Editing Adam Ant (section)

===1982–2001: Solo career===
A few months after Adam and the Ants split, Ant launched his solo career and retained Pirroni as guitarist and co-songwriter.<ref name="auto" /> Merrick also briefly stayed as drummer and producer for the UK edition of the first solo hit single "[[Goody Two-Shoes (song)|Goody Two Shoes]]"—which made it to No. 1 in the UK—and demos for the upcoming ''[[Friend or Foe (album)|Friend or Foe]]'' album, before moving on to other production work.<ref name="gaznterrycontractualsep82">News of Adam No.2, p.7, Arlington Press Ltd UK1982</ref> The ''Friend or Foe'' album also produced another top ten single, "[[Friend or Foe (Adam Ant song)|Friend or Foe]]", which reached No. 9 in September 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/adam%20%26%20the%20ants|title=Official charts for artist: Adam and the Ants|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028161110/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/adam%20%26%20the%20ants/|archive-date=28 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ant recruited a new band for touring, consisting of new dual drummers Bogdan Wiczling (ex-[[Fingerprintz]]) and Barry Watts (ex-[[Q-Tips (band)|Q-Tips]]), plus guitarist [[Cha Burns]] (also ex-Fingerprintz), bassist [[Chris Constantinou]] and the former Q-Tips brass section of trumpeter Tony Hughes and twin saxophonists Stewart van Blandamer and Steve Farr.<ref>Sleevenotes for single ''Desperate But Not Serious''</ref> The new band made its debut at London's [[London Astoria|Astoria]] Theatre on 1 October 1982. A US tour began in New York on 8 November. On the 19th tour date on 20 February 1983 in [[Cleveland]], Ohio, Ant suffered a knee injury onstage (a relapse of a previous injury suffered while filming ''Jubilee'' in 1977), forcing the postponement and/or cancellation of dates throughout February and March while he recuperated.  Ant eventually returned to performing, appearing as a guest on the [[NBC]] special ''[[Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever]]'', singing "[[Where Did Our Love Go]]" with [[Diana Ross]]. He resumed the US tour, completed on 18 May 1983 at the Bronco Bowl in [[Dallas]], Texas.<ref name="gigs83">{{cite web |url=http://www.adam-ant.net/1983.html |title=1983 |website=Adam-ant.net |access-date=11 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313134404/http://www.adam-ant.net/1983.html |archive-date=13 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During his recuperation from the knee injury, Ant worked with Pirroni on new material<ref name= "SD Autobio" />{{rp|214–215}} that formed the basis of Ant's second solo album, ''[[Strip (Adam Ant album)|Strip]]''. With promotion on the ''Strip'' album complete, Ant reduced his band to the quartet of himself, Pirroni (now out of retirement again), Wiczling and Constantinou.<ref name= "WWBF back">{{cite web |url=http://www.adam-ant.net/discography/Discographyimages/singles/apollo/uk/back.jpg |title=We Will be Fine – Apollo 9 |website=Adam-ant.net |access-date=21 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812040922/http://www.adam-ant.net/discography/Discographyimages/singles/apollo/uk/back.jpg |archive-date=12 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The latter two adopted the stage names ''Count'' Wiczling and Chris ''De Niro'' respectively and were upgraded from live backing musicians to being full-time band members, featured on record sleeves,<ref name= "WWBF back" /> logos<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adam-ant.net/discography/Discographyimages/singles/apollo/uk/a.jpg |title=Apollo 9 |website=Adam-ant.net |access-date=21 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808191611/http://www.adam-ant.net/discography/Discographyimages/singles/apollo/uk/a.jpg |archive-date=8 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and even in song lyrics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antlady.nl/lyrics/ScorpioRising.html|title=Scorpio Rising|website=Antlady.nl|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208172936/http://www.antlady.nl/lyrics/ScorpioRising.html|archive-date=8 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The LP ''Strip'' produced a top ten single, "Puss'n Boots", that reached No. 5 in the UK charts in October 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ADAM ANT {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/19582/adam-ant/|access-date=2022-01-20|website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref> Ant formally unveiled his new four-piece band at the 1984 Montreux Pop Festival,<ref name= "SD Autobio" />{{rp|234}}

