Friend or Foe?

December 2, 2008 12:34 PM

In 2007, Stuart Godard (alias Adam Ant) published his autobiography in which, among other things, he discussed his lifelong battle with manic depression (bipolar disorder). Our friends at YouTube have posted a tv special about his life: The Madness of Prince Charming Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

Worth watching if you a) want to know the "secret meaning" of the Prince Charming choreography and b) want to hear what Marco and Merrick thought working with Adam was like.

posted by wittgenstein (35 comments total)

This sounds a lot more interesting than what I originally thought his autobiography would be like:

CHAPTER 1: I DON'T DRINK
CHAPTER 2: I DON'T SMOKE
CHAPTER 3: WHAT I DO DO
CHAPTER 4: SUBTLE INNUENDOS

The jacket blurb, of course, would promise that there "must be something inside."
posted by Spatch at 12:42 PM on December 2, 2008 [22 favorites has favorites]

I'm still a fan, especially of his early work ("Whip In My Valise" is just great New Wave). And seeing that he managed to chart a song again with his last record, "Wonderful," back in 1995, I suspect he may pop up on radio now and again for quite a while, if he chooses to.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:51 PM on December 2, 2008

Adam and the Ants were a pretty big part of my middle school soundtrack. Good stuff.
posted by alteredcarbon at 12:59 PM on December 2, 2008

I loved Adam Ant back in the day, so much. Even among new wave artists, I thought they were great.

Thanks, Stuart.

Thuarts.
posted by boo_radley at 1:05 PM on December 2, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

wow! this is great! i'm on part 3 right now and i think i'm going to go into therapy, too.
i wanna be a pop star!
posted by artof.mulata at 1:08 PM on December 2, 2008

"Kings of the Wild Frontier" is still a favorite album, and "Stand and Deliver" was a highschool staple. But now it will sadly always be tainted for me with the words to"Save the Gorillas" I just can't hear that damn song without thinking of his new lyrics. I really hoped he saved the gorillas.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 1:11 PM on December 2, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

CHAPTER 5: LOOK MUMMY, THAT MAN IS DRESSED AS A COWBOY!

I find it weird that Americans remember a completely different set of Adam and the Ants songs from Brits. Ours are better, of course.
posted by Artw at 1:20 PM on December 2, 2008

I'm not following ancient history.
posted by Joe Beese at 1:22 PM on December 2, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Oh, and toss in a plug here for Blue Monday.
posted by Joe Beese at 1:24 PM on December 2, 2008

It's too bad that Malcolm McClaren stole the Ants away from Adam to form Bow Wow Wow. That's a weird piece of rock and rolll history.
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:28 PM on December 2, 2008

It's too bad that Malcolm McClaren stole the Ants away from Adam to form Bow Wow Wow. That's a weird piece of rock and rolll history.

But did that stop Adam? No, he instantly put together a new and better band and released Kings of the Wild Frontier. It was a perfect "fuck right off Malcolm" response.
posted by oneirodynia at 1:37 PM on December 2, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

Ours are better, of course.

So unplug the jukebox
And do us all a favour
That music's lost it's taste
So try another flavour -
Ant music!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:40 PM on December 2, 2008

I was Adam Ant for Halloween this year. I think the frilly shirt might make it into my regular wardrobe rotation.

That is all.
posted by JoanArkham at 1:41 PM on December 2, 2008

Thanks so much!
(He's my favorite steam punk icon, she cooed provocatively...)
posted by Jody Tresidder at 1:44 PM on December 2, 2008

Although it's not my favorite Ants song, the video for "Ant Rap" is still one of my favorite moments from the Eighties. Or am I confusing it with the movie Excalibur? Well then, either way.
posted by steef at 2:00 PM on December 2, 2008

Never trust a man with egg on his face.
posted by mandal at 2:19 PM on December 2, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'm pretty sure seeing this at a young age made me gay.


So, thank you Adam Ant.
posted by The Whelk at 2:35 PM on December 2, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

I like to think I have no friends at YouTube, only hostile enemies.

BTW, Adam Ant was/is pretty cool.
posted by edgeways at 2:40 PM on December 2, 2008

To this day, I rarely make a solid mix disc without 'Stand and Deliver'. Go Antmusic!
posted by littleredwagon at 3:07 PM on December 2, 2008

That was an interesting tv piece thanks for sharing.
posted by gomichild at 3:08 PM on December 2, 2008

I haven't watched this yet; does it reveal who did all the awesome whistling on their songs?
posted by queensissy at 3:37 PM on December 2, 2008

Two drummers always rocks (unless it's the Glitter Band, of course)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:39 PM on December 2, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

there is little that gives me fond memories of being 14...but Adam Ant is certainly one of them :)
posted by supermedusa at 3:44 PM on December 2, 2008

Why is the present day Adam Ant always wearing a hat?

Very cool. Thank you for the post wittgenstein. I knew nothing about him till today.
posted by captainsohler at 4:34 PM on December 2, 2008

Why is it that the Eighties were so short, but the Nineties seem to go on for far too long?*

*Not really a rhetorical question!
posted by sneebler at 5:22 PM on December 2, 2008

I'm disappointed. I thought it was this guy's bio.
posted by jonmc at 5:29 PM on December 2, 2008

I haven't watched this yet; does it reveal who did all the awesome whistling on their songs?

Adam Ant is credited as the whistle (human) on the back of Antbox.
posted by oneirodynia at 5:43 PM on December 2, 2008

Death wears white socks.
posted by stinkycheese at 6:13 PM on December 2, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I attribute my soft spot for futurism in part to the influence of Adam and the Ants: Marinetti Boccioni Carrà Bella Palazzeschi! / Futurist Manifesto! / War is the world's only hygiene / Energy and fearlessness / Racing car the beauteous beast / Hurl defiance at the stars! (Some iffy politics, but great art.)

I was a little disappointed in the autobiography, though. I wanted at least some insight into the process of writing the music and making the videos, but it was largely reduced to a single sentence or two, along the lines of "and then we went into the studio to make Dirk Wears White Sox. After that, we went on tour." Then 25 pages about sleeping with Amanda Donohoe.

Still, no one has cheekbones like Adam Ant. No one. In the "Stand and Deliver" video, he's like a Greek god. (Well, if Greek gods wore makeup and leather pants and little braids in their hair. And who's to say they didn't?)
posted by scody at 6:41 PM on December 2, 2008

Adam Ant lived down the hall from me when I lived with my coke dealer/boyfriend in midtown Manhattan (quite literally: 49 btw 6 and 7th) in the 1980's. He was very friendly and kind-- but never was involved in our "business."
posted by Maias at 7:05 PM on December 2, 2008

There are several Adam and the Ants songs on my ever-running mental playlist, including: Dog eat dog, Stand and deliver, Ant music, and Press Darlings.
posted by zippy at 8:16 PM on December 2, 2008

In days of old when ships were bold
just like the men who sailed them
And if they showed us discontent
we'd tie them up and flail them

Often men of low degree
and often men of steel
They'd make you walk the plank alone
or haul you 'round the keel

Hoist the Jolly Roger
Hoist the Jolly Roger
Hoist the Jolly Roger
It's your money that we want
and your money we shall have!
posted by bwg at 11:52 PM on December 2, 2008

Why is the present day Adam Ant always wearing a hat?

Either he's embarrassed by his baldness, or he's trying to protect his pate from skin cancer. The fact that he wears it indoors while being filmed suggests the former is more likely than the latter.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:46 AM on December 3, 2008

Desperate But Not Serious would be a good name for an autobiography.
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:29 AM on December 3, 2008

Desperate But Not Serious would be a good name for an autobiography.

Given recent years I'd have gone with Ridicule Is Nothing To Be Scared Of.
posted by mandal at 3:48 AM on December 4, 2008