Adam was a member of Bazooka Joe, the band that the Sex Pistols opened for in the Pistols' first live appearance. Adam and the Ants started as a punk band, but by the early '80s they had taken a different path and started making pop music. By 1981 they were one of the biggest bands in Britain.
In March 1982, feeling certain band members "lacked enthusiasm", Ant disbanded the group. A few months after the split Ant launched a solo career (though he retained Marco Pirroni as guitarist and co-songwriter).
After the split, Ant went solo, taking his song writing partner Pirroni with him. His greatest American chart success was 1982's Friend or Foe album, which included the hit single "Goody Two Shoes" which made it to #1 in the UK and Australia, and #12 in the U.S. Other hits from that album included the title song (which made #9 on the UK chart) and "Desperate But Not Serious". Goody Two Shoes first charted in the UK in Spring 1982, reaching no.1 that summer, but its US peak did not come until 1983 when it reached #12 on the Billboard Top 100.
In 1983, Ant worked with Phil Collins and Richard James Burgess on the "Strip" album which was recorded at Polar Studios in Stockholm. The single "Puss 'N Boots" reached #5 on the UK charts, but the BBC banned both the video and the song for the follow-up single "Strip," which peaked at #41. Although Strip had some highlights and hit singles, it marked the end of his reign as one of Britain's top pop stars for a while. That same year, Ant also memorably appeared as a guest performer on the NBC television network's Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever special that aired in May.
In 1985, he worked with veteran producer Tony Visconti on his third solo album, "Vive Le Rock". He secured a spot at the Live Aid concert, but was asked to cut his set to one song. He chose his new single, "Vive le Rock." Vive Le Rock was intended to be his ultimate hard rock album but the single underwent a pressing error and the album received mixed reviews. As a result, Adam decided to end his career in music and focus on his acting career.
In 1989, whilst maintaining an interest in acting, Ant returned to America and re-entered the pop music world with the album "Manners & Physique", a collaboration with André Cymone, a solo artist and an early member of Prince's band. The album was another moderate success, and featured the UK and U.S. hit single "Room at the Top". "Rough Stuff" became the second single for the United States and Germany as "Can't Set Rules About Love" charted in the United Kingdom.
In 1993, he toured in support of a planned album called "Persuasion". On account of a regime change at MCA, the record company made the unilateral decision not to release this album on the basis that Manners & Physique had failed to achieve a gold sales certification. Ant was subsequently released from his contract with MCA and later signed by EMI. Persuasion remains unreleased to this day and, as a result, it has become something of a lost legend among "Antfans", although it is widely available online for download.
In 1995, Ant released the album "Wonderful". The title track was a successful single, as was a tour of the U.S. in support of the album. While Ant and his group (which retained longtime guitarist Pirroni) played in smaller venues than they had played in the 1980s, the houses were often packed with enthusiastic fans. The tour was cut short due to Ant and Pirroni both contracting glandular fever (for those who don't know the term, glandular fever is generally a euphemism for what usually manifests as mononucleosis).
"Adam Ant Is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter" is the sixth solo studio album by Adam Ant. The album's title was announced by Ant in the NME in April 2010. As per Adam's announcement at his gig in Chatham in September 2012, the new album was released on 21 January 2013 by Ant's own record label Blueblack Hussar Records. Despite the independent self-release, the album reached number 25 on the UK Albums Chart, only one place lower than its predecessor, released on the major EMI label nearly eighteen years earlier. It had previously been at number 8 in the Midweeks.
Cool Zombie
Adam Ant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A brilliant hillbilly
A cool zombie
The People there were real friendly
Flat top cats and dungarees
A cool zombie
The town of Dayton suited me
54 Pickup, eggs over easy
Took him a trip to London town
Goldfish eyes and a permanent frown
A cool zombie
We haven't seen ya in a while
Would give you anything but a smile
A cool zombie
The pink's shilling
And the body was willing
But not playing with a full deck
The dead man eyes a giveaway
His baby blues a thousand miles away
A cool zombie
(Come closer)
Dead man with a famous head
(Come closer)
Earning him a crust of bread
(Come closer)
I'll sign my book of the dead
(Come closer)
I might even sign your leg
(Come closer)
Here's my best side baby
(Come closer)
Ten words in my vocabulary
I bought an A-framed house to suit me
On top of the Vale in Tennessee
The place that made world history
The Monkey Trial of 23
Cool zombie
The kind of place a lost soul could hide
Hadn't changed since Bonnie and Clyde
This goes out to Ronnie B
The sailor man on his Harley
Showed me how good life could be
A real-life tour of God's country
The good folk there were good to me
They never ever twigged
I was a cool zombie
Yeah!
The lyrics of "Cool Zombie" by Adam Ant speak of a man who lived in Tennessee and then later moved to London. The man in question is referred to several times as a "cool zombie", a term that is not explained directly but could be interpreted as someone who is a unique, interesting individual, but perhaps emotionally disconnected or numb. The town of Dayton, Tennessee is referenced as the place he lived, and the lyrics mention the local people and their simple way of life, including "54 pickup, eggs over easy". The song also refers to the famous Monkey Trial of 1923 that took place in Dayton.
