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| Mike Peters: The Alarm singer dies aged 66 | Mike Peters: The Alarm singer dies aged 66 |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Mike Peters fought cancer three times and was recognised for his advocacy and charity work | Mike Peters fought cancer three times and was recognised for his advocacy and charity work |
| Mike Peters, front man of Welsh rockers The Alarm and a long-standing cancer campaigner and fundraiser, has died aged 66. | Mike Peters, front man of Welsh rockers The Alarm and a long-standing cancer campaigner and fundraiser, has died aged 66. |
| His band was formed in 1981 in Rhyl, Denbighshire, out of the punk era and had a top 20 hit, Sixty Eight Guns, two years later. | His band was formed in 1981 in Rhyl, Denbighshire, out of the punk era and had a top 20 hit, Sixty Eight Guns, two years later. |
| It typified an anthemic style of song but their unpretentious and down-to-earth approach earned loyal followings on both sides of the Atlantic. | It typified an anthemic style of song but their unpretentious and down-to-earth approach earned loyal followings on both sides of the Atlantic. |
| Peters lived with blood cancer for 30 years, following his diagnosis of lymphoma in 1995, and later having chronic lymphocytic leukaemia twice. | Peters lived with blood cancer for 30 years, following his diagnosis of lymphoma in 1995, and later having chronic lymphocytic leukaemia twice. |
| The Welsh rocker lived with cancer for three decades | The Welsh rocker lived with cancer for three decades |
| He was born in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, and lived in Dyserth with his wife of 39 years, Jules - who had fought her own cancer battle - and their sons Dylan, 20 and Evan, 18. | He was born in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, and lived in Dyserth with his wife of 39 years, Jules - who had fought her own cancer battle - and their sons Dylan, 20 and Evan, 18. |
| He was awarded the MBE in 2019 for his services to cancer care. | He was awarded the MBE in 2019 for his services to cancer care. |
| Peters - who had worked in the computer department for Kwik Save supermarket - had started the band The Toilets in Rhyl in 1977, after seeing the Sex Pistols play in Chester. | Peters - who had worked in the computer department for Kwik Save supermarket - had started the band The Toilets in Rhyl in 1977, after seeing the Sex Pistols play in Chester. |
| After various changes of line-up, notably the introduction of guitarist Dave Sharp, and changes of name, The Alarm played their first gig in Prestatyn in 1981. | After various changes of line-up, notably the introduction of guitarist Dave Sharp, and changes of name, The Alarm played their first gig in Prestatyn in 1981. |
| They would go on to sell an estimated five million records and also become the first Welsh musicians since Tom Jones and Bonnie Tyler to crack America. | They would go on to sell an estimated five million records and also become the first Welsh musicians since Tom Jones and Bonnie Tyler to crack America. |
| The Alarm has sold more than five million albums | The Alarm has sold more than five million albums |
| Thanks to a support slot with U2 on their 1983 US tour, The Alarm gained a transatlantic following - not an inconsiderable achievement. | Thanks to a support slot with U2 on their 1983 US tour, The Alarm gained a transatlantic following - not an inconsiderable achievement. |
| Their debut album Declaration was released in 1984. As well as Sixty Eight Guns, it also included another favourite, Blaze of Glory. | Their debut album Declaration was released in 1984. As well as Sixty Eight Guns, it also included another favourite, Blaze of Glory. |
| The band had honed their live performances by extensive touring, and were also reliable "go-to" support choice for big names - which included Bob Dylan, Queen and U2 again - including an appreciative crowd at Cardiff's National Stadium in 1987. | The band had honed their live performances by extensive touring, and were also reliable "go-to" support choice for big names - which included Bob Dylan, Queen and U2 again - including an appreciative crowd at Cardiff's National Stadium in 1987. |
| Despite their travels, The Alarm still had strong bonds with their homeland and Peters was able to live quietly in north Wales. | Despite their travels, The Alarm still had strong bonds with their homeland and Peters was able to live quietly in north Wales. |
| The band also released a Welsh-language version of their 1989 album Change, called Newid. | The band also released a Welsh-language version of their 1989 album Change, called Newid. |
| Mike Peters attended the premier of the film Vinyl, with his wife Jules | Mike Peters attended the premier of the film Vinyl, with his wife Jules |
| Peters announced from the stage in London that he was quitting The Alarm in 1991 but continued to work with The Poets Of Justice, the line-up including his wife Jules. | Peters announced from the stage in London that he was quitting The Alarm in 1991 but continued to work with The Poets Of Justice, the line-up including his wife Jules. |
| In 1999, Peters worked with The Cult guitarist Billy Duffy forming a band called Coloursound. | In 1999, Peters worked with The Cult guitarist Billy Duffy forming a band called Coloursound. |
| Duffy said he felt the Welshman "inspired millions of people" during his career. | Duffy said he felt the Welshman "inspired millions of people" during his career. |
| "(Music) was his lifeblood. Everything was an inspiration for him to express his feelings through music," he added. | "(Music) was his lifeblood. Everything was an inspiration for him to express his feelings through music," he added. |
| He reformed The Alarm in 2000 and also worked as the singer for Big Country for a couple of years from 2011. | He reformed The Alarm in 2000 and also worked as the singer for Big Country for a couple of years from 2011. |
| The Alarm has sold more than five million albums and had 16 UK Top 50 singles. | The Alarm has sold more than five million albums and had 16 UK Top 50 singles. |
| Mike Peters and Gaz Top (centre) pictured on the Music Box channel in 1985 | |
| Television presenter, and former The Alarm roadie, Gareth Jones said Mike Peters has been the "most significant person" in his life. | |
| He even gave him his nickname Gaz Top, which has stuck to this day. | |
| "I would have never had a career if it wasn't for him and it's a hard day to know that he's not around anymore," he said. | |
| Jones said that The Alarm frontman had a positive effect on "everyone" around him. | |
