Adam And The Ants Electric Ballroom, Camden, London 31st December 1979

 

What a way to see in the 1980's with Adam & The Ants at Camden's Electric Ballroom. I have made no secret over the years in posts on this site that a pre-King's Of The Wild Frontier gig is right up there when the Time Machine is launched. I was into the Ants in 1980 but I was only 11 then so gigs were out... not that I would have got into any or would have probably wanted too given how hairy some of them could be. Just look at that set (with the exception of the throwaway 'A.N.T.S.') an unbeatable mix of 'Dirk Wears White Sox' material and material that pre-dated any contract that the band had, songs that in their original form (as opposed to the versions that were rerecorded as B-Sides on the big hit singles) as live versions or demos. Reading Mick Mercer's review this must have been one of Kevin Mooney's first gigs as an Ants bass player.

Can't enlighten you really on the support. I have only heard of the 'Black Arabs' and then only through their involvement with 'The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. Thanks to the original Dime uploader.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-vnpyC9TJkp

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-3Zx6TE4OS4

01. Physical (You’re So)
02. Deutscher Girls
03. Cartrouble
04. Cleopatra
05. The Idea
06. Whip In My Valise
07. Lady
08. Puerto Rican
09. Press Darlings
10. Zerox
11. Tabletalk
12. Crowd
13. Beat My Guest
14. Fall In
15. Crowd
16. Red Scab
17. Fat Fun
18. A.N.T.S
19. Crowd
20. Lady
21. Puerto Rican

Here's what Mick Mercer had to say of the gig in the 19th January 1980 issue of Record Mirror.

ADAM AND THE ANTS/ENGLISH SUBTITLES/SECURITY RISK/BLACK ARABS

Electric Ballroom London

AT ELECTRIC BALLROOM gigs you get the doomy impression that it might just be your last, and tonight was even worse than ever. The mass proliferation of boneheads, en route to a flower pressing session round the corner, was larger than usual and at least one person got stabbed. Yeah, it's a war zone baby.

Safe inside, we gazed longingly at the English Subtitles, longing for them to hurry up and get off Security Risk were highly promising and got the gig going properly, led by one of the sharpest looking punkettes around. They had a fine collection of pop/punk (ponk?) tunes on offer, tinged with humour. 'Sign Us Up', 'Action Man' and 'Letter From America' were just three of the wondrous items, and two cover versions, 'Bobby 's Girl' (good) and 'Alright With The Boys' (Loads of toss). Considering it was all done without a soundcheck, it was all good stuff.

The Black Arabs get the Queen's award of industrious swearing as they heaped abuse on the crowd. Unfortunately the music hardly matched up to their bravery, a kind of groovy disco morass the like of which I never wish to encounter again.

The Ants stormed into their set and the difference between their last few London gigs was made clear, the new bassist of the disappearing plectrum style. The music had a far sharper edge to it due basically to the force the new boy ploughed into the sound. Adam himself seemed far more active and towards the set a great deal angrier than ever I've witnessed .

They won over the seasoned regulars with two oldies 'You're So Physical' and ' 'Deutscher Girls' (a rare treat) followed by the awe-inspiring 'Car Trouble' where even a few duff musical moves couldn't disguise the beauty of the devil’s music. With the new-found fury running rampant they hurtled out a lightning fast 'Whip In My Valise', a new revamped (Iyricallv) 'Press Darlings' and a startling 'Table Talk' their most inspirational musical shock, where stunning white lights burst forth and cast an effective silhouette of Adam down one side of the hall. Being nearly blind onstage however has its disadvantages as Adam found out when he fell into the crowd and got some rough treatment meted out to him. It also means you finish the gig unaware that your flies are open.

By the time they’d finished it was obvious that 1980 will be the year of The Ants; the power and the spirits always always been there, it 's only now reaching its full explosive potential, and despite the constant witchunt the press hurl at Adam he's survived and proved himself worthy of the devoted following The Ants enjoy. They've proved themselves. Real aristocrats.

MICK MERCER