Formed in Wales in 1977, The Alarm, originally called The Toilets, moved to London in 1981 and self-released their debut single, "Unsafe Building."
"In 1982, they signed with IRS Records and issued another single, 'Marching On.' On the strength of their live shows, U2 tapped them to open their 1983 supporting tour for War, which helped make the group's next single, the Stephen King retelling 'The Stand' into an underground hit."
The Alarm's self-titled debut EP "appeared later in 1983, compiling previous single releases, and setting the stage for the release of their first proper album, Declaration, in 1984. A top ten U.K. hit, Declaration spun off several popular singles, including 'Sixty-Eight Guns,' (which made the top 20) 'Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke?,' 'The Deceiver,' and the live staple 'Blaze of Glory.' Non-LP singles followed in a cover of 'The Bells of Rhymney,' the new wave dance tune 'The Chant (Has Just Begun),' and the British Top 40 hit 'Absolute Reality.'"
The Alarm's sophomore effort, 1985's Strength "was another U.K. success, and brought them into the Top 40 of the U.S. album charts for the first time. Additionally, the single 'Spirit of 76' was a Top 40 U.K. hit. Strength displayed greater subtlety and maturity in both their songwriting and arrangements, and was often hailed as the group's best overall album."
The Alarm took a break after the supporting tour and returned in 1987 with "Eye of the Hurricane, which featured more polished, mainstream production. The album helped them gain some rock radio play in America with the singles 'Presence of Love,' 'Rescue Me,' and especially the more danceable 'Rain in the Summertime.'"
A concert EP, Electric Folklore: Live, followed in 1988.
1989's Change was an "homage to the group's native Wales, and was accompanied by an alternate Welsh-language version, Newid. Produced by Tony Visconti, Change spawned the group's biggest modern rock radio hit in America, 'Sold Me Down the River,' which also put them in the U.S. pop Top 50 for the first and only time."
Raw was The Alarm's final effort, and "The Road" was their final radio hit. The original members of The Alarm appeared together on the VH1 show Bands Reunited in 2005.
In December 2005 Mike learned he had leukaemia, 10 years after beating it the first time. In his first newspaper interview since being diagnosed, Mike revealed he was responding well to chemotherapy. On Feb. 20, 2006, The Alarm released their latest album Under Attack.
PETERS WAS RECENTLY VOTED #11 IN AN ON-LINE POLL OF 100 WELSH HEROES.
God speed.
Quoted material: poemhunter.com
