Mike Peters, Lead Singer of The Alarm, Dead at 66

Mike Peters, lead singer of the longstanding Welsh rock band The Alarm, died Tuesday (April 29th) at age 66 after a decades-long battle with blood cancer. His passing was confirmed by the band’s social media accounts.

Peters was first diagnosed with lymphoma in 1995 and later chronic lymphocytic leukemia (blood cancer). Last year, his health took a turn for the worse, forcing The Alarm to cancel a US tour as his chronic lymphocytic leukemia transformed into a high-grade lymphoma.

After going through a number of band names — including The Toilets, Quasimodo, and Seventeen — in the late ’70s as a punk act, Peters, guitarist Dave Sharp, bassist Eddie McDonald, and drummer Nigel Twist settled on the name The Alarm in the early ’80s as part of the new wave scene.

The Alarm released their debut album, Declaration, in 1984 via IRS Records. The LP yielded what would become their signature song, “Sixty Eight Guns.”

The band released four more albums before breaking up in 1991. Along the way, they opened for such acts as U2 and Bob Dylan.

Peters re-formed the band in the 21st century as The Alarm MM++, releasing many albums over the past quarter century. Shortly before Peters’ passing, The Alarm had announced a new album, Transformation, which is set for release on June 6th.

Throughout the years, Peters chronicled his cancer battle, co-founding the Love Hope Strength Foundation with his wife, Jules Jones Peters, who herself has battled breast cancer.

In announcing Peters’ passing, The Alarm posted the song “Totally Free,” which can be heard below along with the classic “Sixty Eight Guns.”