Bow Wow Wow were an English new wave band, created by manager Malcolm McLaren in 1980. McLaren famously recruited members of Adam and the Ants to form the band behind 13-year-old Annabella Lwin on vocals.
At one stage John O'Dowd (later Boy George) was a co-vocalist in the band.
They released their debut EP 'Your Cassette Pet' in 1980, which I played endlessly from this they relased their first single, "C·30 C·60 C·90 Go!", shortly thereafter.Initially released only on cassette, it was the world's first-ever cassette single (a 7" vinyl version was released several months later).
EMI did not promote the "cassingle" due to its lyrics, which promoted home taping at a time when music piracy was a hot issue.
In 1981, after splitting from EMI, Bow Wow Wow signed with 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 depicted the band recreating Édouard Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe with a then 14-year-old Lwin posing nude. 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 sexual object. Regardless, the photo appeared a second time on the cover of the band's follow-up EP 'The Last of the Mohicans'.
They 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 suggestive lyrics squealed into the mic by their teenage lead vocalist.