The Alarm does not belong to me, it belongs to the fans
Mike Peters is inviting fans to his home village to celebrate The Alarm’s 40th anniversary. MARION McMULLEN finds out all about it
THE Alarm’s frontman Mike Peters sat down and wrote a “to do” list when the band started out. It read – go to London, get an agent, get a manager, get a record deal, bring out a record, go on Top Of The Pops and go to America.
Mike laughs: “I’ve still got the list, and the only thing that I got wrong was we went to America before we appeared on Top Of The Pops.”
The band, who have opened tours for both Bob Dylan and U2, have had 17 top 50 UK singles, including rock anthem Sixty Eight Guns, and headlined their own Spirit of ‘86 Concert before 26,000 fans in Los Angeles, that was beamed around the world as part of MTV’s first live global satellite broadcast.
They had big plans to celebrate their 40th anniversary next year before Covid-19 came along and bands and performers around the world had to cancel and re-schedule concerts and tours.
“We had four big dates in London, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham, and we re-scheduled them for this November and December thinking that would be a long way off,” says Mike.
“Now we’re hoping to do them at the end of 2021.”
Mike, his wife Jules and their two sons went into lockdown at their home in Dyserth, North Wales. Mike was diagnosed in 2005 with an incurable cancer, a rare B-cell form of leukaemia, and Jules, who is now the band’s keyboard player, has battled breast cancer.
Mike realised he had to think outside the box and decided, if they could not tour to fans next year for the landmark anniversary, then he would invite fans to his home village and play for them there.
“The Alarm does not belong to me, it belongs to the fans. Without them we would just be nostalgia,” he explains. “If it was the World Cup they would be the most colourful fans, who didn’t cause any trouble and just had a great time,” he laughs. “It’s going to be great to invite them into my home environment.”
Mike’s parents used to run the pub in Dyserth. He and Jules bought their first house there and have called the village home ever since. “Visitors always get a warm welcome,” laughs the 61-year-old singer, “especially if they are wearing an Alarm T-shirt.”
The Rock And Roll Staycation will see Mike play concerts for 30 people at a time ,with fans also getting the chance to stay at one of his album themed-rooms at the Chapel Hotel directly opposite the famous Dyserth Waterfalls.
They will also be invited to become part of the Big Night In broadcast which will also be going out live around the world every Friday night throughout the course of The Alarm Experience 40 concert series.
Visitors to the village over the years have included American music manager Elliot Roberts.
“He managed Crosby, Stills and Nash, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan,” says Mike. “In 1988 he came to stay with us in Dyserth and I drove him around all the local landmarks and he said ‘this part of the world does not need a prime minister, it needs a manager”.
The Alarm’s 1981 debut single Unsafe Building, featured a mix of amped-up acoustic guitars, harmonica and passionate vocals that invited the enduring description “Bob Dylan meets The Clash”.
They are now bringing out History Repeating, the band’s 40th anniversary compilation album.
“Our first concert in Prestatyn seems like yesterday,” Mike recalls. “I can remember almost every moment of it. There was something U2’s Bono said on a documentary that the BBC made about Jules and I, about our bands playing together in America after the first tour. He said it was indelibly written in our memory.
“That sharp focus of the early days when everything was so intense. We had several number five albums, but in 2018, we had our first number one with the album Sigma.”
He laughs: “We had to wait a few decades but we got there.”
Discussing the current situation and Covid-19, Mike reflects: “The music industry has taken a huge hit with the pandemic. Not just the performers, but the people who work backstage, set up the equipment, those who drive you to the venue and back, everyone.
“But I am hopeful we can get through this. Music is important in people’s lives and the anniversary specials are something to look forward to. I’m certainly looking forward to them.
“We announced a concert at St David’s Hall in Cardiff on June 5 next year and it sold out within minutes. We’re still hoping it will go ahead, but if not, we’ll move it all to 2022. We want to keep people safe and give them a chance to enjoy the music.”
Email alarmcalling@mac.com or visit thealarm.com for details of the Rock And Roll Staycation starting on July 3.