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Mike Peters (musician)
Encyclopedia
Mike Peters is a Welsh
musician
, best known as the lead singer of The Alarm
. He currently lives in Dyserth
, North Wales
with his family. After The Alarm
split up in 1991, Peters wrote and released solo work, which he has been releasing under the name "The Alarm" since 2000. Additionally, he is co-founder of the Love Hope Strength
Foundation. Mike Peters is currently the lead singer for Big Country
.
and grew up living in The Crescent Hotel in Edward Henry Street, Rhyl
, with the former The Alarm band member Eddie MacDonald. The name of the street became the inspiration for a track on the album of the same name, released as part of "The Poppyfields Bond" of albums. On "Edward Henry Street," Peters describes his life growing up in Wales.
Peters' first job was a computer operator. He worked on an old IBM System 3 mainframe
with an operating system of RPG II
. It was a data card based system that seen in today's terms was very primitive.
James Barr), a band formed with his schoolmates to perform at his sister's 21st birthday party at the Talardy Hotel in St Asaph
. The first song performed that night was a cover version
of "If You Think You Know How To Love Me" by Smokie
.
His first band proper was The Toilets, formed after he saw the Sex Pistols
play at Chester
in 1976. The first song The Toilets played live was "Nothing To Do" at the Palace Hotel in Rhyl.
Peters, along with MacDonald, Dave Sharp and Nigel Twist (then called Nigel Buckle), formed a band called Seventeen in 1978. The first song Seventeen played was "Pop Generation" at the Bee (now Station) Hotel in Rhyl on 27 May 1978. One single was released in 1979 on the Vendetta label
entitled "Don't Let Go."
to tour the club circuit. They were signed by the IRS label. After Seventeen was disbanded, the group reformed under the name Alarm Alarm, based on one of the songs written by Peters for The Toilets. On BBC Radio 1
, John Peel
commented that with Duran Duran
, Talk Talk
and now Alarm Alarm perhaps he should call himself John Peel John Peel, so the name was shortened to The Alarm.
The Alarm played their first gig in the Victoria Hotel in Prestatyn on 10 June 1981. "Shout To The Devil" was the first song to be played. Peters wrote the song that day and as it suited the three acoustics
and drumkit line-up, the band used to rehearse it during the soundcheck. Their first single on their own label, "Unsafe Building," was released in November 1981.
The original members of The Alarm have only reunited once. This was for the VH1
series Bands Reunited
.
Two singles were released in 1994. "Back into the System
", which also included a Welsh release of the single. This was followed by "It Just Don't Get Any Better Than This
". Peters teamed up with "The Poets" for both records. The single also included a first release of the track "White Noise" which Peters re-recorded for the album "Rise." The American release also included a re-mix.
It would be a further year before Peters released his first solo album venture "Breathe
." Being a UK only release, the CD version of the album did not contain Peter's first two solo singles. An acoustic only version of the same album was also released. By now, Peters had retreated into the internet and had his own website, where most of his future releases would be sold.
In 1996, after having been misdiagnosed with cancer, Peters released his second solo venture "Feel Free." The album included a take on Grandmaster Flash's influential rap track "The Message." The American release of "Feel Free
" also included a special hidden track called "Gone Elvis."
In 1998, "Rise
" was released, to a wider audience this time. "Rise" was a change of musical direction for Peters. "White Noise Part II," found Peters experimenting with studio sound manipulation and drum machines, whereas "My Calling" featured Peters' signature acoustic/electric roots-rock sound. The album also featured the song "In Circles," which Peters co-wrote with ex-Cult
guitarist Billy Duffy
.
Peters followed the release of "Rise
" by touring the US under "The Interactive Acoustic Works U.S. Tour", which started in Boston on 10 October 1998. That year also saw the release of the album "Live [From a Broadcast]." This set included a version of The Alarm's best known song, 68 Guns
, which reinstated an extra verse that the band had trimmed out early in the writing process.
In 1999, Peters again worked with Billy Duffy, forming a band called Coloursound with Duffy, his former Cult bandmate Scott Garret
, and Craig Adams
(formerly of The Mission
). They recorded one, eponym
ous, studio album.
Since 1993, Peters has held an annual weekend event called "The Gathering" at Llandudno
. It has been attended by various guest musicians, including former Alarm band members.
.
