Adam Ant

2 1/2 stars: I didn't particularly like it or dislike it; mixed or no real interest

What can I say? Its Adam Ant.

I am seeing him perform in September 2012, and I thought I'd read his bio beforehand.

He is utterly vain. He has some self effacing parts, and he deals honestly about mental illness. I can related and feel his pain at his alcoholic father, and respect his "don't drink, don't smoke" stance in an industry and place where that was not the norm. He is a bonafide admitted sexaholic, using sex as a cure to his mental pain. He is openly bipolar, and I appreciate his honesty there.

I found the most interesting portions of the book to be when he talks about the early days of punk. He happened to be in the right place at the right time in London as punk was forming. Adam and the Ants are a band I enjoy and I liked to hear about his approach to his art. I spent some time watching the videos to the songs on YouTube, as he described his role in storyboarding and funding them all. he had little record company support, and he did not make much money at all.

But I repeat: he was horridly vain. Especially when he talked about being livid and upset that Duran Duran had the # 1 hit, while Goody Two Shoes was # 2. He thought he'd have to work much harder in order to prove himself worthy. Next week, it went to # 1, and he could relax. He never seemed satisfied with what he had.

His relationships were a mess. He was open enough at least to know this, and appeared to know it at the time, though you can never tell. At the end, he appears to have stability in his life. I hope that is true for him but of course...you never know.

I will always be an Antperson....love Adam and his Ants!… (mer)

it's usually interesting to read books by authors with mental disorders...there is always a good chance that they'll lead you down the road of confusion prior to their diagnosis...but even more interestingly is how they view their lives now that there has been some explaination and some diagnosis. You can sense Adam's mental disorder by the way he writes, what he chooses to emphasize in the book, and what he glosses over. An interesting read for anyone who ever found him to be the sexiest man alive....or has an interest in bipolar disorder. (crazy combination, i know!)… (mer)