The year was 1975, and London’s underground music scene was on the cusp of a revolution. At the center of this brewing storm stood a young Stuart Goddard, soon to be known as Adam Ant, whose short-lived tenure as the bassist for the pub rock band Bazooka Joe would soon take a dramatic turn. Unbeknownst to many at the time, this pivotal moment in music history would catalyze the rise of punk rock and the creation of Adam Ant, one of its most iconic figures.
Bazooka Joe, fronted by Danny Kleinman, was a band that catered to the conventional tastes of London’s pub-goers. They played a blend of glam rock and pub rock, thriving in the local scene but remaining firmly outside the growing punk movement. On November 6, 1975, they unknowingly booked a support act for one of their gigs that would change everything—the Sex Pistols, an unknown and raucous group led by John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) and guitarist Steve Jones. This would be the Pistols’ debut performance, and it was anything but conventional.
What followed was a chaotic and confrontational gig that shocked the audience and rattled the foundations of Bazooka Joe. The Sex Pistols didn’t just perform—they tore through the conventions of rock and roll with a raw, aggressive sound that sent ripples through the British music scene. The night ended in a fistfight between the two bands, but it was clear to many that the Pistols were a new breed of musical rebellion, and punk rock had arrived.
For Stuart Goddard, this was a moment of revelation. He was enamored by the intensity and anarchistic energy of the Pistols’ performance. Days after the gig, he was unceremoniously booted from Bazooka Joe, likely due to a mix of internal tension and his growing obsession with the emerging punk scene. But being kicked out of the band was a blessing in disguise. Goddard was inspired to reinvent himself. Soon after, he adopted the name Adam Ant and set about forming his own band, diving headfirst into the punk ethos.
The incident not only marked Adam Ant’s departure from Bazooka Joe but also served as the genesis of his transformation into one of punk’s most distinctive figures. His vision of combining punk energy with a flamboyant, tribal style would go on to influence a generation of musicians. The Sex Pistols’ debut wasn’t just the spark of anarchy—it was the catalyst for a movement that redefined music, and it set the stage for Adam Ant’s own rebellious anthem.