In 2000, Peters decided to reuse The Alarm brand name. After he left the band in 1991, Peters had signed over rights to the name to the other band members. This caused former drummer Nigel Twist to threaten to sue. Peters has since used The Alarm brand name, sometimes with an added roman numericals for the year.
In 2001, Peters went on the road again as part of "Dead Men Walking." Featuring Pete Wylie
(of The Mighty Wah!), Glen Matlock
(former Sex Pistols
), Captain Sensible
(The Damned), and Kirk Brandon
(Spear of Destiny
), the band played a mixture of old and new material spanning their combined careers.
In 2004, Peters released the single "45 RPM" using the pseudonym, The Poppy Fields, using the guise that this band was a teenage band based from Chester
. Peters came eleventh in an on-line poll to find 100 Welsh Heroes
.
Mike joined members of The Mescaleros
in 2010 to perform songs of Joe Strummer under the name Los Mondos Bongo.
Mike Peters is set to perform as frontman with Big Country on their upcoming UK Tour. http://www.bigcountry.co.uk/home.php
Woody Guthrie
is also part of Peters' musical heritage. Peters stated:
base.
and touring again, sometimes with members of the re-formed band. He also presented a regular show called Bedrock on BBC Radio Wales
. In 2005, Peters discovered that he was suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. At this time, Peters started a cancer foundation called Love Hope Strength
to help with the fight against cancer.
He has since announced a remission of this and has appeared in a documentary for BBC Wales
chronicling his so far successful battle with cancer
. The documentary was released in 2006 as Mike Peters on the Road to Recovery with some of the proceeds being donated to Peters' foundation.
In 2011, Peter's Love Hope Strength Foundation released the film More to Live For intended to promote the importance of bone marrow donation in saving the lives of cancer victims.
In October 2007, Peters, along with 38 other musicians, cancer survivors and supporters, made a 14 day trek to the Mount Everest
base camp to perform the highest concert ever on land to raise awareness and money to fight cancer. Other musicians included Cy Curnin
and Jamie West-Oram of The Fixx
, Glenn Tilbrook
of Squeeze, Slim Jim Phantom
of The Stray Cats and Nick Harper
. Peters is the co-founder of The Love Hope and Strength Foundation with James Chippendale
, president of CSI Entertainment in Dallas, Texas
.
Peters is married to Jules and has two children.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the lead singer of The Alarm
The Alarm
The Alarm are an alternative rock band that emerged from North Wales in the late 1970s. They started as a mod band and stayed together for over ten years. As a rock band, they displayed marked influences from Welsh language and culture...
. He currently lives in Dyserth
Dyserth
Dyserth is a village in Denbighshire, Wales. Population : 2,566 . Its main features are the extensive quarrying remains, its waterfalls, railway line , and mountain ....
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
with his family. After The Alarm
The Alarm
The Alarm are an alternative rock band that emerged from North Wales in the late 1970s. They started as a mod band and stayed together for over ten years. As a rock band, they displayed marked influences from Welsh language and culture...
split up in 1991, Peters wrote and released solo work, which he has been releasing under the name "The Alarm" since 2000. Additionally, he is co-founder of the Love Hope Strength
Love Hope Strength
James Chippendale and fellow cancer survivor Mike Peters, of The Alarm, launched the Love Hope Strength Foundation in 2006 in hopes of providing critical funding and awareness for cancer centers worldwide. The mission is to save lives, right now, with the advances that have already been made in...
Foundation. Mike Peters is currently the lead singer for Big Country
Big Country
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife in 1981. They were most popular in the early to mid-1980s, but they still release material for a cult following...
.
Early life
Peters was born in PrestatynPrestatyn
Prestatyn is a seaside resort, town and community in Denbighshire, North Wales. It is located on the Irish Sea coast, to the east of Rhyl. At the 2001 Census, Prestatyn had a population of 18,496.-Prehistory:...
and grew up living in The Crescent Hotel in Edward Henry Street, Rhyl
Rhyl
Rhyl is a seaside resort town and community situated on the north east coast of Wales, in the county of Denbighshire , at the mouth of the River Clwyd . To the west is the suburb of Kinmel Bay, with the resort of Towyn further west, Prestatyn to the east and Rhuddlan to the south...
