ADAM ANT + TOYAH – BRIGHTON DOME 3.11.25
There’s certainly no denying that Adam Ant and Adam & The Ants are still big business! Only days ago Sony released the double vinyl ‘The Singles’ compilation album, which includes a Limited Edition Red & White Vinyl version. The release features 20 tracks with 9 of these being Ants numbers and the remaining 11 being solo hits. The current ‘ANTMUSIC Tour’ calls in at Brighton Dome this evening as gig number 9 of 24, and the material very much reflects this new release with no less than three-quarters of songs being performed for us lucky punters tonight. The 5 omissions being ‘Ant Rap’, ‘Apollo 9’, ‘Room At The Top’, ‘Rough Stuff’ and ‘Can’t Set Rules About Love’. To be honest I’m a little perplexed as to why they have selected this venue as there’s nothing on at the Brighton Centre this evening, and it’s likely they could have virtually filled that venue to capacity.
Certain Adam Ant/Adam & The Ants facts are impressive to say the least. For instance, I can recall the Ants having 8 singles in the UK Top 40 at the same time, which even The Beatles didn’t managed to do. There’s been 22 chart-topping singles worldwide, a Grammy nomination, he was the winner of the first Brit Award for ‘Best New Artist’, has won a Q Icon Award, and probably most pleasing to him was MTV’s award for ‘Sexiest Man Alive’. Adam And The Ants’ 1979 debut album ‘Dirk Wears White Sox’ was the first No.1 album in the UK Independent Albums Chart. The follow-up album ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ that featured his trademark Burundi beat style of African drumming, spent 12 weeks at No.1 in the UK charts and was the best selling album of 1981. The ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ album also produced three chart-topping singles, ‘Dog Eat Dog’, ‘Antmusic’ and ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’. On the day of its release, ‘Stand And Deliver’ went straight to No.1, and remained at the top spot in the UK Singles Chart for five weeks, earning Adam the two prestigious Ivor Novello Awards for ‘Best Songwriter of the Year’ and ‘Best British Record’.
The ‘Friend Or Foe’ album was Adam’s first release as a solo artist and included three hit singles – ‘Goody Two Shoes’, ‘Friend or Foe’ and ‘Desperate But Not Serious’. ‘Friend Or Foe’ is Adam’s most successful solo album to date, charting No.5 in the UK and was certified gold on both sides of the Atlantic after selling over 100,000 copies and turned Adam Ant into a household name in the USA, resulting in the aforementioned Grammy nomination for ‘Best New Artist’. There’s no denying it, that the young lad that used to hang around Westwood and McLaren’s ‘Sex’ shop on the Kings Road in order to drool over Jordan, has come a very long way indeed and it’s easy to see why he’s now considered a true icon.
This evening is surprisingly an all-seated affair and we are in Adam’s company for 96 minutes, from 8:48pm until 10:24pm, and during that time we are rewarded with 23 compositions, 13 of which are Adam And The Ants tunes. As you would expect, Adam is centre front stage and is responsible for lead vocals and guitar. He is assisted by a quartet of chums, these being stalwarts Will Crewdson aka Scant Regard (guitar, drum, backing vocals) and Jola of The Priscillas and John McKay’s Reactor (drums) as well as new friends David Green (drums, backing vocals) and John Cole (bass, drum, backing vocals). All the lads are clad in black and are unanimously sporting the Warrior logo 2025 tour t-shirts and Jola is sporting a trademark wig and dark coloured dress which is purply-blue.
Things get off to a jolly good start when the house lights extinguish and Elmer Bernstein’s ‘The Magnificent Seven’ from ‘The Magnificent Seven Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’ booms out across the venue as the musicians take to the stage. It gets even better when the two drummers on the high-risers at the rear of the stage strike up the intro to ‘Dog Eat Dog’ and almost immediately everyone stands up to watch the set. I knew it should have been a standing event! The lighting is fabulous and the sound (as always at Brighton Dome) is crisp and clear. You can already tell that Jola is the more animated of the two drummers as she moves more as though she feels the energy of every note. ‘Vive Le Rock’ swiftly follows and Will offers up a guitar riff akin to Bryan Ferry’s 1976 version of ‘Let’s Stick Together’ and then later on I hear snippets of ‘Then He Kissed Me’ by The Crystals, meanwhile the drummers are perfectly in-synch.
