▁An ts ▁were ▁an ▁English ▁rock ▁band ▁active ▁during ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁and ▁early ▁ 1 9 8 0 s . ▁The ▁group , ▁which ▁last ed ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 2 , ▁existed ▁in ▁two ▁inc arn ations , ▁both ▁front ed ▁by ▁Adam ▁Ant . ▁The ▁first , ▁founded ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁and ▁known ▁simply ▁as ▁The ▁An ts ▁until ▁November ▁that ▁year , ▁achieved ▁considerable ▁cult ▁popular ity ▁during ▁the ▁transition ▁from ▁the ▁punk ▁rock ▁era ▁to ▁the ▁post - p unk ▁and ▁new ▁wave ▁era , ▁and ▁were ▁noted ▁for ▁their ▁high ▁camp ▁and ▁over t ly ▁sexual ised ▁stage ▁performances ▁and ▁songs . ▁The ▁final ▁line - up ▁of ▁this ▁first ▁inc arn ation ▁– ▁Dave ▁Bar bar ossa , ▁Matthew ▁Ash man ▁and ▁Le igh ▁G orm an ▁– ▁left ▁the ▁band ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁at ▁the ▁suggestion ▁of ▁then - de ▁fact o ▁manager ▁Mal col m ▁Mc L aren , ▁to ▁form ▁the ▁instrument al ist ▁personnel ▁of ▁the ▁controvers ial ▁Bow ▁W ow ▁W ow . ▁ ▁The ▁second ▁inc arn ation ▁of ▁Adam ▁and ▁the ▁An ts ▁featured ▁guitar ist ▁Marco ▁Pir ron i ▁and ▁drum mer - produ cer ▁Chris ▁Hugh es , ▁and ▁was ▁noted ▁for ▁its ▁use ▁of ▁Bur und i ▁drums . ▁It ▁last ed ▁from ▁February ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁to ▁March ▁ 1 9 8 2