I love Adam Ant, there is a sense of loyalty to him. Fragile as he may (or maybe still is) be, he was a powerful force in the alternite music scene. Put it this way one of the first Sex Pistol gigs was in fact as an opener for Adams band Bazooka Joe. Crazy isnt it?
MTv really catapulted Ant to stardom. Video was his domain. 'Stand and Deliver' was freakin awesome. You dont see many interviews wiht Mr Ant, Im sure you will now that a tour and new album are on the horizon but really there has been nothing more than gossip of his mishaps in the British press.
Pollstar was able to snag an interview with the dandy highwayman, and rather than hack it to pieces and anallyze it I will do the unheard of and outright cut and paste it for your enjoyment.
PS_The new album – Adam Ant Is The Blueblack Hussar In Marrying The Gunner’s Daughter – has been in the works for more than a year. Do you have a release date?
AA_This is an independent label. A lot of artists have their own label, but are owned by a major. This is actually my label and I’m going to do all the business, distribution and manufacturing, which obviously takes longer than normally expected. But it’s all locked in now and we’re going to be putting out a single, which is called “Call Zombie,” at the end of October with a video. Then I’m going to save it [the album] for the new year because I think it’s kind of best to come in the new year fresh and do it then.
This is a different approach with this record. I’ve prepared for this one for at least a year to 18 months solidly on this, working live. It’s quite a challenging record to do. It’s a learning curve for me … It’s ready. When people hear it, I think they will, hopefully, understand why it took so long.
Are you still acting?
I haven’t done any acting since the [Joe] Orton play, “Funeral Games,” in London many years ago. Since then I kind of wrote a script with a guy called Joel Surnow who went on to create “24.” But I haven’t really pursued acting for quite a while. Now I find myself in the position that I don’t actually have the time. I wanted to concentrate on what I think I’m best at. If something came along, had a good story and it didn’t take up too much time, I might do it. But I can’t do that for at least 18 months.
So it’s always the music first?
Yeah. I think I have to give it a fair whack. I think a lot of singers see acting as a second option and think it’s going to mirror the power they have in music. Having sort of worked in it slightly more than six years in L.A. in a class there. I really enjoyed myself but you do get an appreciation for the commitment actors make to their work. I think there’s a certain insecurity there that you’re always waiting for that great story to come along, that great script. In music, I write the songs. There’s an element of control that you have as a musician that you don’t have as an actor.
Heads up campers Ant is in the northeast next month! Check him out and support the tour like a real Antperson.
October 6 at Best Buy Theater NYC ( you can buy a meet and greet)
Ocotber 8 at Royale Theater Boston MA (no meeting and no greeting for you)