Most people model their stage names with some aspects of their birth name. Adam Ant is an exception to this rule. Not only does his stage name have nothing to do with his birth name – but it has nothing to do with an innate love of insects either.

His choice of name is about as confusing as his career’s trajectory has been, though we’re not trying to paint him in a bad light. We’ve been Adam Ant fans since he was the lead singer of Adam and the Ants, back in 1977. And while we wish that band had lasted a little longer, we have no complaints about his solo career. You can learn more about it, below.

Who is Adam Ant?

Adam’s real name is Stuart Leslie Goddard, though he hardly ever refers to himself by that. He grew up around London and showed interest in music very early as a child. That interest is what led him to start Adam and the Ants in 1977 and spurred him onto a solo career after that. His first solo album came out in 1985, and, for a while, it would be his last.

A Double Threat

When his solo debut album didn’t do that well (it failed to chart), Ant decided to turn his talents to acting. He got parts in some moderately successful UK-based films and stayed on the silver screen until the mid-’90s. When he was tired of the silver screen, he put out another solo album in 1995. That album did much better than his first and now he had his fame from movies to help back it up.

That fame helped promote the album in 1995 and his next one in 2000. Unfortunately, his next body of work didn’t come out until 2013, as a result of some mental health issues. He seems to be doing better now, and we’re glad. Hopefully, he’ll stay well enough to keep touring for years.