Formed in 1980 by Malcolm McLaren after the demise of the Sex Pistols, Bow Wow Wow were originally members of Adam And The Ants. On McLaren's advice, they recruited a 14-year-old singer named Myint Myint Aye (Burmese for "High High Cool"), who was later renamed Annabella Lwin.

Typified by Burundi-style drumming and Lwin's singing—which veered between screaming and ritual chants—Bow Wow Wow saw some early success in the UK after signing with RCA. They scored a minor hit in the US with their cover of the classic 1965 single "I Want Candy," originally by US group The Strangeloves. Their first US LP was released in 1982 amid controversy over the cover which depicted the young singer nude with the rest of the group (clothed). The band split in 1984 with the young singer pursuing a solo career as "Annabella", while the rest became "Chiefs Of Relief". Bow Wow Wow eventually reunited in some capacity during the mid 1990's.