a unique sound that was so cohesive and unlike anything else of its time. Marco Pironi was his long time collaborator and songwriting partner, so much of the credit for the distinct sound, particularly the striking guitar work, goes to him. The lyrics relate to the theme of American native Indians, hence the tribal sound, image and artwork/packaging.
Like a previous comment, it was impact of this music (and the image), as a 9 going on 10 year old. It changed everything for many thousands of kids. Their varying sounds, from the first 2 albums, have left a huge 44 year imprint on this sorry soul 😊
Maybe check their videos? They were on of the first bands to truly endorse that medium.
Thank you!!!
*one
I was exactly the same age, and absolutely one of those kids. It was exciting, wild, jumping, but most importantly it was DIFFERENT from anything I'd ever heard, and still kinda is. I loved em, but as soon as my Mum heard the phrase "Antmusic for Sex People" she was deeply troubled but I didn't care lol. I would still be bouncing round the living room to this if ma back an ma knees would let me 😂😂😂
I've always said that the videos and visuals of an artist don't matter. There are plenty of great 60s songs I like, and I still have no idea of what the performers look like. It's about the music.
However, saying all that, I think you have to see Adam and the Ants, to appreciate their music. I really liked them and this track (and others of theirs). They were completely different, an interesting look and sound.
Adam correctly identified how 'tribal' pop music can be, the details of the tribe don't matter, at 17/18 you just want a tribe, and he was as good a tribal leader as anyone. Love the man and what he tried to do, he was as big a mover in the UK 'punk/New wave' as Malcolm McLaren, those releases were very exciting. I used to lose it on the dance floor when Dog Eat Dog came on. Great times.
Tribal… perfect word. Mad max meets Robin Hood meets the apache Sioux, meets blade runner …just graduated where’s my tribe…exclusive inclusion…all about the drums, that slash makeup as war paint, the new romantic costuming…video essential
A mix of Burundi style African drumming, tribal chanting, punk attitude and 50's guitars, this was a call to rebellion, an invitation to join the new tribe and to free themselves of the normal rules and regulations. Adam had starred in Derek Jarman's 1977 "punk" film Jubilee, along with Toyah, and both went from being on the fringes to mainstream success around the same time, both, in their different ways, promoting rebelliousness and freedom.
Adam's previous "Ants" had been lured away from him by Malcolm McLaren to form Bow Wow Wow, fronted by 14 year old Anabella Lwin, and who also based their sound on tribal drumming. Their first single, "C30, C60,C90 Go!" ( a pean to the delights of home-taping music) arrived around the same time as Adam's new band. They never achieved the same success as Adam, who by the end of 1980 had had a big hit with the tracks Dof Eat Dog and Antmusic (though I prefer Bow Wow Wow personally). Kings had been the first single issued but it just missed the Top 40 - it was reissued in early 1981 and got to No. 2.
Yes, i think this track was a vehicle to showcase the drumming that Malcolm was fond of - as well as a swipe at Bow-Wow-Wow. I think the track turned out much better than that- great hooks and vocals with those drums
He predates Madonna for being famous for having white stuff on his face.