Mike Peters of the Welsh band The Alarm died on Tuesday aged 66. The sad news was announced by The Alarm’s official Instagram page, writing that Peters is now “totally free”. No cause of death has been given but Peters had bravely fought blood cancer for thirty years since being first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1995.
Having founded the cancer charity foundation Love Hope Strength with his wife Jules, it revolutionised awareness and action around stem cell donation. Through its innovative “Get On The List” campaigns, Mike Peters held concerts, walks up mountaintops, and recorded charity records. According to Nation Wales: “the charity has added over 250,000 people to the global stem cell registry and helped secure thousands of potential life-saving matches for patients worldwide.”
Most recently, Mike Peters had announced his cancer had returned last year, sharing that his Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia had transformed into a High Grade Lymphoma. Shortly afterwards, he said that his leukemia had undergone “an overnight transformation into a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma known as Richter’s Syndrome”. He continued to fight on and show his characteristic resilience and optimism, taking part in clinical trials for new cancer treatments and announcing a 50 date tour. He never gave in right to the end.
Born in Prestatyn, North Wales, Mike Peters formed The Toilets in Rhyl in 1977, after seeing the Sex Pistols play in Chester. They settled on the rather better The Alarm in 1981 and brought out a series of successful albums throughout the 80s, scoring a UK Top 20 hit in 1983 with ‘Sixty Eight Guns’ and appearing on Top of the Pops.
Their song ‘A New South Wales’ / ‘Hwylio Dros Y Mor’, produced by Tony Visconti (David Bowie / T. Rex), is one of the most enduring of Alarm songs. It went on to be recognised as the first ever bilingual song to reach the UK Top 40 and by pointing Wales’ past towards its future it signposted the way in which a new generation of Welsh artists could express themselves with a greater linguistic freedom.
The Alarm would go on to sell an estimated five million records in their career, along with being the first Welsh musicians since Tom Jones and Bonnie Tyler to crack America.
Since Mike Peters’ passing the tributes have poured in for a musician and a optimistic kind hearted and talented man who had touched so many lives. Manic Street Preachers‘ Nicky Wire shared the artwork for the band’s ‘Declaration’ and wrote: “Very sad news – Mike Peters a true fighter with a heavenly voice. Love to all his family and friends.”
BBC Wales broadcaster Sue Charles tweeted: “Farewell, Mike Peters. The saddest news about one of the nicest guys in rock. The Alarm’s frontman spent much of the last 30 years living with cancer. His optimism and resilience in the face of adversity was inspiring. You lived a life of love, hope and strength.”
Adam Walton of BBC Radio Wales offered these heartfelt words on Facebook: “Mike was one of the most beautiful souls it has ever been my pleasure to meet.
Mike Peters was a force of nature, an uncynical voice who was never cowed by a cynical world.
He put north Wales indelibly on the musical map and sang songs that moved and inspired audiences around the world. He showed unparalleled love and respect for The Alarm’s audience. And in his charity work, his dedication to the causes he supported, he always put the charities and the causes first.
Mike Peters made the world a better place through music, hope, integrity and inspiration, and a defiant spirit.
I wish I were a fraction of the man that Mike Peters was.
A very sad day.
All my love to Jules and their family and friends.”
The FA of Wales tweeted: “Mike will not only be remembered for his music but also as just a proper, genuine football fan who made a huge contribution to the culture of The Red Wall.”
“Mae pawb yn CBDC yn anfon eu cydymdeimlad dwysaf at deulu a ffrindiau Mike Peters.”
Mike Peters’ wife Jules has penned a beautiful tribute to her husband on Instagram. She wrote:
“The kisser and the kissed
Whilst my heart is forever broken after losing my true love in the early hours of this morning, I remain committed to living the best life ever, in honour of our beloved Michael Leslie Peters, 1959-2025
Thank you all for loving him so much.
I was made for loving him.
Aged nineteen he swept me off my feet and I never looked back.
We always joked that I was the kisser and he was the kissed…
He always had his eye on the next tune, the next adventure and kept me wanting more.
He was my Alpha Male.
I have so much to share about our last few weeks together. I want to share because I have always shared and because I want to make sense of it all.
Most importantly Michael Peters’ dying wishes were for us to be happy, to live our lives, to keep on moving forwards.
He told me the other day that he would always be in the other room.
We brought him home.
He passed with us all by his side.
So tonight be happy.
Be happy that we were all able to love MLP.
I will forever be his kisser and will do my best to fulfil all of his desires, heading into the Next Life.
Thanks for loving him so much.
Tonight he is Totally Free“
Rest in Power Mike Peters, you will never be forgotten!
Photo credit: Stuart Ling