We then got our first address from Adam “Good evening Brighton….I Don’t suppose you fancy a bit of ‘“Antmusic”’ do ya” and said number was delivered with aplomb. The less well known ‘Miss Thing’ follows and is in the similar ballpark to The Heartbreakers and New York Dolls with its proto-punk vibe. Adam then turns around and carefully straps on his guitar for the first time tonight, and then informs us that “I’d like to do a couple of early songs”, the first of which is ‘Cartrouble’, followed by the rockin ‘Zerøx’. Adam remains on guitar for ‘Ants Invasion’ which features its distinctive riff. It’s No.1 hit single time next with the arrival of ‘Prince Charming’ which sees Adam remaining on guitar, Jola utilizing cotton tipped drumsticks for that fuller sound, and both guitarist Will and bassist John, migrating to their own large single drums as well for that added tribal effect. Whereas us lot were invited to sing the repeated chorus “Prince Charming; Prince Charming; Ridicule is nothing to be scared of”.
Adam then discards his guitar and then things get nice and punky with a combined medley of ‘Lady’ from 1978’s Adam And The Ants ‘Young Parisians’ single and ‘Fall In’ from 1980’s Adam And The Ants ‘“Antmusic”’ single. Then comes ‘Puss ‘n Boots’ and ‘Desperate But Not Serious’, which caught out a fair few in the crowd because of the latter’s false ending. Talking of the crowd, it’s a windy, wet Monday night and you’d think everyone would be well below par, well ladies and gentlemen this very much was not the case, they were all very much in the zone this evening and I’m certain both acts fed off of this. Talking of elation, my favourite ever Ants tune comes next with the arrival of the ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ single, which I purchased in July 1980 and the album of the same name followed on 3rd November 1980. On its release the single initially stalled at No.48, but once everyone had caught up, off of the back of the ‘Dog Eat Dog’ and ‘“Antmusic”’ singles, numbers 4 and 2 respectively, ‘Kings..’ was rereleased and hit No.2 on 8th March 1981 and only kept off the top by Roxy Music’s ‘Jealous Guy’. Tonight’s rendition of ‘Kings…’ featured at a certain point four drums again, which really can’t be beaten. The roar from the crowd at the end was epic and Adam stood there and lapped it up.
Will screeches his guitar and then drummers David and Jola get to action for another enjoyable song, ‘Beat My Guest’. The slower quirky ‘Young Parisians’ single came next and was followed by the melodic title track of Adam’s ‘Wonderful’ album. After which Adam enquires “You alright out there?”, clearly we were! Another melodic number follows in the form of the title tune from Adam’s ‘Strip’ album, which lyrically feels as though it’s telling us a story. There’s an enjoyable guitar riff in there as well. After which Adam introduces his band and then they set about playing ‘Friend Or Foe’, for this (and several other tunes in the set) Adam does many sideways steps which isn’t exactly Michael Jackson but more human Pacman. Adam straps his guitar back on and leads the musicians for ‘Never Trust A Man (With Egg On His Face)’.
Adam then informs us that when he was 21 he wanted a tattoo on his arm, he had it done, but it turned into a red scab, and he thought to himself there’s a song title there….cue the riff laden ‘Red Scab’, which certainly has a punk mentality and even speeds up towards its conclusion. I can recall Jordan enjoying this track the most when we previously saw Adam performing live. It was good to note that both ‘Killer In The Home’ and ‘Los Rancheros’ from ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ album have been inserted back into the live set for this tour, with Will giving us some tremolo action and the drumming duo on point on the former, and the latter making everyone’s hips wiggle as we head out to the Wild West. The penultimate selection was ‘Goody Two Shoes’ and I swear the crowd were at their most bounciest during this No.1 hit single, and many sang along…“Goody two, goody two, goody goody two shoes; Goody two, goody two, goody goody two shoes; Don’t drink, don’t smoke, what do you do?; Don’t drink, don’t smoke, what do you do?”. Once the tune had played out the musicians made their swift exits as Adam remained longer on stage in order to lap up the adulation. He then left us shouting for more. They returned, with a jacketless Adam, and we were rewarded with “one more song” , this being ‘Stand And Deliver!’ which briefly featured 4 drums in action, whilst the punters merrily sang along loudly.
Happy 71st birthday Stuart Leslie Goddard!
