Adam and the Ants

Adam and the Ants were an English rock band fronted by Adam Ant, active from 1977 to 1982 in two distinct incarnations. The first lineup emerged from the London punk scene and built a devoted cult following through theatrical, sexually charged live shows before the original band split when several members left to form Bow Wow Wow.

The second incarnation, assembled with new co-writer and manager Marco Pirroni, moved away from raw punk toward a more stylised sound built on tribal double-drumming, swashbuckling imagery and glam-influenced pop hooks. This version of the band produced the string of hits that defined their legacy, including «Kings of the Wild Frontier», «Antmusic», «Dog Eat Dog», «Ant Rap» and the chart-topping «Stand and Deliver» and «Prince Charming», tracks that turned Adam Ant into one of the most visually distinctive pop stars of the early 1980s New Romantic era.

The band's blend of costume-driven spectacle and hook-laden rock left a lasting mark on subsequent artists, with acts such as Nine Inch Nails citing them as an influence. Though the group disbanded in 1982 when Adam Ant launched his solo career, Adam and the Ants remain one of the defining acts of the transition from punk to new wave and New Romantic pop.