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A documentary about Adam Ant's history with mental illness and his 2013 musical comeback will screen for the first time in L.A. this week. The Blueback Hussar is a documentary from filmmaker Jack Bond that follows Adam Ant's return to the stage, and it will screen at Cinefamily in West Hollywood tomorrow.
Adam Ant, now 61, was born Stuart Leslie Goddard in Marylebone, London. He started out as the frontman for Adam & the Ants, but went off on his own in 1982. He had a string of hits, including "Goody Two Shoes" and "Friend or Foe." Despite being a huge rock star, Ant struggled with personal issues. Ant was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, among other mental illnesses. He ran into legal troubles and spent some time institutionalized.
In 2013, Ant released Adam Ant Is The Blueblack Hussar In Marrying The Gunnar's Daughter. Ant currently refuses to do interviews, but he did allow Bond to film him as he prepared to return to the stage. Bond filmed Ant throughout 2010 and 2011.
Bond has previously created films about personalities such as surrealist artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Wener Herzog, author Ronald Dahl, actress Charlotte Rampling and author Patricia Highsmith.
Bond told LA Weekly that The Blueblack Hussar shows a man who was an '80s rock god recovering from his lowest point. "He had lost his health, his career, his self esteem, and was seemingly a figure alone wandering in the dark. It was the story of his endearing struggle to redefine himself, to recreate himself with whatever tools he still had to hand. Amazingly, and to my delight, he still had it all after 15 years in the wilderness."
When the Blueblack Hussar screens at Cinefamily tomorrow, Bond will appear via Skype will producer Mary-Rose Storey will appear in person.
The Blueblack Hussar plays at Cinefamily on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12, or free for members. Cinefamily is located at 611 N Fairfax Ave in West Hollywood, 323-655-2510.
