The alarm
The alarm is a British alternative - rock band that in the UK the most successful bands of the 1980s is one year.
Band history
The band was formed in Rhyl , Wales, in 1977 and was originally called The Toilets . Shortly thereafter, the name was changed to Seventeen and finally, from 1981, The Alarm . An early member of the band was Karl Wallinger , who later founded World Party .
The first official album Declaration was released in 1983 , after initially a mini- LP called The Alarm was released. In the same year, the band played as support act on U2's War Tour and became known in the United States and Europe . Through this joint tour with U2, the two bands were initially lumped together, although they both preferred different styles.
During the recording of their fourth album Eye of the Hurricane in 1987, there was a big row with their record company IRS Records . According to singer and mastermind Mike Peters , it should be a rock album. The company insisted on hit-parade-compatible pop rock, with which the single Rain in the Summertime was the most successful record of the band. In 1989 they released their fifth studio album Change at the same time in a Welsh version (Newid) , recorded together with the Welsh Symphony Orchestra . After the album Raw (1991), which received scathing reviews, Mike Peters announced the breakup of the band.
After his subsequent solo career remained relatively unsuccessful, the singer revived the old band name on the occasion of the 20th anniversary in 2001. He was the only original member and brought James Stevenson (guitar), Craig Adams ( bass , formerly The Cult , The Sisters of Mercy and The Mission ) and Steve Grantley (drums, formerly Stiff Little Fingers ) into the group. In 2004 the album In the Poppy Fields was released with this line-up .
In order, as band boss Mike Peters says, "not to be measured by age, history or image, but by music", they released their single 45rpm in February 2004 under the name The Poppy Fields , leaving the teenage band The Wayriders in the video mimes. With success: the single entered the British charts at number 28, and the press coverage was the greatest in 20 alarm years. Peters, who received a Livetime Achievement Award at the Welsh Music Awards , says: “That wasn’t meant badly. But it shows that new music doesn't necessarily have to be made by new bands ... "
In 2005, Mike Peters was diagnosed with a form of leukemia , but it is in a very early stage and apparently offers a good chance of recovery.
In February 2006 the album Under Attack was released , this time under the band name The Alarm MMVI , with the addition obviously indicating the Roman number 2006. In July 2008 the current album Guerilla Tactics was released .
Between 2010 and 2013, Mike Peters also sang in concerts with the Scottish folk-rock band Big Country .
The album Equals was released in June 2018, followed by the seventeenth studio album, Sigma, in June 2019.
Original members
- Mike Peters (* 25. February 1959 as Michael L. Peters in Prestatyn , Wales), vocals, guitar, harmonica
- Dave Sharp (born January 28, 1959 in Salford , England ), guitar
- Eddie McDonald (born November 1, 1959 in St Asaph , Wales), bass
- Nigel Buckle "Twist" (born July 18, 1958 in Manchester , England), drums
Discography
Albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 UK
|
 US
|
|||
| 1984 | The alarm | - |
US126 (37 weeks) US |
EP
|
| Declaration |
UK6th  (11 weeks)UK |
US50 (22 weeks) US |
||
| 1985 | Strength |
UK18th (6 weeks)UK |
US39 (36 weeks) US |
|
| 1987 | Eye of the Hurricane |
UK23 (4 weeks)UK |
US77 (30 weeks) US |
|
| 1988 | Electric Folklore Live |
UK62 (2 weeks) UK |
US167 (5 weeks) US |
|
| 1989 | Change |
UK13 (3 weeks)UK |
US75 (23 weeks) US |
|
