Adam & The Ants (or Antz) may not so readily be associated with the first wave of the punk bands of the London scene, coming into prominence a little later, but they were for sure well connected within the scene from very early on. Adam played bass in Bazooka Joe when the Pistols played their first gig as support, he was also on the Thames boat with Jordan, who also managed an early incarnation of the Ants and performed on stage with them. Gig-wise, the band supported Siouxsie & the Banshees as well as X-Ray Spex. Not a band punk CV with which to enter 1978.
The Ants went through several line up changes before pining down a band that would record the first single 'Young Parisians' and the debut album, the formidable 'Dirk Wears White Sox'. The recording band included a talented guitarist by the name of Matthew Ashman.
The 'Dirk' album stands apart from much of what passed as punk (or perhaps that should be post-punk given its release date of November 1979). Ashman's distinctive playing style was very much a part of this... angular and quirky!
Adam's engagement of Malcolm McLaren with a view of shaping the band for a breakthrough was a watershed for both Adam Ant and Matthew Ashman, as the wily clothier persuaded the latter along with Leigh Gorman and Dave Barbarossa to form a band that became Bow Wow Wow. Ultimately, this fracture was to prove beneficial for all of the musicians involved as Adam soon went on to huge success in mainstream pop and Bow Wow Wow, fronted by Annabella Lwin, also had a significant chart presence in the early part of the 1980s.
Ashman's latter musical career retained a connection with Adam & The Ants as after the demise of Bow Wow Wow, he formed the Chiefs of Relief with Gorman and Barbarossa (essentially Bow Wow Wow without Annabella). After a break from music Matthew returned, first in Max, a band formed by Kevin Mooney (Ants' bass player during the 'Kings of the Wild Frontier' period), before performing in his last band 'Agent Provocateur'.
Ashman died at the age of just 35 on 21st November 1995 from complications with his diabetic condition.
Here is a recording from the Zerox tour. I think that this was sent to me by Sewer Rat, so many thanks for the share. It's quite a good sounding recording when age and the nature of the venue are considered.
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