, with the former The Alarm band member Eddie MacDonald. The name of the street became the inspiration for a track on the album of the same name, released as part of "The Poppyfields Bond" of albums. On "Edward Henry Street," Peters describes his life growing up in Wales.
Peters' first job was a computer operator. He worked on an old IBM System 3 mainframe
Mainframe computer
Mainframes are powerful computers used primarily by corporate and governmental organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning, and financial transaction processing.The term originally referred to the...
with an operating system of RPG II
RPG II
RPG II is a version of the IBM RPG programming language. It was developed in the late 1960s and was offered on a number of different computers, including the IBM System/3, System/32, System/34, System/36, System/370, The Singer System 10, and the Wang VS Series. ICL also produced versions for its...
. It was a data card based system that seen in today's terms was very primitive.
1970s
Peters' musical debut came on 10 October 1975, when he fronted Hairy Hippie (named by the disc jockeyDisc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
James Barr), a band formed with his schoolmates to perform at his sister's 21st birthday party at the Talardy Hotel in St Asaph
St Asaph
St Asaph is a town and community on the River Elwy in Denbighshire, Wales. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 3,491.The town of St Asaph is surrounded by countryside and views of the Vale of Clwyd. It is situated close to a number of busy coastal towns such as Rhyl, Prestatyn, Abergele,...
. The first song performed that night was a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "If You Think You Know How To Love Me" by Smokie
Smokie (band)
Smokie is an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire who found success in Europe in the 1970s.-Early years:Originally called The Yen, then The Sphynx and later Essence, the band was formed in 1964 at St. Bede's Grammar School in Heaton, Bradford as The Yen. The Yen's first gig was at Birkenshaw...
.
His first band proper was The Toilets, formed after he saw the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
play at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
in 1976. The first song The Toilets played live was "Nothing To Do" at the Palace Hotel in Rhyl.
Peters, along with MacDonald, Dave Sharp and Nigel Twist (then called Nigel Buckle), formed a band called Seventeen in 1978. The first song Seventeen played was "Pop Generation" at the Bee (now Station) Hotel in Rhyl on 27 May 1978. One single was released in 1979 on the Vendetta label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
entitled "Don't Let Go."
1980s
In 1981 Seventeen moved to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to tour the club circuit. They were signed by the IRS label. After Seventeen was disbanded, the group reformed under the name Alarm Alarm, based on one of the songs written by Peters for The Toilets. On BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
commented that with Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
, Talk Talk
Talk Talk
Talk Talk were an English musical group, active from 1981 to 1991. The group had a string of international hit singles including "Today", "Talk Talk", "It's My Life", "Such a Shame", "Dum Dum Girl", "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World"....
and now Alarm Alarm perhaps he should call himself John Peel John Peel, so the name was shortened to The Alarm.
The Alarm played their first gig in the Victoria Hotel in Prestatyn on 10 June 1981. "Shout To The Devil" was the first song to be played. Peters wrote the song that day and as it suited the three acoustics
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
and drumkit line-up, the band used to rehearse it during the soundcheck. Their first single on their own label, "Unsafe Building," was released in November 1981.
1990s
In 1991, The Alarm split up after Peters left the band on stage at The Brixton Academy, declaringThe original members of The Alarm have only reunited once. This was for the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
series Bands Reunited
Bands Reunited
Bands Reunited is a television program produced by VH1 in 2004. Hosted by Aamer Haleem, the show documented the attempted reuniting of a formerly popular musical ensemble for a special concert in either London or Los Angeles....
.
Two singles were released in 1994. "Back into the System
Back into the System
"Back into the System" is a song written by Mike Peters.-Background and writing:This was the first solo release by singer/song writer Mike Peters...
", which also included a Welsh release of the single. This was followed by "It Just Don't Get Any Better Than This
It Just Don't Get Any Better Than This
"It Just don't get any Better than this" is a song written by Mike Peters.-Background and writing:This was the second solo release by singer/song writer Mike Peters....
". Peters teamed up with "The Poets" for both records. The single also included a first release of the track "White Noise" which Peters re-recorded for the album "Rise." The American release also included a re-mix.
It would be a further year before Peters released his first solo album venture "Breathe
Breathe (Mike Peters album)
Breathe is the debut solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc, cassette and double vinyl LP.The two singles Back into the System and It Just Dont Get Any Better Than This were included on the cassette and vinyl LP version only....
