Adam Ant - Milton Keynes Theatre

Adam Ant

I haven’t seen Adam in 19 years.  I met him by chance in my lunch hour from work when he was doing a book signing in Waterstones in Milton Keynes.  I decided to join the queue and some kind lady took a photo of me with him and emailed it to me.  This was before phone cameras were in their infancy.  He couldn’t stop staring at me while I was waiting in the queue and when he got to me (I was the last person) he was delighted to see me and thanked me for coming to see him.  He was polite and kind and truly lovely but didn’t seem anything like the swashbuckling persona you expected from his videos.

My connections with Adam Ant go way back actually to when I was still at school.  I remember playing Kings Of The Wild Frontier drums on my school desk with two pencils for drumsticks.  I had my first date when I was 13.  It was a good first date and he lent me his Adam Ant album which I loved.  The boyfriend wasn’t so good and didn’t last long, so he wanted his album back.  But instead of being brave and knocking on my door, he sent a girl from across the road to ask for it.  Three times.  Even at thirteen I was stronger than I thought and said ‘If he wants it back, he has to come and get it himself’.  Eventually he did.  I was sorry to see the album go but Adam Ant had made me feel brave.

Monday night at Milton Keynes Theatre it felt like life had come full circle.  I was five rows from the front to see Adam Ant.  I felt like thirteen all over again. I dressed up especially to see him.  Some of the audience had followed suit and made a good effort.  

The support band Lee Yoi were really good.  They were very young (drummer told us she was 16) but their sound was authentic and they were proper musicians who had written their own songs.  A great support to Adam and I loved he was showcasing new talent.  I think they will be huge.  I am going to explore them some more and I do not think I am the only one.

But back to Adam.  I could barely contain my excitement.  Adam Ant was coming on in just a few moments.  To open with Dog Eat Dog is a brilliant move and set the tone.  The band Adam has, including two sets of drummers are absolutely brilliant.

I was genuinely delighted to hear Car Trouble (which he told us was about his parent’s car) and had Ants Invasion as a tune stuck in my head for the rest of the week.  But without doubt my personal favourite track of the set was Killer In The Home.  I hadn’t heard this in decades and was amazed I could remember the words.  Some things never leave you.  All the big hits were there including Ant Music, Prince Charming, Stand And Deliver and Kings Of The Wild Frontier as well as his solo hits including Puss In Boots and Goody Two Shoes.

When he started to talk the lyrics of Young Parisians, I thought he might be teasing me and go into another song, but I am delighted to say he gave us a full version and I was here for it.  Singing ‘Don’t drink. Don’t smoke. What do you do?’ to Goody Two Shoes felt like it was written for me (I don’t drink or smoke).  I felt strong, brave and bold.  Adam does that to you.  Once more I felt as strong and brave as that thirteen-year-old facing her ex-boyfriend.

Adam is 71 and so doesn’t move around the stage the same way he may have 40 years ago.  There have been mixed reviews regarding his performance, but for me, just seeing him perform was enough.  I was delighted to be in his presence once more and loved his outfit.  Swashbuckling always did it for me and he is still a very attractive man.

Milton Keynes Theatre made us all stay seated rather than allow dancing.  I have mixed feelings about this.  Seated performances could contribute to the atmosphere and impact on Adam’s performance.  I hope Adam knew we were loving it and only seated because we were told to.  Yet I can understand why the theatre did it, as it’s hard to see Adam if everyone is on their feet (as we did for Stand And Deliver).  There maybe people in the audience who have a hidden disability and are unable to stand for long periods and still want to enjoy the show.

I left the show on a high, wishing this wasn’t the end.  It wasn’t.  I have had Adam’s songs stuck in my head for the whole week.  What an amazing back catalogue.  What a talent.  And what a lovely man Adam still is.

Setlist

1. Dog Eat Dog 

2. Vive le Rock 

3. Ant Music 

4. Miss Thing 

5. Cartrouble

6. Zerox

7. Ants Invasion 

8. Prince Charming 

9. Lady

10. Young Parisians 

11. Puss 'n Boots 

12. Desperate but Not Serious 

13. Kings of the Wild Frontier 

14. Beat My Guest 

15. Strip 

16. Friend or Foe 

17. Never Trust a Man (With Egg on His Face) 

18. Red Scab

19. Killer in the Home 

20. Los Rancheros 

21. Goody Two Shoes 

Encore:

22. Stand and Deliver