The Alarm

The Alarm is an alternative / new wave band from Rhyl, North Wales. They achieved some success during the 1980s with a string of hits, opening for U2 and Bob Dylan alike. They are most famous for 1983’s “Sixty Eight Guns”.

Lead Singer Mike Peters (the band’s sole continuous member), formed the band with guitarist Dave Sharp, bassist Eddie MacDonald and drummer Nigel Twist in 1977. They started life as a punk rock band known as The Toilets, not being known as the Alarm until 1981.

During the early 1980s, the Alarm released a series of singles on the IRS label including “Marching On”, “Sixty Eight Guns”, and “Rain in the Summertime”. After the release of 1991’s Raw, Mike Peters announced he was leaving the band.

In 2005, Peters discovered he was battling leukemia. He would go on to form a foundation, Love Hope Strength, to combat cancer. The Alarm continue to record and tour, with Peters on vocals and a new backing band.