Antics In The Forbidden Zone: Adam Ant On VHS!
Posted in Music, Retrovirus, Video |By Less Lee Moore
The Four Rules Of Loving Adam Ant:
1. Love Adam.
2. Love Adam some more.
3. Love Adam as much as you can.
4. Marry Adam.As composed by my sister and me in the early ’90s.
Adam Ant’s Friend Or Foe tour provided my very first concert experience. I was completely besotted with him at that time, even bringing my tape cases into classes so I could stare at them as they sat perched on the side of my desk. I didn’t get a VCR until 1984 so I was at MTV’s mercy, forced to wait until his videos would come on to see them. My love for him faded somewhat as I got older, but when Antics In The Forbidden Zone came out on VHS in 1990, my simmering adoration burst into flames once again. Many, many hours were spent listening to his albums and watching his videos with my sister Summer, as we squealed and laughed a stupendously embarrassing amount.
On October 6 of this year, Adam Ant received the (well-deserved) Q Magazine Icon Award. So to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his first album release, I have provided a brief, yet ridiculously fangirlish, commentary on each selection on the tape.
Screencap from The Czech Adam Ant Fansite
1. “Kings Of The Wild Frontier”
There are many styles clashing here: 1950s icons like Elvis, James Dean, and Marlon Brando; Native American warriors; English romantic poets; French sailors; pirates; and even a nod to S&M with the handcuffs chained to a guitar. I saw one of those embroidered jackets in Aaardvark’s Odd Ark in the ’90s and I desperately wanted it, but it was too expensive. In retrospect, fifty bucks seems like nothing. Adam Ant knew how to make his cheekbones look even more prominent with those drawn on, insanely-pointed, fake sideburns. The double drumming in this song owns, but that bridge gives me chills even to this day. Political correctness be damned.
2. “Dog Eat Dog”
This is a fantastic live version of an already-fantastic tune and the reconfigured ending is glorious. There are so many feathers and scarves flying around you’d think Aersomith might’ve played the venue the night before. I know that post-production can work wonders but Adam’s voice sounds amazing, even with all the jumping and flailing. The best part is when the cut to the kids in the crowd shows them grinning from ear to ear. And Marco’s jacket! I can’t believe no one has tried to copy it for the Hot Topic crowd yet.
3. “Antmusic”
This was the Adam Ant video that MTV played more than ANY other in the ’80s. Every time they’d announce, “Coming up this hour: Adam Ant” I’d hold my breath hoping it would be “Prince Charming” or “Stand and Deliver” but no, it was always “Antmusic.” Not that I was REALLY complaining, mind. Oh, look it’s Amanda Donohoe sitting in a booth! I didn’t know she was Adam’s teenaged girlfriend of that time until years later when I saw Lair Of The White Worm. The giant plug prop is SO “eighties video” while the ribbon-trimmed knife in the jukebox is a nice touch. I want Adam and the Ants to come into some stupid club and mix it up like they have in this video. And then, his work here is done. . . and he disappears into the alley.
Screencap from The Czech Adam Ant Fansite
4. “Stand And Deliver”
It’s another Amanda Donohoe appearance! And Adam’s brandishing a firearm. “Why Mister Goddard, is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” The juxtaposition of 18th century with headphones and vinyl records is genius. The change in Adam’s facial expression from amused to horrified and then back again when he looks into the hand mirror is hilariously awesome. I used to rewind that part over and over again. And ditto for the “even though you fool your soul” close-up shots, when he rolls his eyes and pouts like a queen. If memory serves, that bit where he crashes through the window was used in an old MTV commercial. I swear that Limahl from Kajagoogoo is in this! You can see him around the 1:44 mark as one of the guests at the banquet table. The full screen image of Adam’s face screaming, “STAAAAAAND” is a crack-up. I love every video that uses that weird pastel colored background lighting. The flirty faces at the end and the slow-mo head tilt as he stares into the mirror: more rewind faves.
