Adam & The Ants

Adam & The Ants were a cult rock ‘n’ roll band formed in London at the combustive transition between British punk and the rising tides of post-punk and New Wave. Frontman Adam Ant launched The Ants in May of 1977, echoing the raw, jagged energy of punk contemporaries like the Sex Pistols while projecting campy glam-rock grandeur in stylish pirate garb and tribal war paint. The band found commercial success with 1980's Kings of the Wild Frontier and 1981's Prince Charming LPs, which sprung effusive, chart-topping singles “Dog Eat Dog,” “Antmusic,” and “Stand and Deliver.” The band became emblematic of the New Romantic movement with a unique percussive sound that introduced mainstream audiences to Burundi beats, while their early adoption of music videos made them MTV trailblazers. In 1982, Adam parted ways with The Ants, launching a successful solo career that cemented his status as one of Britain's most recognizable painted faces.