Today sees the launch of Beyond Punk art exhibition at the Signal Gallery, east London, featuring early artwork of Adam Ant and his punk/new wave contemporaries including Poly Styrene, Spizz Energi and Gaye Advert who curates the exhibition.

The Signal Gallery told Ant Lib: "Adam has given us two very rare and unseen drawings from 1976, which really demonstrate his talent as an artist. We spent a great evening looking through his portfolio of work from that period with him. It was very exciting for us, as Ant fans ourselves, to look through with him, all the artwork from that early period."

The gallery is also planning to issue a strictly limited edition, signed print of one Adam's drawings from the 1970s.

Adam may not have made his tentative date at the Electric Ballroom this week but he's certainly been prowling around London's nightlife of late, with a short surprise PA at Steve Strange's new club night The Face where he performed an impromptu version of Young Parisians (pictured, above). He also popped into Peter Stringfellow's Angels club a few days later.

This Saturday 14 August, Adam is billed as Special Guest DJ for Shabba Dabba Da III at Avalon, Shoreditch High Street E1 6JE.

• Find out more on the Beyond Punk exhibition here
• Find out more on The Face clubnight over at Facebook here
• Read Peter Stringfellow's blog post on Adam's club visit here
• Add yourself to the Shabba Dabba Da III £5 guestlist here

Photo: Gerard McNamara

We all know from his autobiography that Adam has a prolific eye for the ladies, but it would seem he's replaced his Pirate Extravaganza with an ALL FEMALE band for forthcoming London shows over the summer months.

Currently in rehearsals in east London, Adam is working with a new backing band featuring original Babyshambles drummer Gemma Clarke for a revamped live set which includes a large chunk of tracks from unreleased solo project Persuasion for a rumoured show at the Electric Ballroom on Thursday 12 August.

Also in the band is Gemma's pal Claire Wakeman, lead guitarist/vocalist with the Suffrajets and underground NME darlings The Krak. It is understood the only remaining member of Adam's original 2010 live band is guitarist Miles Davis Landesman who has been quite open about the Electric Ballroom show on his Facebook page.

There are t's to be crossed and i's to be dotted first, but look out for official confirmation from the promoters early next week relating to forthcoming live Adam Ant shows.

In the meantime, there will be a hint of Ant essence for the Spear of Destiny gig at Electrowerkz (Slimelight), London EC1V 1NQ on Saturday 24 July - with Marco's mates Department S, Pirate Extravaganza's The Cesarians, and Ant Lib All Dayer 2007 openers Dead Heaven supporting; plus Ant Lib's Madam Stan will be DJing the aftershow. Simply tell the door staff "There's a whip in my valise" for half price entry (£7) all night - bargain!