." Being a UK only release, the CD version of the album did not contain Peter's first two solo singles. An acoustic only version of the same album was also released. By now, Peters had retreated into the internet and had his own website, where most of his future releases would be sold.
In 1996, after having been misdiagnosed with cancer, Peters released his second solo venture "Feel Free." The album included a take on Grandmaster Flash's influential rap track "The Message." The American release of "Feel Free
Feel Free
Feel Free is the second solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc only. The single Shine On was included on the album as "Shine On .-Track listing:All songs were written by Peters.#"Shine On " 3:52...
" also included a special hidden track called "Gone Elvis."
In 1998, "Rise
Rise (Mike Peters album)
-Track listing:All songs were written by Peters, except "In Circles", which was co-written by Peters and Billy Duffy# "In Circles" 4:47# "Transcendental" 5:17# "Rise" 4:06# "You Are To Me" 5:01# "My Calling" 4:42# "First Light" 4:59# "High On The Hill" 4:40...
" was released, to a wider audience this time. "Rise" was a change of musical direction for Peters. "White Noise Part II," found Peters experimenting with studio sound manipulation and drum machines, whereas "My Calling" featured Peters' signature acoustic/electric roots-rock sound. The album also featured the song "In Circles," which Peters co-wrote with ex-Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
guitarist Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
.
Peters followed the release of "Rise
Rise (Mike Peters album)
-Track listing:All songs were written by Peters, except "In Circles", which was co-written by Peters and Billy Duffy# "In Circles" 4:47# "Transcendental" 5:17# "Rise" 4:06# "You Are To Me" 5:01# "My Calling" 4:42# "First Light" 4:59# "High On The Hill" 4:40...
" by touring the US under "The Interactive Acoustic Works U.S. Tour", which started in Boston on 10 October 1998. That year also saw the release of the album "Live [From a Broadcast]." This set included a version of The Alarm's best known song, 68 Guns
68 Guns
"68 Guns" is a song written by Mike Peters and Eddie MacDonald.It is the most famous song from Welsh band The Alarm.Released in September 1983, the single was the fourth released by the band.The track was recorded at Good Earth and mixed at Abbey Road....
, which reinstated an extra verse that the band had trimmed out early in the writing process.
In 1999, Peters again worked with Billy Duffy, forming a band called Coloursound with Duffy, his former Cult bandmate Scott Garret
Scott Garret
Scott Garrett is the former drummer for Pop's Cool Love, The Cult and Dag Nasty. He currently plays drums for Wired All Wrong and has been support drummer for J since 1997. He was also temporary drummer at the last few shows of God Lives Underwater....
, and Craig Adams
Craig Adams (musician)
Craig Adams is a British musician, bass guitarist and songwriter. Over his career he worked with a variation of rockbands while also being part of a touring crew....
(formerly of The Mission
The Mission (band)
The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
). They recorded one, eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous, studio album.
Since 1993, Peters has held an annual weekend event called "The Gathering" at Llandudno
Llandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
. It has been attended by various guest musicians, including former Alarm band members.
2000s
The new millennium saw Peters release Flesh and Blood, based on the stage play of the same name written by Helen GriffinHelen Griffin
Helen Griffin is a Welsh actress, playwright and screenwriter. She has appeared regularly in Welsh theatre and television and wrote and starred in the 2005 film Little White Lies...
.
In 2000, Peters decided to reuse The Alarm brand name. After he left the band in 1991, Peters had signed over rights to the name to the other band members. This caused former drummer Nigel Twist to threaten to sue. Peters has since used The Alarm brand name, sometimes with an added roman numericals for the year.
In 2001, Peters went on the road again as part of "Dead Men Walking." Featuring Pete Wylie
Pete Wylie
-Studio albums:- Extended Plays :-Singles:-External links:***...
(of The Mighty Wah!), Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
(former Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
), Captain Sensible
Captain Sensible
Captain Sensible is a singer, songwriter, guitarist who grew up in Croydon, England, and co-founded the punk rock band The Damned in 1976. After leaving the band, he reinvented himself as an alternative pop singer with a rebellious, self-conscious image...
(The Damned), and Kirk Brandon
Kirk Brandon
Kirk Brandon is an English musician.-Musical career:Brandon's music career started in 1978, in Clapham, South London, with the formation of punk group The Pack, in which he was the singer/songwriter....
