With Adam Ant admitted to a London hospital for psychiatric care after going on a rampage outside a pub, it's perhaps timely to take a quick trip along memory lane. Things weren't always so bad for Mr Ant (nee Stuart Goddard). He's had his fair share of hits.

Goddard decided on a path in music after seeing The Sex Pistols play at the Hornsey School of Art in 1976. The B-Sides were the result of this inspiration. But gigs were hard to come by and the band pretty much disintegrated.

Undeterred by this Goddard formed Adam and The Ants. There were a number of line-up changes over the following years, but things started strongly with sessions for BBC DJ John Peel. Adam (as he will be now known) hired Malcolm McLaren to help increase the band's popularity and promote the debut 'Dirk Wears White Sox' album. The move backfired. The rest of the band felt they were sidemen and, supported by McLaren, formed Bow Wow Wow.

Adam, though, did get a lot of useful tips from McLaren. One idea was to dress the band in pirate outfits and push the music in a more accessible, pop, direction. Sound familiar?

The key moment for the band was Adam's decision to work with guitarist Marco Pirroni. A new line-up recorded the successful 1980 album 'Kings Of The Wild Frontier'. The music was a blend of glam, tribal drumming, punk and hits. It featured three Top Ten singles, including 'Ant Music'. And, of course, Adam dressed up as a pirate as often as he could!

The band quickly followed up with the 'Prince Charming' album. Two UK number one singles emerged out of it. But Adam decided to change direction, splitting the band soon after. He kept Pirroni as a songwriting collaborator and a supporting musician.

'Friend or Foe', released in 1982 featured the number one single 'Goody Two Shoes' and the Top Ten title track. 'Strip' (1983) wasn't in the same league however. And with that, Adam took a couple of years to come up with 'Vive le Rock'. The album didn't go anywhere.

Perhaps reading the signs of the times, Adam abandoned music and concentrated on acting in the USA. The hiatus lasted five years.

In 1990 he released 'Manners and Physique' but there wasn't anything particularly memorable about the album. Adam once again returned to acting until 1995 when he released 'Wonderful'. The album was a moderate hit in the U.S and the U.K, as was the single 'Wonderful'. Despite this success and acclaim from bands such as NIN and Elastica, Adam returned to acting.

Shortly before admission to hospital, Adam revealed problems battling manic depression. Maybe it was this depression or a return to drinking that set him on an alleged rampage.

Ant is charged with firearms offences, criminal damage and actual bodily harm. He is alleged to have smashed a window in the pub, attacked a man in his 40s and waved a WWII revolver at members of staff after being refused entry to a private party.

Recommended links:

Ant Lib Online

Adam-Ant.Net

Adam & The Ants - a tribute

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