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 Rock
The Alarm Lyrics
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If only you could feel the pain I hide
Know me, like I know you
Still water running deep in the cavern of my soul
So many roads lead nowhere
Know me, like I know you
Standing silent, waiting to be set free
The rock, the rock, the rock
Will never let you down
The rock will never fall
Or tumble to the ground
The rock, the rock, the rock
Will never let you down
The rock will never fall
Or tumble to the ground
Like a rock
I've been accused of being many things
None of them ever hit the mark
Know me, like I know you
Like a rock, waves clash over me
Standing silent, waiting to be set free
The rock, the rock, the rock
Will never let you down
The rock will never fall
Or tumble to the ground
The rock, the rock, the rock
Will never let you down
The rock will never fall
Or tumble to the ground
Like a rock
The rock, the rock, the rock
Will never let you down
The rock will never fall
Or tumble to the ground
The rock, the rock, the rock
Will never let you down
The rock will never fall
Or tumble to the ground
Like a rock
Hiraeth, hiraeth, hiraeth, hiraeth
The lyrics of The Alarm's song The Rock describe a man who struggles to express his pain and vulnerability, but finds solace in the steadfastness of a rock. The opening line, "I'm a man who bites hard on the bullet of silence", sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is someone who does not easily reveal their feelings, but the pain they feel is real and intense. They call out to someone to "know me, like I know you", suggesting a desire for deeper connection and understanding.
The idea of still water running deep in the caverns of the soul speaks to the idea that there is often more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye. The singer has many roads leading nowhere, indicating a feeling of being lost or directionless. However, the rock is a constant, steadfast presence that will never let you down or tumble to the ground. It becomes a symbol of hope and stability in the midst of chaos.
The repetition of "like a rock, waves clash over me, standing silent, waiting to be set free" reinforces the idea that the singer is facing difficult circumstances, but remains resilient and determined. The final repetition of "The rock, the rock, the rock, will never let you down" suggests that the rock is not only a symbol for the singer's own strength, but also for the strength of the relationships in their life that will be a source of support.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a man who bites hard on the bullet of silence
I am someone who keeps quiet and bears my suffering
If only you could feel the pain I hide
If only you could understand the pain I am hiding
Know me, like I know you
Understand me as I try to understand you
Still water running deep in the cavern of my soul
There is a lot more to me than what meets the eye
So many roads lead nowhere
I have tried many different paths but they have all been dead-ends
Like a rock, waves clash over me
I withstand the tumultuous waves of life, remaining strong
Standing silent, waiting to be set free
I patiently wait for my time of liberation
The rock, the rock, the rock
I represent an unmovable force
Will never let you down
I will always be reliable and steadfast
Or tumble to the ground
I will not crumble under pressure or adversity
I've been accused of being many things
People have accused me of many different traits, but they are all incorrect
None of them ever hit the mark
The accusations against me are unfounded
Hiraeth, hiraeth, hiraeth, hiraeth
This Welsh word represents a feeling of longing for a home that no longer exists or never was
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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