(Spear of Destiny
Spear of Destiny (band)
Spear of Destiny is a British rock band, established in 1982 by singer and songwriter Kirk Brandon and bassist Stan Stammers. It has had an ever-changing line-up through the years.-Biography:...
), the band played a mixture of old and new material spanning their combined careers.
In 2004, Peters released the single "45 RPM" using the pseudonym, The Poppy Fields, using the guise that this band was a teenage band based from Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
. Peters came eleventh in an on-line poll to find 100 Welsh Heroes
100 Welsh Heroes
100 Welsh Heroes was an opinion poll run in Wales as a response to the BBC's 100 Greatest Britons poll of 2002. The Welsh poll was carried out mainly on the internet, starting on 8 September 2003 and finishing on 23 February 2004...
.
Mike joined members of The Mescaleros
The Mescaleros
The Mescaleros were the backing band for Joe Strummer, formed in 1999, which went on to make three albums prior to Strummer's death in 2002. Many of the band members were gifted multi-instrumentalists...
in 2010 to perform songs of Joe Strummer under the name Los Mondos Bongo.
Mike Peters is set to perform as frontman with Big Country on their upcoming UK Tour. http://www.bigcountry.co.uk/home.php
Musical influences
Peters has stated various artists have had an influence on his musical direction. In "Edward Henry Street" of the album with the same name Peters sings "bought Aladdin Sane from Greaves records" in reference to the song by David BowieDavid Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
is also part of Peters' musical heritage. Peters stated:
MPO
MPO (Mike Peters Organisation) was formed in 1992 as Peters used the internet to communicate with his fanFan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
base.
Health and family life
In 1996, Peters made a recovery from lymph cancer, and began recordingSound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and touring again, sometimes with members of the re-formed band. He also presented a regular show called Bedrock on BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales is the BBC's national radio station broadcasting to Wales in the English language. Operated by BBC Wales, it began broadcasting on 12 November 1978 following the demise of the old "Radio 4 Wales" when BBC Radio 4 became a national network and moved from medium wave to long wave...
. In 2005, Peters discovered that he was suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. At this time, Peters started a cancer foundation called Love Hope Strength
Love Hope Strength
James Chippendale and fellow cancer survivor Mike Peters, of The Alarm, launched the Love Hope Strength Foundation in 2006 in hopes of providing critical funding and awareness for cancer centers worldwide. The mission is to save lives, right now, with the advances that have already been made in...
to help with the fight against cancer.
He has since announced a remission of this and has appeared in a documentary for BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
chronicling his so far successful battle with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. The documentary was released in 2006 as Mike Peters on the Road to Recovery with some of the proceeds being donated to Peters' foundation.
In 2011, Peter's Love Hope Strength Foundation released the film More to Live For intended to promote the importance of bone marrow donation in saving the lives of cancer victims.
In October 2007, Peters, along with 38 other musicians, cancer survivors and supporters, made a 14 day trek to the Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
base camp to perform the highest concert ever on land to raise awareness and money to fight cancer. Other musicians included Cy Curnin
Cy Curnin
Cy Curnin is a singer/songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist for the new wave music group, The Fixx. The band became famous with the song "One Thing Leads to Another" in 1983, and remained popular in the United States throughout the 1980s...
and Jamie West-Oram of The Fixx
The Fixx
The Fixx is an English rock band formed in London in 1979. Their hits include "One Thing Leads to Another," "Red Skies," "Stand or Fall," "Saved by Zero," "Sign of Fire," "Are We Ourselves?," "Secret Separation," "Driven Out," "How Much Is Enough?," and "Deeper and Deeper," which was featured on...
, Glenn Tilbrook
Glenn Tilbrook
Glenn Martin Tilbrook is the lead singer and guitarist of the English band Squeeze, a band formed in the mid 1970s who broke through in the new wave era at the decade's end. He generally wrote the melody for Squeeze, while his writing partner, Chris Difford, wrote the lyrics...
of Squeeze, Slim Jim Phantom
Slim Jim Phantom
Slim Jim Phantom is the drummer for Stray Cats. Alongside band mates Brian Setzer and Lee Rocker, he spearheaded the neo-rockabilly movement of the early 1980s.-Biography:...
of The Stray Cats and Nick Harper
Nick Harper
Nick Harper is an English singer-songwriter/guitarist. He is the son of English folk musician Roy Harper.-Early life:Nick Harper was born in London in 1965 to the famous folk singer-songwriter Roy Harper...
