Zerox (song)

"Zerox"
Single by Adam and the Ants
from the album Dirk Wears White Sox
B-side	Whip in My Valise
Released	6 July 1979
Format	vinyl record (7")
Genre	New wave, post-punk
Length	3:45
Label	Do It Records
Writer(s)	Adam Ant
Producer(s)	Adam Ant
Adam and the Ants singles chronology
"Young Parisians" (1978) "Zerox" (1979) "Cartrouble" (1980)

"Zerox" is a stand alone single written by Adam Ant for Adam and the Ants. Adam's ever changing line-up of Ants on this track include Dave Barbarossa on drums, Matthew Ashman on guitar & Andy Warren on bass guitar.

The title is a reference to the Xerox photocopier. Whereas Xerox machines are used to make paper copies of documents and other visual images, it is used as a metaphor for plagiarism in the song's lyrics (example: I'm never bored, I'll steal your chords).^[1]

The title also reference's David Bowie's description of himself as "a human Xerox Machine". On some early versions of the song, Ant can be heard singing "David Bowie's a Xerox machine" on the coda. In one such version, a demo recorded August 1978 at Decca's Broadhurst Gardens studio, this line is sung in a similar high pitched tone to that employed on Bowie's early single "The Laughing Gnome".

Promotion

The song was an early favourite among "Antpeople," and was performed at a John Peel session on 10 July 1978. Adam and the Ants signed with Camden based independent record label Do It Records after leaving Decca Records. Do It had the band in the studio almost immediately after signing, with "Zerox" being the result.^[2]

The band had developed a strong cult following and embarked on a major UK tour prior to the single's release on 6 July 1979. Do It, meanwhile, did a series of UK music press advertisements. It was the band's second single, and the first to be supported by a music video.

The song was a number one hit on the UK Indie Chart, but failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart upon its initial release. Following the success of their second album, Kings of the Wild Frontier, it reached number 45 in January 1981 upon re-release.^[3]

Different versions of the 7" single

Despite the fact that "Whip In My Valise" is credited as the single's B-side, 2000 copies of the single pressed in July 1980 instead have the song "Physical" (a version later featured on The B Sides single & Antmusic EP). This was done at the instruction of Do It chief Ian Tregoning who liked this recording. His enthusiasm was not shared by Ant, who later that year put out the song on the B-Side of his second single for CBS Records, "Dog Eat Dog." On which, Ant can be heard saying, "Eat your heart out Do It! You can't do it, can ya?"

The song Zerox was originally entitled "I'm A Xerox Machine," and was intended to be the second of two singles for Decca Records, with Kick as the B-Side. These versions were recorded November 1978 at RAK Studios, produced by Snips. Ant planned to include the band's "Antmanifesto" as an insert with the single. For the eventual release of Zerox, these recordings were discarded in favour of the May 1979 Roundhouse recording. A spoof Decca label for the A-Side, under the title "Zerox Machine (I'm A)" was printed in issue 3 of Ant fanzine Antics In The 90s in 1993.

Client version

"Zerox Machine"
Single by Client
from the album Heartland
B-side	"Loosetalking"
Released	15 January 2007
Format	CD single, digital download, 7" single, 12" single
Genre	Electroclash
Length	4:08
Label	Loser Friendly
Writer(s)	Adam Ant
Producer(s)	Youth
Client singles chronology
"Lights Go Out" (2006) "Zerox Machine" (2007) "Drive" (2007)

English electronic group Client cover "Zerox" on their third studio album, Heartland (2007). Released as the album's second single, it is their first release since they parted ways with Toast Hawaii. Client calls their version of the song "Zerox Machine."

Track listings

UK 7" single (LFS05)

A. "Zerox Machine" – 4:05

B. "Zerox Machine" (Jonny Slut/Atomizermix) – 4:43

UK 12" single (LFSX05)

A. "Zerox Machine" (N-Joi Remix) – 7:05

B. "Zerox Machine" (IDC Remix) – 5:00

U.S. CD single (MET 470)

1. "Zerox Machine"
2. "Loosetalking"
3. "Zerox Machine" (IDC Mix)
4. "Zerox Machine" (Jonny Slut/Atomizermix)
5. "Zerox Machine" (Robert Görl Strange Pistol Mix) – 3:32
6. "Zerox Machine" (Club Mix by Covenant)

German promo CD single (LTD 21)

1. "Zerox Machine" (Edit) – 4:14
2. "Zerox Machine" (Terence Fixmer Remix) – 5:33
3. "Zerox Machine" (Covenant Remix) – 4:25
4. "Zerox Machine" (Robert Görl Strange Pistol Mix) – 3:32

Charts

Chart (2007)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[4]	199

References

1. Ant, Adam. "Zerox". Swishgrade Ltd./EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
2. Ant, Adam. "Zerox". Adam-Ant.net. Swishgrade Ltd./EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
3. "Adam And The Ants - Zerox". Punky Gibbon.
4. "Chart Log UK: 1994–2008". The Official Charts Company. Zobbel.de. Retrieved 21 October 2010.

External links

• Zerox by Adam and the Ants on YouTube
• Zerox (song) at Discogs (list of releases)