Bow Wow Wow

Bow Wow Wow were assembled by Malcolm McLaren in 1980, built around the rhythm section of Adam and the Ants — Dave Barbarossa, Matthew Ashman, and Leigh Gorman — after McLaren engineered their departure from Adam Ant. The teenage Annabella Lwin was recruited as vocalist, and the combination of her raw energy, the band's tribal rhythms, and McLaren's provocateur instincts produced something genuinely exciting.

Their early singles on EMI — 'C·30 C·60 C·90 Go!' and 'W.O.R.K.' — were provocative and energetic, drawing on Burundi drumming and post-punk energy in ways that felt new. 'See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah, City All Over! Go Ape Crazy!' (1981) was their debut album, a confident and inventive record. 'I Want Candy' (1982) became their biggest hit, a cover of the Strangelove song that reached the top thirty.

The band dissolved in 1983 following internal tensions and McLaren's departure. Lwin has continued to perform under the Bow Wow Wow name in various configurations over the years. Their influence on the tribal rhythms and provocative imagery of 1980s pop has been considerable, and their best work remains genuinely thrilling.