Adam and the Ants were an English
new wave band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The group, which lasted from 1977 to 1982, existed in two incarnations, both fronted by
Adam Ant. The first, founded in May 1977, achieved considerable cult popularity during the transition from the
punk rock era to the
post-punk and
new wave era and were noted for their high camp and overtly sexualised stage performances and songs. The final line-up of this first incarnation –
Dave Barbarossa,
Matthew Ashman and
Leigh Gorman – left the band in January 1980 at the suggestion of then-de facto manager
Malcolm McLaren, to form the instrumentalist personnel of the controversial
Bow Wow Wow.