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On this day, 15 November 1981, new wave rockers Bow Wow Wow played Cardiff’s Top Rank, supported by Bristol roots/reggae band Talisman.
Created by former Sex Pistol’s manager Malcolm McLaren in 1980. McLaren recruited members of Adam and the Ants to form the band behind 13-year-old Annabella Lwin on vocals. They released their debut EP Your Cassette Pet in 1980, and had their first UK top 10 hit with "Go Wild in the Country" in 1982.
The band's music was characterized by a danceable new wave sound that drew on a Burundi beat provided by Dave Barbarossa on drums, as well as the subversive, suggestive, and sometimes exuberant lyrics sung and chanted by their teenage lead vocalist.
In 1981, after splitting from EMI, Bow Wow Wow signed with A&R head Bill Kimber at the U.K. division of RCA Records.
In October of that year, their first full-length album was released: See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah, City All Over! Go Ape Crazy! The cover photograph (by Andy Earl) depicted the band recreating Édouard Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe with a then 14-year-old Lwin posing nude, with her side turned toward the camera and arm and leg positioned to hide explicit content. The cover caused outrage and Lwin was almost made to quit the band due to the controversy.
Lwin's mother alleged exploitation of a minor for immoral purposes and instigated a Scotland Yard investigation. As a result, the band was forbidden to leave the UK until McLaren promised not to promote Annabella as a "sex kitten".
Regardless, the photo appeared a second time on the cover of the band's follow-up EP The Last of the Mohicans.
Setlist
W.O.R.K.
Chihuahua
Prince of Darkness
Golly! Golly! Go Buddy!
See Jungle (Jungle Boy)
Elimination Dancing
Go Wild in the Country
Orang-Outang
Radio G String
Giant Sized Baby Thing
Uomo Sex Al Apache
C30 C60 C90 Go!
Louis Quatorze
Sun, Sea and Piracy