Adam Ant:
Adam Ant – lead vocals, guitar
Will Crewdson – guitar, drum, backing vocals
Jola – drums
David Green – drums, backing vocals
John Cole – bass, drum, backing vocals
Adam Ant setlist:
“Intro Tape” ‘The Magnificent Seven’ from ‘The Magnificent Seven Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’ album by Elmer Bernstein)
‘Dog Eat Dog’ (from 1980 Adam And The Ants ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ album)
‘Vive Le Rock’ (from 1985 Adam Ant ‘Vive Le Rock’ album)
‘“Antmusic” (from 1980 Adam And The Ants ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ album)
‘Miss Thing’ (from 1985 Adam Ant ‘Vive Le Rock’ album)
‘Cartrouble’ (from 1979 Adam And The Ants ‘Dirk Wears White Sox’ album)
‘Zerøx’ (from 1979 Adam And The Ants ‘Zerox’ single + eventually from 1999 ‘The Very Best Of Adam And The Ants’ album)
‘Ants Invasion’ (from 1980 Adam And The Ants ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ album)
‘Prince Charming’ (from 1981 Adam And The Ants ‘Prince Charming’ album)
‘Lady’ (from 1978 Adam And The Ants ‘Young Parisians’ single)/ ‘Fall In’ (from 1980 Adam And The Ants “Antmusic” single)
‘Puss ‘n Boots’ (from 1983 Adam Ant ‘Strip’ album)
‘Desperate But Not Serious’ (from 1982 Adam Ant ‘Friend Or Foe’ album)
‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ (from 1980 Adam And The Ants ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ album)
‘Beat My Guest’ (from 1981 Adam And The Ants ‘Stand And Deliver!’ single + eventually from 1994 Adam And The Ants ‘B-Side Babies’ compilation album)
‘Young Parisians’ (a 1978 Adam And The Ants single)
‘Wonderful’ (from 1995 Adam Ant ‘Wonderful’ album)
‘Strip’ (from 1983 Adam Ant ‘Strip’ album)
‘Friend Or Foe’ (from 1982 Adam Ant ‘Friend Or Foe’ album)
‘Never Trust A Man (With Egg On His Face)’ (from 1979 Adam And The Ants ‘Dirk Wears White Sox’ album)
‘Red Scab’ (from 1982 Adam Ant ‘Goody Two Shoes’ single)
‘Killer In The Home’ (from 1980 Adam And The Ants ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ album)
‘Los Rancheros’ (from 1980 Adam And The Ants ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ album)
‘Goody Two Shoes’ (from 1982 Adam Ant ‘Friend Or Foe’ album)
(encore)
‘Stand And Deliver!’ (from 1981 Adam And The Ants ‘Prince Charming’ album)
Support this evening came from 67 year old singer-songwriter, actress Toyah and her handful of talented session musicians, who were mainly clad in black, these being Chloe Du Pre (Nord Stage 3 keys), Nat Martin (guitar), Mike Goodman (guitar), Mike Nichols (bass) and Stu Roberts (drums). They entertained the punters throughout their 41 minute 9 tune performance which ran from 7:40pm until 8:21pm. Although in her time Toyah has released at least 16 studio albums, with the latest being 2021’s ‘Posh Pop’, this evening was very much a retro-show with all material being taken from her 1979 to 1983 period.
Toyah has been at it for so long, that depending on your age, your fondest memories of her will differ greatly! Old punks will remember her as ‘Mad’ from Derek Jarman’s ‘Jubilee’ film from 1978 which also starred my dearly departed partner Jordan as ‘Amyl Nitrate’, as well as Adam Ant as ‘Kid’. Mods, rockers, punks and ska boys and girls will remember her as ‘Monkey’ from the ‘Quadrophenia’ rock opera film from 1979. The same year saw Toyah reunite with Jarman for his steamy take on ‘The Tempest’, where she played ‘Miranda’. At this time I can recall my old school mate from Crabtree Avenue, Hollingbury being heavily into her 6-track ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ EP which did rather well reaching No.2 on the UK Independent Singles Chart. Things started to happen in 1980 for Toyah with a trio of her singles securing Top 10 slots in the UK Independent Singles Chart: ‘Bird In Flight’ (No.2), ‘Ieya’ (No.3), and ‘Danced’ (No.7) and the full crossover was achieved in the following year where a new trio of tunes crashed into the proper UK Singles Chart: ‘It’s A Mystery’ (No.4), ‘I Want To Be Free’ (No.8), ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ (No.4), and it’s these tunes that Toyah is best known for with the majority of the public. However in our house her finest work was when she worked with Ragdoll Productions on ‘Pob’s Programme’ (1985), ‘Brum’ (1991–1994) and ‘Teletubbies’ 1997–2001.