| "We loved together, we drank together, we played rock 'n' roll together," he added. | |
| "We'll always be connected." | |
| Gaz sports some The Alarm merchandise on holiday with Mike in Ibiza 1984 | |
| In 2004, as a humorous stunt aimed at the music industry and its obsession with youth, Peters released a single called 45 RPM - a retro-punk song - under the pseudonym of The Poppy Fields. | In 2004, as a humorous stunt aimed at the music industry and its obsession with youth, Peters released a single called 45 RPM - a retro-punk song - under the pseudonym of The Poppy Fields. |
| He pretended his group were teenagers from Chester, who mimed along to the video for the song. It entered the top 30. | He pretended his group were teenagers from Chester, who mimed along to the video for the song. It entered the top 30. |
| The storyline was perfect to be translated into a film, Vinyl - directed by Sara Sugarman, incidentally from Rhyl, and an Alarm fan. | The storyline was perfect to be translated into a film, Vinyl - directed by Sara Sugarman, incidentally from Rhyl, and an Alarm fan. |
| Peters was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1995 and described his relationship with the cancer over the next two decades as like "fighting a war". | Peters was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1995 and described his relationship with the cancer over the next two decades as like "fighting a war". |
| At the end of 2005, the singer was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, which returned in 2015 before he went into remission. | At the end of 2005, the singer was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, which returned in 2015 before he went into remission. |
| He co-founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation alongside his wife to help recruit bone marrow donors at live music shows. | He co-founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation alongside his wife to help recruit bone marrow donors at live music shows. |
| It also involved Peters and fellow musicians taking treks to the Himalayas, to peaks including Mount Kilimanjaro and Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, in his native Wales. | It also involved Peters and fellow musicians taking treks to the Himalayas, to peaks including Mount Kilimanjaro and Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, in his native Wales. |
| The charity's director, Kirsty Thomson, called him a "brilliant advocate" of the NHS, adding that he "loved life like nobody else I know". | The charity's director, Kirsty Thomson, called him a "brilliant advocate" of the NHS, adding that he "loved life like nobody else I know". |
| The 2007 concert was billed the "world's highest", watched by 3m online. In 2017, his Big Busk involved a walk between cancer wards at each north Wales hospital and ended on the summit of Snowdon. | The 2007 concert was billed the "world's highest", watched by 3m online. In 2017, his Big Busk involved a walk between cancer wards at each north Wales hospital and ended on the summit of Snowdon. |
| He would take his message to Washington and Westminster. | He would take his message to Washington and Westminster. |
| Peters also filmed a documentary about his cancer fight and one with his wife Jules for BBC Wales about a year in their lives and her recovery from breast cancer, While We Still Have Time. | Peters also filmed a documentary about his cancer fight and one with his wife Jules for BBC Wales about a year in their lives and her recovery from breast cancer, While We Still Have Time. |
| Peters joined Bruce Springsteen on stage at charity concert in 2014 and musicians who had joined The Alarm for impromptu appearances ranged from Bono to Neil Young. | Peters joined Bruce Springsteen on stage at charity concert in 2014 and musicians who had joined The Alarm for impromptu appearances ranged from Bono to Neil Young. |
| Mike Peters performing before the Gary Speed memorial match between Wales and Costa Rica in Cardiff in 2012 | Mike Peters performing before the Gary Speed memorial match between Wales and Costa Rica in Cardiff in 2012 |
| Peters was affable and approachable and tireless in both his campaigning - and in continuing to tour with his music across Europe and the United States, as well as writing new material. | Peters was affable and approachable and tireless in both his campaigning - and in continuing to tour with his music across Europe and the United States, as well as writing new material. |
| There were also annual weekend events in Llandudno - The Gathering - which brought together fans from all over to celebrate the music of Peters and The Alarm. | There were also annual weekend events in Llandudno - The Gathering - which brought together fans from all over to celebrate the music of Peters and The Alarm. |
| In March 2018, part of a tour of Germany was postponed after Peters suffered an allergic reaction to his medication. | In March 2018, part of a tour of Germany was postponed after Peters suffered an allergic reaction to his medication. |
| The musician was awarded an MBE in 2019 for his services to cancer care | The musician was awarded an MBE in 2019 for his services to cancer care |
| In 2025, he became ill again when his Richter syndrome - an aggressive form of lymphoma - returned. | In 2025, he became ill again when his Richter syndrome - an aggressive form of lymphoma - returned. |
| He said it would have killed him within two months if left untreated, adding music had kept him alive since his latest diagnosis. | He said it would have killed him within two months if left untreated, adding music had kept him alive since his latest diagnosis. |
| Peters said he hoped a highly specialised therapy which "re-programmes" his immune cells would lead to a "cancer free life". | Peters said he hoped a highly specialised therapy which "re-programmes" his immune cells would lead to a "cancer free life". |
| "It was devastating because it all happened in an instant," he said. | "It was devastating because it all happened in an instant," he said. |
| "There was no chance to even think about it." | "There was no chance to even think about it." |
| In 2018, he told Guitar World magazine that his "simple message" was "to stay alive and appreciate every second you've got". | In 2018, he told Guitar World magazine that his "simple message" was "to stay alive and appreciate every second you've got". |
| "Live right up to the last breath and stay positive about the world, your family and the environment you live in." | "Live right up to the last breath and stay positive about the world, your family and the environment you live in." |