. Peters is the co-founder of The Love Hope and Strength Foundation with James Chippendale
James Chippendale
James Chippendale is an American business executive and anti-leukemia campaigner and co-founder of the charity Love Hope Strength Foundation...
, president of CSI Entertainment in Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Peters is married to Jules and has two children.
Albums
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Breathe Breathe (Mike Peters album) Breathe is the debut solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc, cassette and double vinyl LP.The two singles Back into the System and It Just Dont Get Any Better Than This were included on the cassette and vinyl LP version only.... |
1 January 1995 |
| Breathe - The Acoustic Sessions Breathe (Mike Peters album) Breathe is the debut solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc, cassette and double vinyl LP.The two singles Back into the System and It Just Dont Get Any Better Than This were included on the cassette and vinyl LP version only.... |
1 January 1995 |
| Second Generation Volume 1 Second Generation Volume 1 Second Generation Volume 1 is an album by Mike Peters. The cover also contains the phrase "rare songs of The Alarm revisited". All tracks had previously appeared on albums or singles by The Alarm apart from "The Peace Train", which had only appeared in a non-lyrical format on the remastered edition... |
1 January 1996 |
| Feel Free Feel Free Feel Free is the second solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc only. The single Shine On was included on the album as "Shine On .-Track listing:All songs were written by Peters.#"Shine On " 3:52... |
5 August 1996 |
| Abbey Road Sessions Abbey Road Sessions Abbey Road Sessions is a live solo album by Mike Peters.Peter's backing band was The Poets of Justice for this album.The songs were recorded at Abbey Road studio two as an unofficial demo session for Peter's first solo album Breathe.Peter's explains:... |
1 March 1997 |
| Rise Rise (Mike Peters album) -Track listing:All songs were written by Peters, except "In Circles", which was co-written by Peters and Billy Duffy# "In Circles" 4:47# "Transcendental" 5:17# "Rise" 4:06# "You Are To Me" 5:01# "My Calling" 4:42# "First Light" 4:59# "High On The Hill" 4:40... |
26 February 1998 |
| Acoustic Works 1981-1986 Acoustic Works 1981-1986 Acoustic Works 1981–1986 is the second solo compilation album released by Mike Peters.-Track listing:# "Unsafe Building"# "The Stand"# "For Freedom"# "Lie Of The Land"# "Declaration"# "Marching On"... |
5 November 1998 |
| Acoustic Works 1987-1991 | 5 November 1998 |
| Live [From a Broadcast] | 1998 |
| Rise Demos Rise (Mike Peters album) -Track listing:All songs were written by Peters, except "In Circles", which was co-written by Peters and Billy Duffy# "In Circles" 4:47# "Transcendental" 5:17# "Rise" 4:06# "You Are To Me" 5:01# "My Calling" 4:42# "First Light" 4:59# "High On The Hill" 4:40... |
1 May 1999 |
| Flesh & Blood Flesh and Blood (Mike Peters album) Flesh and Blood is the fourth solo album by Mike Peters.-Track listing:All songs were written by Peters, with exception of "A New Wales" which was co-written by Peters and Eddie MacDonald.#"House Of Commons" 1:43... |
19 February 2000 |
| The Millenium Gathering | 1 February 2001 |
| Collected Works Collected Works (Mike Peters album) Collected Works is a compilation album by Mike Peters.Although drawn from Peters' previously released solo albums "Collected Works" containted unreleased mixes, including the full uncensored version of "Regeneration".... |
17 September 2001 |
| The Alarmstock Collection Live | 1 September 2003 |
| Mike Peters in Session 2007 | 2007 |
| Mike Peters in Session 2008 | 2008 |
| Breathe - Expanded Edition Breathe (Mike Peters album) Breathe is the debut solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc, cassette and double vinyl LP.The two singles Back into the System and It Just Dont Get Any Better Than This were included on the cassette and vinyl LP version only.... |
2008 |
| Acoustic Live | 2009 |
| Feel Free - Remastered and Expanded | 2009 |
| Mike Peters in Session 2009 | 2009 |
Singles
| Title | Other tracks | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| "Back into the System Back into the System "Back into the System" is a song written by Mike Peters.-Background and writing:This was the first solo release by singer/song writer Mike Peters... " |