| 1990 | Standards |
UK47 (1 week)UK |
US177 (3 weeks) US |
|
| 1991 | Raw |
UK33 (2 weeks) UK |
US161 (1 week) US |
|
| 2018 | Equals |
UK72 (1 week) UK |
- | |
more publishments
- 1985: Spirit of '76 (mini LP)
- 1988: Compact Hits
- 2001: Eponymous 1981–1983
- 2001: Declaration 1984–1985
- 2001: Strength 1985-1986
- 2001: Eye of the Hurricane 1987–1988
- 2001: Electric Folklore Live 1987–1988
- 2001: Change 1989–1990
- 2001: Raw 1990-1991
- 2001: Greatest Hits Live
- 2003: Live at Hammersmith Palais 1984
- 2003: The Alarm EP - 20th Anniversary Collectors Edition
- 2003: Live at Glasgow Garage
- 2003: Live at Liverpool Masque Theater
- 2003: Live at London Mean Fiddler
- 2003: The Sound and the Fury
- 2004: In the Poppyfields
- 2004: Live In the Poppyfields
- 2005: Alt-Strength
- 2006: Under Attack (as The Alarm MMVI )
- 2006: The Best of The Alarm and Mike Peters
- 2006: Alarm MMV - The Saturday Gigs
- 2007: The Collection
- 2007: Three Sevens Clash
- 2007: Fightback
- 2007: This Is Not a Test
- 2007: Situation Under Control
- 2007: Call to Action
- 2007: 1983/84
- 2008: Counter Attack
- 2008: Guerilla Tactics (as The Alarm MMVIII )
- 2008: The Alarm - BBC Radio Sessions 1983–1991
- 2009: 21
- 2010: Direct Action
- 2011: The Sound and the Fury
- 2013: vinyl soundtrack
- 2014: Declaration (30th Anniversary)
- 2014: Peace Train
- 2015: Strength (30th Anniversary)
- 2015: Majority
- 2016: Poppies Falling From the Sky Act Two (Live)
- 2017: Blood Red
- 2017: Viral Black
- 2018: Eponymous 1981-1983
- 2018: Declaration 1984-1985
- 2019: Sigma
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UK
|
US
|
|||
| 1982 | The Stand Declaration |
UK86 (3 weeks) UK |
- | |
| 1983 | 68 Guns Declaration |
UK17 (7 weeks) UK |
- | |
| 1984 | Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke? Declaration |
UK22 (6 weeks) UK |
- | |
| The Deceiver Declaration |
UK51 (4 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| The Chant Has Just Begun |
UK48 (4 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| 1985 | Absolute Reality Strength |
UK35 (6 weeks) UK |
- | |
| Strength Strength |
UK40 (4 weeks) UK |
US61 (10 weeks) US |
||
| 1986 | Spirit of '76 Strength |
UK22 (6 weeks) UK |
- | |
| Knife Edge Strength |
UK43 (3 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| 1987 | Rain in the Summertime Eye of the Hurricane |
UK18 (5 weeks) UK |
US71 (8 weeks) US |
|
| Rescue Me Eye of the Hurricane |
UK48 (3 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| 1988 | Presence of Love Eye of the Hurricane |
UK44 (3 weeks) UK |
US77 (6 weeks) US |
|
| 1989 | Sold Me Down the River Change |
UK43 (3 weeks) UK |
US50 (13 weeks) US |
|
| A New South Wales Change |
UK31 (5 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| 1990 | Love Don't Come Easy Change |
UK48 (3 weeks) UK |
- | |
| Unsafe Building 1990 Change |
UK54 (3 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| 1991 | Raw Raw |
UK51 (2 weeks) UK |
- | |
| 2004 | New Home New Life In the Poppy Fields |
UK45 (2 weeks) UK |
- | |
| 2006 | Superchannel Under Attack |
UK24 (2 weeks) UK |
- | |
more publishments
- 1981: Unsafe Building
- 1983: Marching On
- 1989: Devolution Workin 'Man Blues
- 1990: The Road
- 2004: Close
- 2006: Raindown
- 2013: Free Rock and Roll (feat. Phil Daniels and Keith Allen)
Video albums
- 1986: Spirit of 76
- 1990: Change EP
- 1990: Standards
- 1991: Blaze of Glory
- 2000: Greatest Hits Live
- 2003: VH-1 Bands Reunited Uncut
- 2004: Live in the Poppyfields
- 2004: Rock and Roll Circus
- 2007: Spirit of '76
- 2007: Gathering 2007
- 2008: Tactical Response
Trivia
The Remching folk punk band Across the Border was named after the The Alarm song "Across the Border" .
Web links
- Official website (English)
- Website by Dave Sharp (English)