Mike Peters, the Welsh musician known for fronting '80s rock band the Alarm, has died. He was 66.
As The Guardian reports, Peters's death was announced by a spokesperson for the Love Hope Strength Foundation — the cancer charity he co-founded with his wife, Jules, which has recruited hundreds of thousands of stem cell donors since its launch in 2006. Jules survives him, as well as their sons, Dylan, 20, and Evan, 18.
Peters died of blood cancer after having been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) over 30 years ago. Five days before he was due to begin an extensive US tour last year, the musician noticed that a lump in his neck had appeared overnight. He cancelled the tour and was diagnosed with Richter's syndrome, which is when CLL changes into a much more aggressive form of lymphoma.
Born in Prestatyn, North Wales, Peters grew up living in Rhyl's Crescent Hotel alongside future bandmate Eddie MacDonald. Before forming the Alarm, Peters made his musical debut in 1975, fronting Hairy Hippie, a band he put together with some school friends to perform at his sister's 21st birthday party. His first proper band was the Toilets, before joining MacDonald, Dave Sharp and Nigel Twist as Seventeen in 1978.
Seventeen then evolved into the Alarm, with the band moving to London in 1981 to tour the club circuit there. By 1983, they would embark on their first world tour supporting U2, and, in 1984, they released their debut album, Declaration, on IRS Records. Their activism-infused rock songs like "Sixty Eight Guns" and "The Stand" found chart success in the UK, while later hits like "Rain in the Summertime" and "Strength" helped the band make headway in the US.
The Alarm broke up in 1991, with Peters walking off the stage during a show at Brixton Academy. He went on to have a solo career that same decade, then fronted Big Country from 2011 to 2013. Peters continued touring and recording up until 2024.