"A New Chapter", "21st Century (demo version)", "Back into the System" | 1994 |
| "Nol I Mewn I'r System Back into the System "Back into the System" is a song written by Mike Peters.-Background and writing:This was the first solo release by singer/song writer Mike Peters... " |
"Y Bennod Newy", "Canrif 21 - Fersiwn Demo", "Nol I Mewn I'r System" | 1994 |
| "It Just Don't Get Any Better Than This It Just Don't Get Any Better Than This "It Just don't get any Better than this" is a song written by Mike Peters.-Background and writing:This was the second solo release by singer/song writer Mike Peters.... " |
"Devil's Word", "White Noise" | 1994 |
| "Shine On Shine On Shine On can refer to:* Shine On , a 1983 album and song by George Jones* Shine On , a 1992 box set album by Pink Floyd* Shine On , a 1995 album by Kee Marcello... " |
"113th Dream", "Safe European Home", "Going Underground" | 1996 |
Promotional recordings
| Title | Songs | Album | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breathe Promo Breathe (Mike Peters album) Breathe is the debut solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc, cassette and double vinyl LP.The two singles Back into the System and It Just Dont Get Any Better Than This were included on the cassette and vinyl LP version only.... |
"Levis and Bibles", "Love is a Revolution", "Spiritual", "If I Can't Have You", "Breathe" | Breathe Breathe (Mike Peters album) Breathe is the debut solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc, cassette and double vinyl LP.The two singles Back into the System and It Just Dont Get Any Better Than This were included on the cassette and vinyl LP version only.... |
1994 |
| Mike Peters EP Feel Free Feel Free is the second solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc only. The single Shine On was included on the album as "Shine On .-Track listing:All songs were written by Peters.#"Shine On " 3:52... |
"Transcendental", "Your Are To Me", "Gone Elvis", "I Want You", "Shine On" | Feel Free Feel Free Feel Free is the second solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc only. The single Shine On was included on the album as "Shine On .-Track listing:All songs were written by Peters.#"Shine On " 3:52... |
1996 |
| Regeneration Feel Free Feel Free is the second solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc only. The single Shine On was included on the album as "Shine On .-Track listing:All songs were written by Peters.#"Shine On " 3:52... |
"Regeneration" | Feel Free Feel Free Feel Free is the second solo album by Mike Peters.It was released on compact disc only. The single Shine On was included on the album as "Shine On .-Track listing:All songs were written by Peters.#"Shine On " 3:52... |
1996 |
| Mike Peters Sampler Rise (Mike Peters album) -Track listing:All songs were written by Peters, except "In Circles", which was co-written by Peters and Billy Duffy# "In Circles" 4:47# "Transcendental" 5:17# "Rise" 4:06# "You Are To Me" 5:01# "My Calling" 4:42# "First Light" 4:59# "High On The Hill" 4:40... |
"Transcendental" (radio edit), "Sold Me Down the River", "Rain in the Summertime", "Rescue Me", "Interview with Mike Peters" | Rise Rise (Mike Peters album) -Track listing:All songs were written by Peters, except "In Circles", which was co-written by Peters and Billy Duffy# "In Circles" 4:47# "Transcendental" 5:17# "Rise" 4:06# "You Are To Me" 5:01# "My Calling" 4:42# "First Light" 4:59# "High On The Hill" 4:40... |
1998 |
Videos
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Videozine Volume 1 | 1997 |
| Flesh and Blood Recording Sessions Flesh and Blood (Mike Peters album) Flesh and Blood is the fourth solo album by Mike Peters.-Track listing:All songs were written by Peters, with exception of "A New Wales" which was co-written by Peters and Eddie MacDonald.#"House Of Commons" 1:43... |
1999 |
| Alarm 2000 Day Documentary | 2000 |
DVDS
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| The Story of The Alarm | 2001 |
| The Gathering DVD Box Set Collection | 4 December 2004 |
| Mike Peters - The Documentary - On the Road to Recovery | 2006 |
| The Gathering Electric MMVI | 2006 |
| The Gathering Acoustic MMVI | 2006 |
| Alarmcast #1 | 2006 |