Led by Adam Ant (real name Stuart Goddard), the band formed in 1977 in London, England, consisting of Lester Square (guitar), Andy Warren (bass guitar) and Paul Flanagan (drums). Square was replaced by Mark Gaumont early in the band's career, before the release of their debut album Dirk Wears White Sox (1979, Do It Records). The album was somewhat dark, with post punk riffs and some vestiges of glam rock. The album was not a success, so Adam and the Ants hired Malcolm McLaren (manager of the Sex Pistols) to help with their image.
While preparing for their second album, McLaren convinced the Ants to leave Adam and form Bow Wow Wow. A new version of the Ants was formed by Marco Pirroni (guitar), Kevin Mooney (bass guitar) and two drummers, Terry Lee Miall and Merrick. Pirroni would go on to become an influential member of the group, and cowrite many of their songs with Adam Ant.
The band signed a major label deal with CBS Records and began recording Kings of the Wild Frontier. That album was an enormous hit in the United Kingdom and put the band at the forefront of the New Romantic moment. The album reached #1 on the UK album charts on January 24, 1981.
There were several hit singles from this LP, including Dog Eat Dog (reaching #4 on the UK singles charts in October 1980), Ant Music (#2 in January 1981) and Kings of the Wild Frontier (#2 in March 1981). In addition, Antmusic made it to No.1 in Australia for five weeks.
Bassist Kevin Mooney left the band in 1981, and was replaced with Gary Tibbs who joined just in time to record the hit single "Stand and Deliver".
In November 1981 Adam and the Ants released another highly successful album, Prince Charming. The band had two United Kingdom #1 singles. "Stand and Deliver" was the #1 single in the UK for 5 weeks in May 1981, followed by "Prince Charming", which topped the UK charts, for 4 weeks in September 1981. "Antrap" reached #3 in January, 1982.
The band seized the opportunities provided by music videos on the new MTV channel to develop a theatrical, charismatic onscreen persona. With romantic costumes and heavy make-up, the band was an early example of the New Romantic movement, with contemporaries such as Duran Duran dressing similarly. Lavish videos were produced for the Prince Charming singles, including Stand and Deliver, Prince Charming, and Ant Rap. In the Stand and Deliver video, Adam Ant is dressed as a "dandy highwayman" and generally indulges his exhibitionist tendencies. These videos helped break the band in the United States when MTV began airing them.
In early 1982 the band received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist.
Zerox
Adam and the Ants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because I'm here again
I'm never bored to steal your chords
Ooh-ooh Zerox Machine
Ooh-ooh Zerox Machine
Give me a line
Or a middle eight
Ooh-ooh Zerox machine
Ooh-ooh Zerox machine
Lets get together before its too late
Collect up the ideas, duplicate
Filling up the forms, send them off tonight
And you'll be the owner of the copyright
Of the copyright, of the copyright
Time of the essence get your ears to the
Ground
However else can the hits be found?
I may look happy, healthy and clean
A dark brown c voice and suit pristine
But behind the smile there is a Zerox
Machine
I'm a Zerox machine
The song "Zerox" by Adam and the Ants is all about the process of replicating and copying creative ideas, specifically with regards to music. The song is told from the perspective of someone who is constantly looking for new ideas to copy and synthesize, specifically in the form of chord progressions and lyrics. The lyrics warn listeners to "lock up your brain" because the singer is always on the lookout for new material to use for their own creative purposes.
The chorus of the song celebrates the concept of the "Zerox Machine", which is a nod to the Xerox machine, a popular copying technology at the time the song was written. The Zerox Machine is used metaphorically to represent the idea of copying and duplicating ideas, lyrics, and chord progressions. The singer is essentially bragging about their ability to replicate and create new material from pre-existing ideas.
The song explores the themes of originality, creativity, and the boundaries between inspiration and theft. While it might seem like a cautionary tale about the dangers of copying other people's work, the song actually celebrates the idea of taking inspiration from different sources and using it to create something new.
Line by Line Meaning
Lock up your brain
I am someone who takes the ideas of others and replicates them, so please guard your creative thoughts
Because I'm here again
I have returned to take inspiration from your work once more
I'm never bored to steal your chords
I always find new material to copy and make my own
Ooh-ooh Zerox Machine
I am a machine that duplicates the ideas of others
Give me a line
Share your lyrics or melody with me
Or a middle eight
Perhaps you have a catchy chorus ready for me
I've got the best so I want the rest
I believe I have a superior ability to select and replicate the best content
Lets get together before its too late
Let's collaborate and duplicate your ideas before someone else does
Collect up the ideas, duplicate
Let's gather all of the inspirations and create copies
Filling up the forms, send them off tonight
Submitting the forms with the duplicated content immediately
And you'll be the owner of the copyright
Once the forms are submitted, you will have legal ownership over the replicated material
Of the copyright, of the copyright
Once the copyright is secured, it is valuable property to protect
Time of the essence get your ears to the ground
We must act quickly and stay aware of new trends and inspirations
However else can the hits be found?
In order to produce popular music, we must continue to replicate and imitate what is currently successful
I may look happy, healthy and clean
I may appear as a stylish and successful musician
A dark brown c voice and suit pristine
With a unique vocal style and impeccable fashion sense
But behind the smile there is a Zerox Machine
However, my true talent lies in my ability to duplicate and replicate the work of others
I'm a Zerox machine
I am a talentless hack who relies on imitation rather than originality
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADAM ANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Kelly14UK
One of Adam's finest, finest moments is this version of Zerox. It will never leave my Top 5 Adam songs.
@govinda102000
Yep. Best speed and best time for his music. I wore out this cassette.
@mikeace5831
This is a sweet gem underrated great song
@antstead2329
The best Ants song to me. Wonderful...
@brettkoeshall2325
Adam and the Ants do rock especially back in 1979.
@jasonwilliams7752
Always preferred the B-Side, Whip In My Valise
@68marconi
Killer track !
@jamierichardson6705
still got this on 7" in pic bag
@malwaretestingfan
Great song.
@markgreet3543
Zerox was number one if it was on cassette