The band began in 1978 in the North-Wales town of Rhyl, under the name of 'Seventeen'. Its 4 members were Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist. They knocked around the music scene for a while with little success and reformed as 'Alarm Alarm' (taken from one of Seventeen's songs) in 1981. Then revered BBC DJ John Peel compared them to Duran Duran and Talk Talk and they quickly changed their name to 'The Alarm'. With the change of their name, came a change of location. The Alarm moved to London and shared a small flat in the city to save money for their first single, 'Unsafe Building' b/w 'Up For Murder'. They came to the attention of U2 in '82 and toured with them as their support band (they frequently reprised that role). In 1983, 'Sixty-Eight Guns' was released. It became their biggest hit, propelling them to #17 in the charts, and they appeared on Top of The Pops for the first and last time. Throughout the decade, the band made more albums, including 'Strength' and 'Eye of the Hurricane'; but by the late 80's The Alarm had begun to drift apart, with Dave Sharp feeling isolated and left out of the song writing process. The relationships within the band were deteriorating. Their last album, 'Raw', was fragmented and the group were breaking apart. On June 30th 1991 at the Brixton Academy, Mike Peters announced on stage that he was leaving 'The Alarm' without telling the rest of the band. And thus The Alarm ended.
The Alarm can lay claim to a series of 15 Top 50 UK singles, including their classic hits, "68 GUNS", "SPIRIT OF 76", "RAIN IN THE SUMMERTIME", "STRENGTH" "45 RPM" and of course "THE STAND".
Ten successful albums and over 5 million sales worldwide, The Alarm's pioneering use of acoustic guitars brought the band into direct contact with the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and U2, all whom have appeared and sung on stage with The Alarm.
Both Mike Peters and Dave Sharp embarked on solo careers with Peters again fronting the second generation of The Alarm with James Stevenson (Gene Loves Jezebel, Chelsea), Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy, The Mission) and Steve Grantley (Stiff Little Fingers).
In 2004 The Alarm returned to the singles charts with 45RPM, the first single released from the bands album, "IN THE POPPYFIELDS".
The story of how the band released the single under a pseudonym, appearing to be a brand new musical act, complete with a group of 21 year olds appearing in the video for 45rpm to help complete the scam, became an international controversial news story and elevated the bands profile to new heights and a major motion picture based on the story is scheduled for production.
In late December 2005, singer Mike Peters revealed he has been diagnosed with a form of cancer called chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but it was diagnosed in its early stages and his prognosis is favourable. This came after he had been in remission from cancer previously that he had fought in the 1990s. Indeed the 1996 solo album Feel Free has a song titled "Regeneration" in which he discusses his diagnosis and subsequent alternative medicine that he believes help cure him.
In 2007 Mike launched the 'Love Hope Strength' foundation which sets to raise funds andand awareness in fighting cancer.
Most recently, in July 2008, The Alarm will be releasing their latest full length album "Guerilla Tactics" Mixed by Gilby Clarke ( Guns N' Roses) on 7 July 2008 and will embark on a U.S. tour this summer on the "Rockin' The Colonies" tour with The English Beat and The Fixx to be followed by The Guerilla Tactics UK Residency tour in 4 Major UK Cities in November 2008.
Mike peters and the band in various forms still meet and play on occasions at local venues. Mike has a strong following and working on his solo career and still is heavily involved in music
Happy Xmas
The Alarm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another year over, a new one just begun.
And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun,
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.
A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one without any fears.
And so this is Christmas for weak and for strong,
The rich and the poor ones, the road is so long.
And so happy Christmas for black and for white
For the yellow and red ones let's stop all the fights.
A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one without any fear.
And so this is Christmas and what have we done
Another year over, a new one just begun.
And so happy Christmas we hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.
A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one without any fear.
War is over if you want it, war is over now.
The song "Happy Xmas" by The Alarm speaks of the celebration of Christmas and the coming of the new year. In the first stanza, it highlights the end of another year and the beginning of a new one. It poses a rhetorical question, asking the listener what they have done over the past year. The second stanza wishes for joy and fun during the holiday season, including for both the young and old. The chorus then comes in with a traditional Christmas greeting, wishing for a happy holiday and a positive start to the new year, without any fear.
The third stanza brings to light the disparities between different socio-economic groups, as the rich and poor individuals both face a long road ahead. In the fourth stanza, the song urges listeners to put aside their differences, stop any unnecessary fighting among individuals from different races or ethnicities, and instead choose to celebrate the holiday season with love and positivity. The chorus is repeated again with the similar hope of a joyful Christmas and a worry-free new year.
The final stanza serves as a call for peace, with the notable line "war is over if you want it." The line is a reference to an anti-war campaign that John Lennon and Yoko Ono created in 1969, intending to promote peace over war. The song as a whole reminds listeners of the sentiments of Christmas, including peace, love, and unity. It encourages individuals to celebrate these values with their loved ones and to create a more positive future.
Line by Line Meaning
So this is Christmas and what have you done,
It’s Christmas time again, and as you look back on the year, what have you accomplished or contributed to the world?
Another year over, a new one just begun.
The year has come to a close, and a new one, full of possibilities and opportunities, is beginning.
And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun,
Christmas is a time for celebration and spending time with loved ones, so I hope you have a great time.
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.
Christmas should be enjoyed with everyone that you hold dear, old and young alike.
A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Wishing you a Christmas filled with joy and a New Year filled with happiness.
Let's hope it's a good one without any fears.
Let's hope that the upcoming year is a positive one without any worries and fears.
And so this is Christmas for weak and for strong,
Regardless of your position in life, everyone celebrates Christmas.
The rich and the poor ones, the road is so long.
Whether you are rich or poor, life's journey is a long one.
And so happy Christmas for black and for white
Christmas is for everyone, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
For the yellow and red ones let's stop all the fights.
We should acknowledge and accept all different ethnicities and put an end to violence and fighting.
War is over if you want it, war is over now.
If we truly desire it, we can put an end to war and conflict.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Winston Lennon, Yoko Ono
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kitsnow5307
Really good version of Lennon's Happy Christmas song. One of the best I heard. Well done. Miss you, John.
@VillemarMxO
This is the best version, full stop. Masterpiece
@BlckDuck
This is a good song for this year. Lets hope the next year is better, "without any fear".
@jasoncarpp7742
Although I'm not familiar with The Alarm, I have heard their version of Happy X-mas (War Is Over). I think theirs is the best version I've ever heard. :)
@edsonaraujo6888
One of my fav bands playin' one of my fav song. Killer version. Miss ya Johnny.
@stevehughes5947
Johnny?
@trfesok
From the "Standards". Recorded with the same Welsh choir, I assumed that they used for "A New South Wales". I put this in my Xmas playlist with Lennon's original demo, the final version and other covers by Jimmy Buffett, Sarah MacLachlan & the Moody Blues. Thanks for the upload
@MotoramaPeruvian
Amo la navidad 🎄 viva Perú
@antdusk1339
Better than the old one!
@stewartsmart5481
Fuck yeah Mike peters a legand singing a song by a legend