tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724731217598970578.post4521150265461552496..comments2024-02-21T12:40:51.852-08:00Comments on The Art Of Exmouth: Stand And Deliver: The Autobiography - Adam AntJohn Serpicohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09681093161741863686noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724731217598970578.post-2542133023363887142017-06-15T13:28:43.233-07:002017-06-15T13:28:43.233-07:00Wow. Good on you, my friend. I've always liked...Wow. Good on you, my friend. I've always liked Press Darlings, myself, and consider it to be one of his finest moments. I hope you've seen Adam playing live? You should probably try to meet him one day. Don't be star struck by him. John Serpicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09681093161741863686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724731217598970578.post-55823144729880824202017-06-12T16:31:14.902-07:002017-06-12T16:31:14.902-07:00I was born 3rd November 1969 and so my appreciatio...I was born 3rd November 1969 and so my appreciation for Adam & the Ants had it's beginnings when Kings of the Wild Frontier was released. Saw them on TOTP and Loved the heavy drums. I was an 'Ant' when Stand & Deliver topped the charts, was a bit dismayed when the make up changed with Prince Charming but was still a fan. AntRap was released and while I wasn't as keen on the recording I didn't mind the video. They were very theatrical and I think that was another reason kids found the Ants so attractive. Then on Saturday morning TV (Can't remember which show it was but it was aimed at the young audience) Adam was interviewed and announced that the band were splitting up and that he would be continuing as a 'Solo Ant' (What a pathetic term that was). The news didn't sit well with me and I began to lose interest from that moment on. While Adam was enjoying his fame as a Dandy Indian Pirate whatever,Deutscher Girls was released. I remember people saying to me that Adam didn't want anyone to buy it because it had been released against his wishes... Something like that. I bought it though and I Loved it. Loved the humour of the Lyric and I Loved the B-Side too. I started scouring record shops for Adam & the Antz old releases. They were hard to find. I bought some from School friends with older siblings who had bought early singles. They were scratched mostly but playable. I'd got the Dirk Album. Liked a few tracks but not all of them and then I came by the Zerox single. Everything changed then. Loved Zerox but the B-Side Whip became my all time 'fave' the moment I heard it. (Still is) I'd only just given the title to 'Lady' and now that dropped to number 2. (Used to get Sir to play Lady at our School Discos and he did... Until he heard the words then it got whipped off again. (Ha! Whipped!) Shoot forward years and arrive at today. The Internet has made it possible for people to hear the peel sessions and rare recordings like 'Punk in the supermarket and Catch a falling star (Love that) are all YouTube uploads. I think I've downloaded ever recording of everything so far but... I crave more! Adam & the Antz is all I listen to. I don't get bored. It's just a shame that my collection of music is so limited. I'd be willing to listen to other stuff but I don't believe anyone's released anything yet to qualify as competition. I know The Pistols are up there with the best of Punk but they tend to lack Adam Ant's humour. Adam Ant is very recognisable in the Lyrics he writes... When he's writing songs that satisfy himself. He's funny, and Raw and Honest and razor sharp and unrivalled in my view whenever he does this. I'm just not as keen when he sets out to write stuff that he thinks would satisfy other people... The ones who are likely to help him financially... The 'Wider Audience'. As far as I'm concerned, Fuck them! (Selfish aren't I?.. I don't care that I am... I'm off to listen to Whip in my Valise... With the verse about getting his cheekbones kicked in. If only that verse was added to the song and then re-released. I think it might just knock the old Whip off it's Number 1 pedestal. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854925444337024593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724731217598970578.post-41973174709016622402016-09-01T12:19:39.887-07:002016-09-01T12:19:39.887-07:00Thanks, C. I suspect only those there at the time ...Thanks, C. I suspect only those there at the time might understand and appreciate what I'm saying about the chasm between the old Ants and the pop version and the betrayal of the original Ants audience. Adam knows it himself and having to live with the upset (if that's not too strong a word?) he caused is the price he paid for fame and fortune. Most people (who weren't there) just wouldn't understand what the fuss is about. I'm glad you're one of those who understands.John Serpicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09681093161741863686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724731217598970578.post-30786862447373585252016-09-01T05:05:23.143-07:002016-09-01T05:05:23.143-07:00Thanks for articulating this all so well! I remem...Thanks for articulating this all so well! I remember the transition didn't seem so bad at the very start - quite nice to have a band you admire get some recognition at last - but then it just went beyond the line and cringey... it became impossible to equate the band whose fans were now pre-pubescent girls buying Adam & The Ants pencil-cases in WH Smiths with the edgy art punk band I'd heard playing controversial songs like 'Puerto Rican', 'Whip In My Valise' etc. I was fortunate enough to see them on the Young Parisians tour, they came to Bishop's Stortford Triad in March 1979, playing tracks like Boil In The Bag Man, Day I Met God, Cleopatra.... and I still enjoy Dirk Wears White Sox from time to time. It's good to change, to move on indeed, but as you say, it was the way he jettisoned every last vestige of integrity for the sake of success and show business etc. that was so galling at the time. I still have a soft spot for the man for all he did early on, though - but I never want to have to sit through the video for Stand and Deliver ever again!Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.com