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
Shelter
The Alarm Lyrics
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I've been branded
I've been washed up and left for dead
I've been cast out from this world
I'm in exile
I'm stranded on the streets
No one wants me anymore, anymore, anymore
Now they hunt me down
c'mon and take me to the shelter
SHELTER give me what I want tonight shelter
SHELTER take me undercover tonight
SHELTER
I've been tortured
I've been raging in the breach
In this wicked world
Persecution
I've been carrying my cross
I've been down there on my knees
No one wants me anymore, anymore, anymore
Now they hunt me down
Come on and take me to the shelter
SHELTER give me what I want tonight shelter
SHELTER running undercover tonight shelter
SHELTER
Come on and take me to the shelter
SHELTER give me what I want tonight
(Give me your love) Shelter
SHELTER Sleeping on the streets tonight
(Give me your love) Shelter
SHELTER give me what I want tonight
(Give me your love) Shelter
SHELTER give me what I want tonight
The Alarm's "Shelter" speaks to the experience of being an outsider in society, one who feels cast out and rejected. In the opening lines, the singer describes being "branded," "washed up," and "left for dead." It's a bleak picture of a life that has been stripped of all meaning and purpose. The singer is in exile, stranded on the streets with nowhere to go. He feels hunted and persecuted by a world that no longer wants him.
This feeling of alienation intensifies in the chorus, where the singer pleads for shelter. He needs a safe haven where he can escape from the harshness of the world around him. He wants to be taken undercover and given what he needs to survive. The repetition of "shelter" underscores the urgency of this need. The singer is desperate and vulnerable, and he needs someone to help him.
Throughout the song, the singer speaks to the experience of being a social outcast. He has been "tortured" and "raging in the breach," and he has been "carrying [his] cross." These are all metaphors for the burden of living outside society. The singer is on his knees, not in supplication, but because he has been brought low by his circumstances. He is begging for someone to show him compassion and to offer him a place of refuge.
Overall, "Shelter" is a powerful and poignant depiction of the struggle to belong. It speaks to the human desire for connection and for a place to call home.
Line by Line Meaning
Shelter, oh
The singer is in desperate need of refuge.
I've been branded
The singer has been marked physically, mentally, or emotionally by their experiences.
I've been washed up and left for dead
The singer has been through a traumatic experience that has left them feeling abandoned and hopeless.
I've been cast out from this world
The artist feels like an outsider and has been rejected by society.
I'm in exile
The artist is isolated and alone, separated from their home and community.
I'm stranded on the streets
The singer is without a home or a safe place to go.
Ain't got no place left to run
The singer is out of options and has nowhere else to turn.
No one wants me anymore, anymore, anymore
The artist has been rejected by everyone and feels utterly alone.
Now they hunt me down
The artist is being pursued or persecuted by others.
c'mon and take me to the shelter
The artist is pleading with someone to provide them with a safe space and protection.
SHELTER give me what I want tonight shelter
The singer is desperate for anything that can help them survive and find comfort.
SHELTER take me undercover tonight
The artist wants to be hidden and protected from the dangers of the outside world.
I've been tortured
The singer has been mentally, physically or emotionally tormented.
I've been raging in the breach
The singer is experiencing intense anger and frustration in the midst of suffering.
In this wicked world
The singer is referring to the world as a cruel and corrupt place filled with evil.
Persecution
The artist is being unfairly targeted or oppressed.
I've been carrying my cross
The artist has been enduring great pain and suffering with perseverance and patience, like Jesus carrying his cross to Calvary.
I've been down there on my knees
The singer is humbled and in intense prayer, seeking mercy and guidance.
SHELTER give me what I want tonight
The singer is reiterating their need for immediate help and escape from their desperate situation.
(Give me your love) Shelter
The artist is seeking compassion and caring from someone.
SHELTER Sleeping on the streets tonight
The artist is facing the harsh reality of sleeping on the streets with no protection, and needs somewhere safe to rest for the night.
SHELTER give me what I want tonight
The artist is repeating their desperate plea for help and shelter.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACOB WILLIAM HOGGARD, CHRISTIAN ROBERT CRIPPIN, THOMAS WALTER MACDONALD, DAVE ROSIN, DAVID ROBERT MADISON GENN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Great song, great album, great band
aitech nasus
Shelter Is A Great Straight Up Killer Rock Song By The Alarm And Totally Rocks It Needs To Be Fully Cranked Up All The Way To Full Maximum Volume.
Ted Cantu
Once criticized for wearing their hearts on their sleeves -- but honestly - where else are you going to wear them? Todays music missses every important point of being alive.
Nelson Sanchez
Cool!!!
carter mcafee
this is a cool song because I live on the fricken street in the cold of night and of morning. and rain, and of intrudeners who may beat me or kill me when I'm sleeping
Tom T
I once read a review that claimed this was ripping off Gimme Shelter - I was so pissed!
TheRealBushBoy
A quick listen to the who’s debut Lp “ my generation” from December 1965 and you will discover that a song called “ the goods gone” has exactly the same opening guitar lick that is the pretty much the entire basis for this song.
This song is a complete rip off from the who with pretty much nothing original about it
Krishna Rajballie
And a not-so-quick listen will reveal that it's not "exactly the same opening lick".
gary crook
You're joking
Tricolore Talbot
Yeh guitar intro is v similar but rest of song not. Cracking song by the who tho and this is a belter from The Alarm. Just realised you can sing Alarm's 'Strength' along to Gimme Shelter - Beatles, Stones, Who, Kinks were writing rock standards which have influenced countless bands