Getty ImagesT
he colourfully mixed
audience for Adam’s
Anthems Tour sums it up
nicely. Elderly punks,
the achingly hip of all
ages and middle-aged
mums out on a night out
with their former pin-up
nearly packed out this
seaside date of his UK- and soon US – trek. In 1981,
Adam and his four Ants were
Britain’s biggest pop property
and his appeal stretched
from Saturday morning kids’
TV to the pages of the punk
fanzines that had established
his reputation.
The frontman’s triumphant
return to better health was
again evident here in a lithe
physicality – and any fears
the set would be a predictable
footnote to the showman’s
recent ambitious live reputation
were soon dismissed.
The show exploded into life
from the first song with Beat
My Guest – also the first track
Adam & The Ants performed
back in 1977 – and the energy
didn’t let up across the next 24.
All the hits – with the notable
exception of the largely-
airbrushed-from-history Ant Rap
and 1982’s Deutscher Girls- were here and Adam’s band
provided solid support to his
charismatic delivery.
Never the world’s strongest
vocalist, the channelling of his
inner Captain Jack Sparrow
meant that Adam could lend
a heightened theatricality
and showmanship to his back
catalogue, allowing him the
platform to carry off 1983’s
faintly ridiculous Strip with a
dignity appropriate for a man
now in his early 60s.
Back in the day, where
he followed the pack −
the successful but largely
forgettable Room At The Top,
for example – the magic was
dimmed. The same is true
tonight where oddball classics
like Young Parisians offered
the highest peaks, but
in truth there were few troughs.
The stripped-back Wonderful
was Adam’s last significant
chart success and here
showcased its conventional
but melodic triumph.
Slower moments like that
exposed a rawer vocal than
you’ll remember, but only
added to the poignancy: his
more troubled recent story a
lingering afterthought.
The lesser-known cuts weregreeted warmly enough, but
it was the canon of megahits
that inevitably had the crowd
roaring along in support.
The on-stage small-talk
was kept to a minimum, but
Adam’s obvious delight in the
collective singalong to Stand
And Deliver suggests the star
is touched by the affection in
which he is held. It offered the
night’s loveliest moment.
The British love a good
eccentric and the joyous timing
of pop’s imperial phase and
this charming chancer is a reign
hard to imagine in today’s less
colourful chart landscape.
Prince Charming, pantomime
legend or dandy highwayman- this chameleon has many
costumes, but it’s clear they
all shine brightest under that
stage light. Mark Elliott
ADAM ANT
BRIGHTON CENTRE
18 MAYTHE POP PIRATE PLUNDERS HIS HIT-LADEN BACK CATALOGUE FOR A BOUNTIFUL
HAUL OF TREASURE, ALL PRESENTED WITH A FAMILIAR PANTOMIME FLOURISH110© PhotoshotCP30.Live_Reviews_p110_113.print.indd 110 08/06/2017 11:11