The Alarm singer dies aged 66

Mike Peters, entrance man of Welsh rockers The Alarm and a long-standing most cancers campaigner and fundraiser, has died aged 66.

His band was fashioned in 1981 in Rhyl, Denbighshire, out of the punk period and had a high 20 hit, Sixty Eight Weapons, two years later.

It typified an anthemic model of tune however their unpretentious and down-to-earth strategy earned loyal followings on either side of the Atlantic.

Peters lived with blood most cancers for 30 years, following his prognosis of lymphoma in 1995, and later having continual lymphocytic leukaemia twice.

He was born in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, and lived in Dyserth along with his spouse of 39 years, Jules – who had fought her personal most cancers battle – and their sons Dylan, 20 and Evan, 18.

He was awarded the MBE in 2019 for his providers to most cancers care.

Peters – who had labored within the laptop division for Kwik Save grocery store – had began the band The Bathrooms in Rhyl in 1977, after seeing the Intercourse Pistols play in Chester.

After numerous modifications of line-up, notably the introduction of guitarist Dave Sharp, and modifications of title, The Alarm performed their first gig in Prestatyn in 1981.

They might go on to promote an estimated 5 million data and likewise grow to be the primary Welsh musicians since Tom Jones and Bonnie Tyler to crack America.

Due to a help slot with U2 on their 1983 US tour, The Alarm gained a transatlantic following – not an inconsiderable achievement.

Their debut album Declaration was launched in 1984. In addition to Sixty Eight Weapons, it additionally included one other favorite, Blaze of Glory.

The band had honed their reside performances by intensive touring, and had been additionally dependable “go-to” help selection for large names – which included Bob Dylan, Queen and U2 once more – together with an appreciative crowd at Cardiff’s Nationwide Stadium in 1987.

Regardless of their travels, The Alarm nonetheless had sturdy bonds with their homeland and Peters was capable of reside quietly in north Wales.

The band additionally launched a Welsh-language model of their 1989 album Change, known as Newid.

Peters introduced from the stage in London that he was quitting The Alarm in 1991 however continued to work with The Poets Of Justice, the line-up together with his spouse Jules.

In 1999, Peters labored with The Cult guitarist Billy Duffy forming a band known as Coloursound.

Duffy mentioned he felt the Welshman “impressed tens of millions of individuals” throughout his profession.

“(Music) was his lifeblood. Every thing was an inspiration for him to precise his emotions by music,” he added.

He reformed The Alarm in 2000 and likewise labored because the singer for Huge Nation for a few years from 2011.

The Alarm has bought greater than 5 million albums and had 16 UK High 50 singles.

Tv presenter, and former The Alarm roadie, Gareth Jones mentioned Mike Peters has been the “most vital individual” in his life.

He even gave him his nickname Gaz High, which has caught to this present day.

“I might have by no means had a profession if it wasn’t for him and it is a arduous day to know that he is not round anymore,” he mentioned.

Jones mentioned that The Alarm frontman had a constructive impact on “everybody” round him.

“We cherished collectively, we drank collectively, we performed rock ‘n’ roll collectively,” he added.

“We’ll at all times be linked.”

He co-founded the Love Hope Energy Basis alongside his spouse to assist recruit bone marrow donors at reside music exhibits.

It additionally concerned Peters and fellow musicians taking treks to the Himalayas, to peaks together with Mount Kilimanjaro and Yr Wyddfa, also called Snowdon, in his native Wales.

The charity’s director, Kirsty Thomson, known as him a “good advocate” of the NHS, including that he “cherished life like no person else I do know”.

The 2007 live performance was billed the “world’s highest”, watched by 3m on-line. In 2017, his Huge Busk concerned a stroll between most cancers wards at every north Wales hospital and ended on the summit of Snowdon.

He would take his message to Washington and Westminster.

Peters additionally filmed a documentary about his most cancers combat and one along with his spouse Jules for BBC Wales a couple of yr of their lives and her restoration from breast most cancers, Whereas We Nonetheless Have Time.

Peters joined Bruce Springsteen on stage at charity live performance in 2014 and musicians who had joined The Alarm for impromptu appearances ranged from Bono to Neil Younger.

Peters was affable and approachable and tireless in each his campaigning – and in persevering with to tour along with his music throughout Europe and america, in addition to writing new materials.

There have been additionally annual weekend occasions in Llandudno – The Gathering – which introduced collectively followers from throughout to rejoice the music of Peters and The Alarm.

In March 2018, a part of a tour of Germany was postponed after Peters suffered an allergic response to his remedy.

In 2025, he grew to become sick once more when his Richter syndrome – an aggressive type of lymphoma – returned.

He mentioned it might have killed him inside two months if left untreated, including music had stored him alive since his newest prognosis.

Peters mentioned he hoped a extremely specialised remedy which “re-programmes” his immune cells would result in a “most cancers free life”.

“It was devastating as a result of all of it occurred instantly,” he mentioned.

“There was no likelihood to even give it some thought.”

In 2018, he instructed Guitar World journal that his “easy message” was “to remain alive and admire each second you’ve got obtained”.

“Reside proper as much as the final breath and keep constructive concerning the world, your loved ones and the setting you reside in.”