Vive Le Rock


Vive Le Rock is the third solo album by Adam Ant, released in September 1985.

Production

The album was a realisation 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. Most re-releases did not feature this track until Columbia Records re-released the album in 2005.
"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.
;Side one
  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
;Side two
  2. "Apollo 9" – 3:22
  3. "Hell's Eight Acres" – 3:51
  4. "Mohair Lockeroom Pin-Up Boys" – 3:14
  5. "No Zap" – 3:14
  6. "P.O.E." – 3:24
  7. "Apollo 9 " – 1:32
;CD and cassette versions bonus track
  2. "Human Bondage Den" - 3:07
;2005 reissue bonus tracks
  2. "Vive Le Rock" - 7:28
  3. "Apollo 9" - 3:41
  4. "Doggy Style" - 3:48
  5. "Night They Vietcong" - 3:06
  6. "Big Big Man" - 3:28
  7. "Rip Down" - 3:15
  8. "Apollo 9" - 6:46
  9. "Vive Le Rock" - 3:49

    Personnel

; Technical