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
The Road
The Alarm Lyrics
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I keep on coming back for more and more
So many times I get it in the face
I keep on running ' til my dying day
Rain on the roadway, thunder in the sky
The light of day disappears from sight
These wheels are burning up the miles
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
The only limitation is in my mind
I drive awake my eyes are on full beam
The wind is screaming into my slipstream
Something keeps pulling me back from sleep
Whatever it is I want to see
These wheels are burning up the road tonight
The fuel is pumping into my mind
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
These wheels are burning up the miles
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
The only limitation is in my mind
I'll be there when it all comes down
I'll be there
I'll be there when it all comes down
I'll be there
When it all comes down
Come on, come on
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
These wheels are burning up the miles
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
The only limitation is in my mind
The Road
Fuel pumping gasoline in my mind
From the engine to my body
This wheels on fire
The Road
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
The only limitation is in my mind
The Road
"The Road" by The Alarm is a song about resilience, perseverance, and the pursuit of happiness. The lyrics suggest that life is a continuous journey with endless twists and turns that require the singer to persistently dust himself off and continue walking. The first verse sets the tone for the song, which is that it is not an easy road, but the singer, determined to reach his or her goals, keeps coming back for more. The second verse has a more ominous tone with the "rain on the roadway, thunder in the sky, and the light of day disappears from sight." It suggests that the journey may not be smooth, but the singer pushes through the unknown obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Every day I get up from off the floor
Despite being knocked down each day, I keep fighting to get back on my feet
I keep on coming back for more and more
I don't let failure discourage me from chasing my dreams
So many times I get it in the face
I am met with resistance and obstacles along my journey
I keep on running 'til my dying day
I won't stop pursuing my goals until the day I die
Rain on the roadway, thunder in the sky
I face challenges and difficulties that come unexpectedly, much like a storm
The light of day disappears from sight
In the midst of adversity, it can be difficult to see a way out
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
Despite difficulty, I embrace the opportunities that come my way
These wheels are burning up the miles
I am determined to keep moving forward, no matter the distance
The only limitation is in my mind
My own self-doubt and fear can hold me back more than any external factor
I drive awake my eyes are on full beam
I am constantly alert and focused on my goals
The wind is screaming into my slipstream
The difficulties I face are intense, but I will not let them derail my progress
Something keeps pulling me back from sleep
I am too dedicated and motivated to rest until my dreams are fulfilled
Whatever it is I want to see
I have a clear vision of what I want to achieve and will not be deterred
I'll be there when it all comes down
I am committed to seeing things through no matter the outcome
These wheels are burning up the road tonight
I am taking on obstacles with courage and conviction
Fuel pumping gasoline in my mind
My determination is what fuels me to keep going
From the engine to my body
My drive to succeed is innate and runs through every fiber of my being
This wheels on fire
My determination is like a burning flame, unstoppable
Come on, come on
I urge myself to keep pushing, to not give up
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: HARRY MACDONALD, JACK MC ALLISTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind