Ah, the 1980! For some, a vacuous, Quaalude-devastated memory of a decade, and for others (mainly fashionistas, hipsters, and some born in the 90s) an epoch of unrestrained cocaine myth glamour, when American Psycho excess ruled the waves and coated everything with a thin dusting of "nostalgia."
Give us a fucking break.
Very few relics from that era endured to the present based solely on real cultural impact and actual merit. But we're only looking at the musical angle of things so we'll skip any uncomfortable John Hughes' references. Adam Ant certainly imploded toward the back end of the decade, but he never truly vanished from our general consciousness.
And it wasn't because of his old-timey cavalry gear and dayglo face paint.
Reestablishing himself with a somewhat sporadic acting career and splitting his time between the UK and the USA in the 90s, Adam (born Stuart Goddard) took on parental roles while suffering from bipolar disorder, which many been a contributing factor to his musical hiatus. Which, less than a crutch, found a willing spokesperson for the condition in Ant. From New Romantic to advocate, why can't the nostalgia junkies focus on that instead?
In 2010, somewhat egged on by the passing of Michael Jackson, Ant launched himself back into the touring spirit and performed a pair of successful mini tours in England. Now back in the USA as a touring musician, Ant's long stasis seems minute given that he looks great, perhaps even better than back when MTV hailed him as the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1982. And the busy coats still work on his frame.
That's all second though to his skills as a natural performer. At his show this weekend at Seminole Coconut Creek Casino, he'll surely be culling from a respectable catalogue of three albums with the Ants and six solo efforts, including the upcoming Adam Ant is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter. The album includes songs from the past couple of years and will likely be released next spring, if the Mayans are proven wrong this December.
Below are a few moments that prove that the 1980s did not truly claim Ant as a victim of that largely forgettable decade. Brothers of Brazil will be the opening act, and their blend of punk, rock and Brazilian sounds (like MPB and tropicalia) should be a nice counterpoint to Ant's set.
Adam Ant - "Goody Two Shoes"
From his first solo effort, you gotta love the subtle Pee Wee's Playhouse effect and naïve charm.
Adam and the Ants - "Antmusic"
It's a well-known fact that this song is on an eternal loop in every ant mound you've ever seen, well, since 1980 anyway.
Adam and the Ants - "Prince Charming"
Stop being dandy, please. And don't hold back on the theatrics either.
Adam Ant - "Room at the Top"
Hard to believe with everything that's going on there. Whoa!
Adam Ant and Brothers of Braziliday, September 28, at Seminole Coconut Creek Casino, 5550 NW 40 ST., Coconut Creek; 954-977-6700; seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com. Tickets cost $15 to $30 plus fees via ticketmaster.com.
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