The lyrics then move to London, where the cool zombie is described as having "goldfish eyes and a permanent frown". Despite not being seen in a while, people would give him anything but a smile, which may indicate that he wasn't very approachable. The chorus repeats that he is a "cool zombie", with the dead man eyes giving him away, and his baby blues being a thousand miles away. The lyrics further describe the cool zombie as having a famous head and only ten words in his vocabulary, which is an interesting contrast to the detailed and descriptive lyrics used throughout this song.
Overall, the lyrics paint an interesting picture of an enigmatic, solitary figure who moves between different places and experiences without ever really becoming a part of them. The term "cool zombie" could be interpreted in many ways, but it seems to suggest someone who is detached from the world but still possesses a certain charisma or charm.
Line by Line Meaning
For a time he lived in Tennessee
At one point in time Adam Ant resided in Tennessee
A brilliant hillbilly
He was an intelligent southern man
A cool zombie
He felt like a unique and cool individual
The People there were real friendly
The residents of Tennessee were welcoming and kind
Flat top cats and dungarees
The dress code was simple and traditional
A cool zombie
He still felt unique and cool
The town of Dayton suited me
Dayton was the right place for him to live
54 Pickup, eggs over easy
He enjoyed the local diner's food
Zombie
He still felt unique and cool
Took him a trip to London town
He went to London
Goldfish eyes and a permanent frown
He was not impressed and always looked grumpy
A cool zombie
He still felt unique and cool in London
We haven't seen ya in a while
People noticed he had been gone for some time
Would give you anything but a smile
They weren't happy to see him again
A cool zombie
Nevertheless, he still felt unique and cool
The pink's shilling
The police may have been suspicious of him
And the body was willing
Despite his grumpiness, he still wanted to have fun
But not playing with a full deck
He knew he might not have been completely sane
The dead man eyes a giveaway
His tired eyes gave away his exhaustion
His baby blues a thousand miles away
His eyes looked distant
A cool zombie
Despite everything, he still felt unique and cool
(Come closer)
He beckons someone closer
Dead man with a famous head
He was well known, but now tired and rundown
(Come closer)
He beckons someone closer once again
Earning him a crust of bread
His fame wasn't bringing him much fortune
(Come closer)
He beckons someone to come closer another time
I'll sign my book of the dead
He promises to sign his book for fans
(Come closer)
He attempts to lure the listener closer yet again
I might even sign your leg
He might even sign his autograph on someone's leg
(Come closer)
He invites the listener to come closer yet again
Here's my best side baby
He tries to face his good side as a joke
(Come closer)
He tries to beckon again
Ten words in my vocabulary
He pokes fun at himself for not having a large vocabulary
I bought an A-framed house to suit me
He bought a house that he liked in Tennessee
On top of the Vale in Tennessee
The house was on a hill in a picturesque location
The place that made world history
The town was famous for an important event
The Monkey Trial of 23
The event in question was the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1923
Cool zombie
He still felt unique and cool in his new home
The kind of place a lost soul could hide
Tennessee was a great place to get away from it all
Hadn't changed since Bonnie and Clyde
The town had retained an old-world charm
This goes out to Ronnie B
He gives a shout-out to a local resident
The sailor man on his Harley
Ronnie B was a free spirit who rode a Harley
Showed me how good life could be
Ronnie B had taught him how to enjoy life to the fullest
A real-life tour of God's country
Tennessee was a beautiful, breathtaking state
The good folk there were good to me
The residents of Tennessee had been kind to him
They never ever twigged
They never suspected he was a unique and cool guy
I was a cool zombie
He knew he was unique and cool, even if others didn't realize it
Yeah!
He's happy, having fun, and living life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM ANT, CHRIS MCCORMACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marisaranieri2745
I saw Adam and the Ants live, at Fort Regent, Jersey, Channel Islands; in 1980. I was 15.
I queued for hours and was in the front row. It was magical; aahhh, the 80's...
@MURCHIE242
This absolutely warmed my heart. To see my hero of old return in such a strong fashion is something every single fan should be proud of. Well done to Adam on a fantastic song, and a great video.
@UmbrellaWatch
Bad ass
@mikewazowski350
Kudos to a guy who defined a decade of music and the X generation for still being able to put out good music and an equal performance. Thank you Adam!
@Newwaverose
Adam Ant is brilliant, and to get back on stage and carry on after everything he's been through is amazing... he's my idol and haters can just leave, because your opinions are unimportant....
@anfrankogezamartincic1161
Adam is cool, had "Kings of The wild frontier" back in 82,but i like it better nowdays. This video is better than i expected
@rsvsbg1608
Yesssss: they might as well stand and deliver!
@vickiebunch5703
Damn straight !His music is great, he is and was beautiful! That man fought his way through slot of darkness that the everyday person couldn't even imagine! He will always be a hero, and his music will always make me happy!
@Calmany37
This one got me again as good as dog eat dog if not better just always takes me ages to get there the girl in this is an artist so talented and the girl in the band is drop dead
@hootyhaha
Who's hating? Who could hate this or ANY of his songs? He's brilliant.