14 Responses to “Antics In The Forbidden Zone: Adam Ant On VHS!”
December 1st, 2008 at 8:48 am
Oh man, I don’t even know what to say. I don’t even know how to pick a favourite video. Though it’s probably Apollo 9.
THE MARCO BUTTON! HE HAS A MARCO BUTTON! I don’t care what anyone says, I ship them.
December 1st, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Wait! Where is the Marco button? I love that they are BFFs. Seriously, every time I think about all the work that went into the reissues, I get all teary eyed.
LLM
December 1st, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I remember his concert was on Nickelodeon (yes) the first week I got cable and I was over the moon. I can’t even imagine how many hours I spent in my bedroom playing his records. I was pissed off at Captain Sensible for calling him an ugly old pirate. Did you also watch Jubilee to see him? Or go see Slamdance? He did a lovely job with the reissues and his book was interesting.
December 1st, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Oh Captain Sensible! I am disappointed in him. I have NEVER seen Jubilee. I am a bad Antfan. I did see Slamdance on video but I can barely remember it because it was so long ago. One thing I do have very fond memories of (and which I still have on VHS) was his wonderful performance in the first episode of “The Equalizer!” And “Northern Exposure,” that was a good one, too.
LLM
December 5th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I have to go with “Strip” as my favorite video… though “Ant Music” remains my favorite A&Ants song because it’s so Bow Wow Wow drummy aggressive and stompy. Love it. I obviously totally need to acquire “Antics” because I’m not entirely sure I’ve even seen all these videos – plus it’s always good to rewatch, as I did with the INXS video collection (spooky coincidence – on the same night that Michael Hutchence died). There are never enough videos in the world for me. NEVER.
December 5th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Also, SLAMDANCE is totes good, because it also has Tom Hulce and Virginia Madsen! (I taped it off Cinemax and watched it probably 100 times or more – it was on the same tape as SID & NANCY).
December 5th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Yes, “Strip” FTW! I agree about there never being enough videos in the world, especially not Adam Ant ones. I love that you mention “I taped it off Cinemax and watched it. . . the same tape as Sid & Nancy” because I have so many tapes like that, still!
LLM
December 31st, 2008 at 12:31 pm
This commentary was hilarious. I have this video collection, too. I actually recently found it on VHS in the dollar bin at Half Price Books. My sister and I used to practically wet our pants when ANY Adam Ant came on MTV as kids. I really need to frame that old school Ant poster that I recently found… the same one my sister had when we were kids. I definitely think “Desperate, but not Serious” was the sexiest of them all… but my faves were “Prince Charming” and “Strip”. Those videos were hilarious. Anytime Adam makes the lip-quiver expression, I crack up. I love Adam Ant. I wish I had gotten to see him in concert!
December 31st, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Oh and that reminds me… 2 movies with Adam Ant that I’ve seen that were TERRIBLE were: “World Gone Wild” and “Love Bites”. Ugh! Just repugnant!
December 31st, 2008 at 12:41 pm
If you say they are terrible then they must be REALLY terrible!
LLM
January 30th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
[...] Antics In The Forbidden Zone: Adam Ant on VHS!, Popshifter November/December 2008 Issue [...]
April 6th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
“Wet your pants?” It sounds like you and your sister had orgasms! That’s NO surprise, since Adam Ant is a Scorpio, the birth sign that rules SEX!
As for myself, “Goody Two Shoes” was my favorite, and I even went to sleep one night and had a dream about having sex with Adam Ant!
May 24th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I adore Adam, have to say that I love Dog eat Dog as the songs go but my favourite video is probably Stand and Deliver, it’s his expression in the third chorus that does it. Also check out my Adam Ant paintings http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=122800817#/album.php?aid=80946&id=697806920
Also I dreamt I was watching videos at Adam Ant’s house while he stood behind a curtain once……
March 24th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
you know you said “I’d like a list of all the other eighties videos which also utilized the “slow motion mirror smash” shot” well I know one….LABYRINTH! 198..3? I think? “As the world falls down” sung by the equally as handsome David Bowie, Sarah (the girl in the video) smashes the mirror too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VppuD1St8Ec