Ant-Bee

{{Short description|American experimental musician and writer}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| image =

| name = Billy James

| birth_name = Billy James

| alias = Ant-Bee

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|11|11}}
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

| death_date = March 15 2025

| origin =

| instrument = drums, percussion, vocals

| genre = Rock, jazz, experimental

| occupation = Musician, writer, publicist

| years_active = 1977–2025

| label =

| associated_acts = Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention

| website =

}}

Billy James (November 11, 1960 - March 15 2025), better known by his stage name Ant-Bee, was an American experimental musician and writer. In his musical work, he focused on a revival of 1960s style psychedelic rock, working with members of The Mothers of Invention; the original members of the Alice Cooper group, and Captain Beefheart's Magic Band.

Founder of Glass Onyon PR, he represented music artists including King Crimson, Jon Anderson, Michael Bruce, Greg Lake, Mitch Mitchell, John Wetton, and others. As a recording artist with the name ANT-BEE, he was a multi-instrumentalist who has recorded and performed with musicians including members of the original Alice Cooper group Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith; the original Mothers of Invention; Bruce Cameron, and others; and produced his four solo albums.

As a writer, he has co-authored and authored biographies of musicians including Michael Bruce, Todd Rundgren, and others.Billy James professional biography (2011). No author byline. http://www.getreadytorockradio.com/glassonyon.htm . Retrieved 12 August 2020.Billy James interview. Hill, Gary (2011). Music Street Journal. http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/artists_interview_display.cfm?id=100496 . Retrieved 12 August 2020.Billy James discography as ANT-BEE (2020). Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1312260-Ant-Bee . Retrieved 12 August 2020.

In the 1990s James performed and recorded with musicians including Michael Bruce, whose autobiography James co-authored, "No More Mr Nice Guy: The Inside Story of the Alice Cooper Group", first published in 1996.