Vive Le Rock

Production

Producer Tony Visconti, famous for his 1970's work with Ant's heroes Marc Bolan and David Bowie, commented on his work with Adam on Vive Le Rock: "What a creative ball of energy! He was great to work with. He's very opinionated and knows what he wants. We didn't quite agree during the mixes, he kind of wanted everything very trebly and I'm a bassey kind of producer."

The album was a realization of the new "rockers in space" ethic and look Adam Ant had begun with the hit UK single "Apollo 9" in September 1984, which peaked at number 13.

Release

This album at first received only minor attention in the United States, peaking only at number 131. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 42. One single from the album was released in the US – the title track "Vive Le Rock". The 12th track "Human Bondage Den" was released on the original cassette and CD release of this album (as a bonus non-LP track). Most re-releases did not feature this track until Columbia Records re-released the album in 2005 (along with seven other bonus tracks).

Many say Vive Le Rock's commercial failure was that Adam's new concept did not click with the buying public. However, one could possibly attribute the failure of the album to the fact that it was so long in coming; "Apollo 9" was a hit a year before Vive Le Rock's release. Ant has stated in his autobiography, Stand and Deliver, that "Vive Le Rock"'s failure and the fact that his then-current record label was unwilling to work heavily on promotion for the album left him depressed and unenthusiastic about his future in music. This may have led to his decision to work heavily on his acting career and put his music career on hold until the release of Manners & Physique in 1990. However, in the same book, Ant discusses his performance at Live Aid, where the band before him played over their allotted time, so he could only play one song. He chose the current single, "Vive Le Rock." While his acrobatic performance left him winded, he states that "as Bowie played 'TVC15', 'Rebel Rebel' and 'Heroes', I gaped in awe. Here was a lesson in how to be a star. How far I had yet to go."

Track listing

All songs written by Adam Ant and Marco Pirroni.

1. "Vive Le Rock" – 3:39
2. "Miss Thing" – 3:08
3. "Razor Keen" – 3:49
4. "Rip Down" – 3:23
5. "Scorpio Rising" – 4:04

6. "Apollo 9" – 3:22
7. "Hell's Eight Acres" – 3:51
8. "Mohair Lockeroom Pin-Up Boys" – 3:14
9. "No Zap" – 3:14
10. "P.O.E." – 3:24
11. "Apollo 9 (Acapella Reprise)" – 1:32 (secret track)

12. "Human Bondage Den" - 3:07

13. "Vive Le Rock" (Unreleased 12" Mix) - 7:28
14. "Apollo 9" (Unreleased Francois K 7" Mix) - 3:41
15. "Doggy Style" (Unreleased demo track) - 3:48
16. "Night They Vietcong" (Unreleased demo track) - 3:06
17. "Big Big Man" (Unreleased demo track) - 3:28
18. "Rip Down" (Demo version) - 3:15
19. "Apollo 9" (Francois K Splashdown Mix) - 6:46
20. "Vive Le Rock" (Unreleased US 7" Mix) - 3:49

Personnel