ADAM ANT-THE NAKED TRUTH

What was all the fuss about? Has the healthy-living Adam actually got one or two unhealthy obsessions? Does he see himself as a rival to Frankie in the outrage stakes?

We asked the questions. Adam provided the bare essentials...

HUW: Earlier this year you were voted The sexiest Man of 1984 by the American magazine, 'Rock'. What did you do to deserve such a title?

ADAM: I'm not sure. I was surprised as anyone else by that. Previous winners have been people like Sting, Bowie and Simon Le Bon. It's a very strange feeling to have people voting about your sexiness. Of course, the Americans did see the 'Strip' video and show which weren't seen in Britain, so maybe that helped. I'm waiting for my prize to arrive now.

HUW: Why did we never get to see the 'Strip' video and show?

ADAM: The BBC banned the video of 'Strip'. I had intended to tour with the show, but after the video was banned, my plans went out the window.

HUW: What was so shocking about the video?

ADAM: Nothing. I’m still mystified as to all the fuss it caused. They said that I was doing certain things in the video which I certainly wasn't. I never intended it to be sensational.

HUW: When 'Relax' was banned, it seemed to do nothing but good for Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Why didn't the controversy about your video help you in the same way?

ADAM: 'Relax' was a freak situation. It’s the first time something like that has happened since The Sex Pistols caused a lot of fuss when they appeared on Bill Grundy's TV show. Bill Grundy made The Sex Pistols successful and I think Mike Read will. go down in history as making Frankie Goes To Hollywood successful. But controversy works against me because my success has never been based on controversy. I was very shocked by the ban.

"My work has always had a very sexual nature."

HUW: If there was nothing shocking in your video, why did the BBC object?

ADAM: The reason I was given was that I'd forgotten who my audience was. That puzzled me because I have no age-limit on my records. My work has always had a very sexual nature. I have never made bubblegum, teenybop records in my life, Adam and the Ants were playing in punk clubs for years before we had any commercial success. When I went on to do things like The Royal Variety Performance and the Cannon and Ball Show, people misinterpreted that and thought I was trying to be a 'family entertainer.' I just did it because it seemed more fun than doing the very serious music programmes.

HUW: It's fairly well known that you don't smoke or drink, and you don't go out to clubs much either. What do you do for fun these days?

ADAM: There are two basic luxuries in my life. One is getting cabs everywhere because I don't drive. And the other is eating out. I go to lots of nice, private restaurants where I'm sure I won't be seen and know there won't be any Press there. The waiters all know me and they know that I'm not going to do anything silly like come in with a guitar and start blasting the walls down. They almost protect me from other people, which is nice.

HUW: What sort of food do you like?

ADAM: Anything as long as it's good. I've been touring all over America for the last two years and in that time I’ve had to eat a lot of really awful food. My metabolism went crazy. So now that I'm back in Britain I want to make up for all that. There's better food available in Britain than there is in France if you know where to look. Most of the time I eat plenty of fish and vegetables.

"I don't think I’m dirty."

HUW: Are you very health conscious?

ADAM: Not particularly. I know what's good for me and I know what's bad for me. But sometimes the bad things are very good so I have them anyway.

HUW: In some ways you seem to have a very Puritanical approach to life. You've never been a part of the hard living hard drinking brigade. You're anti-drinking, anti-drugs and you say you like to keep regular hours. You almost sound like a modern version of Cliff Richard - if it wasn't for all the sexual overtones.

ADAM: I don't see why I should ruin my body and my life just because I happen to be in pop music. And even though I am a very sexual performer, I don't think I’m dirty.

HUW: O.K., so what did go on in the ‘Strip' show that we never saw in Britain?

ADAM: Well, first I'd better explain that the whole theme of 'Strip' wasn't what it seemed. 'What I was trying to do was to reverse people’s expectations of me. I've always been thought of as somebody who dresses up a lot. This time I was going to take things off rather than put them on. I ended up getting into a tank of water on stage. It was very dangerous because of the electricity and the UK safety regulations wouldn't permit it. I did a sort of strip-tease, ending up wearing nothing but leg warmers and shorts. Then I'd throw away the leg warmers.

HUW: And the shorts?

ADAM: Oh no. I can assure you it was all done in the best possible taste!