In July 1985, Ant secured a spot at the [[Live Aid]] concert – the first live performance of the "Ant/Marco/Wiczling/De Niro" band – but was asked to cut his set to one song, for which he chose his new single, the ''[[Vive Le Rock]]'' title track<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8314-1671546,00.html | title = Sound advice | last = Paphides| first= Peter | date = 2 July 2005 | access-date = 12 September 2006 | newspaper = Times Online | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Ant later claimed to regret playing the fundraiser, saying, "I was asked by [[Bob Geldof|Sir Bob]] to promote this concert. They had no idea they could sell it out. Then in Bob's book, he said, 'Adam was over the hill so I let him have one number.'... Doing that show was the biggest f**king mistake in the world. Knighthoods were made, [[Bono]] got it made, and it was a waste of f**king time. It was the end of rock 'n' roll."<ref>{{cite web | url= http://louderthanwar.com/adam-ant-brands-live-aid-a-mistake-and-a-waste-of-time-and-the-end-of-rock-n-roll/ | title= Adam Ant brands Live Aid a "mistake" and a "waste of time" and the end of 'rock n roll' | work= Louder Than War | date= 26 August 2011 | access-date= 18 March 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120830202929/http://louderthanwar.com/adam-ant-brands-live-aid-a-mistake-and-a-waste-of-time-and-the-end-of-rock-n-roll/ | archive-date= 30 August 2012 | url-status= live }}</ref>

A year after the hit single success of "Apollo 9", which reached No. 13 in September 1984, the parent album ''Vive Le Rock'' was released in September 1985, to mixed reviews. As part of the promotion, the band performed a live TV session for [[Channel 4]] music show ''Bliss'' hosted by [[Muriel Gray]]. Several songs were recorded, although only two – "Miss Thing" from the new album and "Killer in the Home" from ''Kings of the Wild Frontier'' – were actually transmitted.<ref name="gigs85">{{cite web |url=http://www.adam-ant.net/1985.html |title=1985 |website=Adam-ant.net |access-date=11 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328122139/http://www.adam-ant.net/1985.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ant paused his career in music at the end of 1985 to focus on his acting career.<ref name= "SD Autobio" />{{rp|244}} His [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]] show was Ant's last full-length concert until February 1993. Indeed, between December 1982<!--I.E. JUST AFTER THE END OF THE "FRIEND OR FOE" UK/EUROPEAN TOUR--> and February 1995,<!--I.E. JUST BEFORE "WONDERFUL" UK TOUR--> Ant's only public live concerts outside North America were the four aforementioned UK/Spanish shows, Live Aid,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adam-ant.net/giglist.html |title=Gig List |website=Adam-ant.net |access-date=11 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328122143/http://www.adam-ant.net/giglist.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> a 1987 fanclub party performance,<ref name="gigs87">{{cite web |url=http://www.adam-ant.net/1987.html |title=1987 |website=Adam-ant.net |access-date=11 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328122146/http://www.adam-ant.net/1987.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and a September 1994 [[EMI]] corporate event in [[Brighton]].<ref name="gigs94">{{cite web |url=http://www.adam-ant.net/1994.html |title=1994 |website=Adam-ant.net |access-date=11 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328122152/http://www.adam-ant.net/1994.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> He severed ties with CBS in late 1986, following the release of the ''Hits'' audio/VHS compilation.<ref name= "SD Autobio" />{{rp|248}} In 1990, Ant returned with ''[[Manners & Physique]]'', a collaboration with [[André Cymone]], a solo artist and an early member of [[Prince (artist)|Prince]]'s band. The album was another moderate success, and featured the single "[[Room at the Top (Adam Ant song)|Room at the Top]]", which was a Top 20 hit on both sides of the Atlantic. "Rough Stuff" became the second single for the United States and Germany as "Can't Set Rules About Love" charted in the United Kingdom.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}

In  1992, [[Nine Inch Nails]] released a cover of Adam & the Ants' "Physical (You're So)" on their ''[[Broken (Nine Inch Nails EP)|Broken]]'' EP, originally released on the ''Kings of the Wild Frontier'' LP."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nine Inch Nails – Broken|url=https://www.discogs.com/Nine-Inch-Nails-Broken/master/3466|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Discogs|year=1992 |language=en}}</ref> Subsequently in 1995, Adam Ant performed "Physical" live with Nine Inch Nails on their [[Self Destruct Tour]] for two nights in a row.