Musically, Toyah has never set my world on fire, however you really have to lift your hat and salute her bundles of energy, enthusiasm and passion for everything that she does. Even during lockdown her and hubby Robert Fripp (of 39 years), still managed to keep the Toyah brand out there! This evening within minutes of arriving on stage it really felt that she had almost all of the crowd behind her. They opened with ‘Good Morning Universe’ from 1981’s ‘Four More From Toyah’ EP and after which she uttered “Ooooh look at you!” in a motivational speech kinda way to the crowd, and then buttered them up further with “I’m amazed none of you were born in the 1980’s”. Clearly this is tongue-in-cheek, and then she informs us that she’s a “punk-rocker at heart” and then announces her equal biggest single: ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ from 1981 ‘Anthem’ album, which I’ve never seen as being punk.
I have to say that the lighting for a support artist…oops sorry, special guest, this evening is very complimentary , but maybe not as complimentary as Toyah was to a guy sitting in the front row on two separate occasions! If you were in attendance you know what I’m referring to! Toyah then informs us that she’s 67, a young example obviously, and that in fact it’s Adam Ant’s birthday today, which is taken on board by his fans as they sing him ‘Happy Birthday’ whilst he straps on his guitar the first time in order to play ‘Cartrouble’. Toyah then goes on to namedrop the ‘Jubilee’ and ‘Quadrophenia’ films and informs us that the next song was the first that she wrote, this being ‘Neon Womb’ from 1979’s ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’, which originally was an EP which was expanded into an album. After which we had ‘Race Through Space’ from the LP version of ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’, which I don’t actually recall hearing live on my previous encounters.
Prior to performing ‘It’s A Mystery’ from 1981’s ‘Anthem’ album, we are told about her debut ‘Top Of The Pops’ appearance which also featured Duran Duran (‘Planet Earth’), Joe Dolce Music Theatre (‘Shaddap You Face’) (sorry Ultravox) and none other than Adam Ant – this was Adam And The Ants’ ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’. I know what you’re thinking! Who else was on the 40 minute show? OK here goes: Talking Heads (‘Once In A Lifetime’), Shakin’ Stevens (‘This Ole House’), Headgirl (‘Please Don’t Touch’), Phil Collins (‘I Missed Again’), Kool & the Gang (‘Jones Vs Jones’), The Teardrop Explodes (‘Reward’), The Who (‘You Better You Bet’) as well as Coast to Coast (‘Do The Hucklebuck’), and the date was 5th March 1981.
‘Rebel Run’ from 1983’s ‘Love Is The Law’ album is up next, after which Toyah announces that she’s “The happiest punk pensioner around!” and they launch into the lengthy ‘Ieya’ from the 1980 ‘The Blue Meaning’ album, which I have to say received the loudest applause thus far. Toyah then goes on to explain that back in the days of punk it really was only acceptable to release two singles from an album, and that she has always felt that the next tune from 1981 ‘Anthem’ album really should have been a single, this is ‘We Are’ and it’s about friends. Possibly traditional punks would suggest that in order to spend what little cash they had, that an album should include no singles. Anyway, moving on…for me ‘We Are’ was the best song of tonight’s set. Yes I guess I was the only punter present that thinks this, but each to their own! We thankfully get the band introductions next, which has helped with this review and then Toyah tells us that the final tune, ‘I Want To Be Free’ from 1981’s ‘Anthem’ album, was from a line that she wrote on her school text book. She hated school and says about her dyslexia and that she should have gone to an acting school instead.
The song ended and oh my word, almost everybody in the venue that I could see gave Toyah a standing ovation! Crikey! Her reply was “We love you!”. Although I’m still not a fan, you really can’t help being bowled over by the way Toyah carries herself!
Toyah:
Toyah Willcocks – vocals
Chloe Du Pre – keys
Nat Martin – guitar
Mike Goodman – guitar
Mike Nichols – bass
Stu Roberts – drums
Toyah setlist:
‘Good Morning Universe’ (from 1981 ‘Four More From Toyah’ EP)
‘Thunder In The Mountains’ (from 1981 ‘Anthem’ album)
‘Neon Womb’ (from 1979 ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ album)
‘Race Through Space’ (from 1979 ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ album)
‘It’s A Mystery’ (from 1981 ‘Anthem’ album)
‘Rebel Run’ (from 1983 ‘Love Is The Law’ album)
‘Ieya’ (from 1980 ‘The Blue Meaning’ album)
‘We Are’ (from 1981 ‘Anthem’ album)
‘I Want To Be Free’ (from 1981 ‘Anthem’ album)
