April started off with a bang as Adam turned up on stage at the Troubadour in Earls Court, London late in the evening of the 2nd with a brand new band for another unannounced guerilla gig.
The Troubadour was a local haunt of Adam’s in the late 70’s and early 80’s where he used to spend time writing the material that ended up on his "Dirk" and "Kings" albums.
With Will Crewsdon and Dave Ryder-Prangley from the band Rachel Stamp providing guitar and bass respectively, Hayley Legs drumming, Peter Olive with keyboards and Tree Carr backing up the vocal sound, they worked their way through several classic Ant numbers including: "It Doesn’t Matter", "Lady", "Red Scab", "Stand and Deliver" and an exceedingly rare outing for the song "Prince Charming". There was one newly composed song in the set, "Gun in my Pocket" the tale of the Brand/Ross incident involving Hayley’s friend Georgina Baillie. Added to this was a cover of Johnny Kidd and the Pirates "Shakin’ All Over", a favourite live number that Adam has been performing since around 1990.
A few days later videos started appearing on YouTube of the show as well as clips filmed of a low key gig/rehearsal from a South London front room.
Later in the week, on Friday, Adam got up on stage and joined The Glitter Band and Angie Bowie at the Scala in the Kings Cross area of London and belted out versions of "Antmusic" and "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" a song once played as the introduction to Adam and the Ants shows.
He came back on for a second performance later in the evening, again with his own band, and ran through a cover of T.Rex's "Get it On", plus another selection of Ant tunes including: "Goody Two Shoes", "Red Scab", "Physical" and "It Doesn't Matter".
Two further shows were pencilled in to play together again later in the month at Birmingham and Manchester but didn't go ahead.
Another visit was made to the Scala on the 13th for a surprise appearance during Gary Numan's set, where Adam jumped up on stage and ran through a version of "Cars".
The following night and Adam took a step down from performing and attended a talk by Vivienne Westwood at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
A week later and he made an appearance at Gallery 27 on Cork Street, London for the opening of portrait artist Triana De Lamo Terry's exhibition, this was followed by a spate of interviews that culminated in a Question and answer session for the NME and Adam's most frank interview to date for the Quietus website by Simon Price.
The NME had also reported during the week details of an album that Adam is working on to be called: "Adam Ant is the Blue Black Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter."
Malcolm McLaren's funeral was held on the 22nd. Adam attended the high profile ceremony which had the cortège pass through Camden High Street on it's route towards Highgate Cemetery.
The night after, the band appeared at the Purple Turtle in Camden at Simon Price's Stay Beautiful evening, which was a warm up for the headlining show at the Scala on the 30th, as was Adam's solo appearance in Portsmouth on the 29th.
The sold out night on the last day of the month billed as The Pirate Metal Extravaganza was to be the largest show that Adam had performed at since 1995. There was concern in the building as rumour had it (quite correctly) that Adam was still in Portsmouth, but fears were put aside just after 8pm as he turned up and headed off into the venue to chat to fans waiting around the merchandise stall.
The evening was running late, but as the band went on the place erupted, and rather than the expected half hour set, the final running time was almost 3 times that with a set consisting several covers and a batch of Ant material spanning from 1977 to 1985:
"Cock in my Pocket" "Get it on" "Antmusic" "Red Scab" "Beat My Guest" "Vive le Rock" "Goody Two Shoes" "Kings of the Wild Frontier" "Apollo 9" "Physical" "It Doesn't Matter" "Stand and Deliver" "Prince Charming" "Kick" "Shakin' All Over"
Carousel photos: Rob Golding
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