Adam Ant

Dressed like a New Wave swashbuckler with an ubiquitous stripe painted across his face, Adam Ant rose out of the punk scene to become a New Romantic superstar in the United Kingdom and, to a lesser extent, the United States. Leading Adam and the Ants to chart success with catchy, beat-heavy songs including "Antmusic," "Stand & Deliver," "Prince Charming" and "Desperate but Not Serious," he went solo with the global smash "Goody Two Shoes." The charismatic chameleon ruled early MTV with his sexy presence in colorful music videos and easily segued into acting with a steady stream of credits. As musical tastes changed, Ant evolved, continuing to notch hits. Originally dismissed as a lightweight oddity, Adam Ant and his output eventually enjoyed a critical and popular reevaluation, and the singer finally received the credit for the impressive breadth of his unique genius and far-reaching influence.