In 1995, Ant released the album, ''[[Wonderful (Adam Ant album)|Wonderful]]''. The title track was a successful single, as was a tour of the US in support of the album. While Ant and his group, which retained longtime guitarist Pirroni alongside [[Kris Dollimore]] ([[The Godfathers]], [[The Damned (band)|The Damned]]), Bruce Whitkin, Dave Ruffy ([[The Ruts]]) and Dave Barbarossa (Adam and the Ants, Bow Wow Wow),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/1995/music/reviews/adam-ant-1200441322/|title=Adam Ant|first1=Troy J.|last1=Augusto|website=Variety.com|date=25 April 1995|access-date=14 November 2020}}</ref> played in smaller venues than they had played in the 1980s, the houses were often packed with enthusiastic fans. The tour was cut short due to Ant and Pirroni both contracting [[Infectious mononucleosis|glandular fever]].<ref name= "SD Autobio" />{{rp|298}} Ant also played three shows at [[Shepherd's Bush Empire]] in London and did a mini tour of [[Virgin Records|Virgin Record]] Shops playing selected tunes from the album ''Wonderful'' and signing records. Adam and his band also played shows in [[Dublin]], Glasgow, [[Middlesbrough]] and [[Stoke-on-Trent]].
[[File:Adam Ant - State Theatre.jpg|thumb|left|Adam Ant performs at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ on April 3, 2024.]]

In 1996, Ant and Pirroni recorded two new songs, "Lamé" and "Inseminator", for the soundtrack to Ant's latest film ''Drop Dead Rock''. Also around this time, they recorded a cover version of the [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]] song "[[Dandy in the Underworld (song)|Dandy in the Underworld]]". The duo continued to demo other songs around this time, including such titles as "Tough Blokes", "Justine", "[[Pablo Picasso|Picasso]] Meets [[Gary Cooper]]" and "Call Me Sausage" (the last of which leaked out into bootleg circulation among fans).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cartrouble.nl/interviews/marco2005-x03.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719014136/http://www.cartrouble.nl/interviews/marco2005-x03.html |archive-date=19 July 2011 |title=MARCO PIRRONI INTERVIEW 2005
|website=Cartrouble.nl |access-date=7 April 2012}}</ref> These new songs with Pirroni were for Ant's own new label Blend Records. Pirroni later referred to these recordings as the ''Blend Demos''. They also guested with such bands as Dweeb and [[Rachel Stamp]]. In 2001, following the [[11 September attacks]], Ant recorded a charity single for New York firefighters; a double A-side of [[Neil Diamond]]'s "[[America (Neil Diamond song)|America]]" with his own song "Big Trouble".<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3640005/Adam-and-the-fall.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Paul | last=Lester | title=Adam and the fall | date=9 April 2005 | access-date=3 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215135142/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3640005/Adam-and-the-fall.html | archive-date=15 December 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.cartrouble.nl/news/archive/cnn2005-1.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724151134/http://www.cartrouble.nl/news/archive/cnn2005-1.html |archive-date=24 July 2011 |title= CNN 2005 Archive (part 1) |website= Cartrouble.nl |date=11 April 2011 |access-date= March 27, 2017}}</ref> In interviews from the time, Ant talked of numerous varied plans, including starting another new record label, reforming Adam and the Ants, and a star-studded benefit concert for a forest in [[Patagonia]].<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite news|last=Higginbotham|first=Adam|date=8 September 2002|title=You wouldn't know him from Adam|work=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2002/sep/08/features.magazine37|url-status=live|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305151019/http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2002/sep/08/features.magazine37|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>