Mike Peters Interactive Acoustic - Last Solo Tour of the 20th Century
 
On the cusp of the 2Oth Century, Mike Peters continues to perform the unexpected on his current solo UK Tour. High on the crest of a wave of touring which began in Boston on October 16th, Mike has been weaving his way across venues across America with The Mission and Gene Loves Jezebel and here in the UK with Big Country, and now solo acoustic in small theatres and traditional acoustic venues and even churches across the British Isles.
 
Mike's recent performances reflect the diversity of his compositions over the last twenty years of songwriting....
 
Preston Adelphi December 15th 1999 (Compiled by MPO member, John O'Donnell)
 
Feel Free
Absolute Reality
Unsafe Building
Rise
The Stand
Burnout Syndrome
The Deceiver
Ground Zero
Working Class Hero
Breathe
Rescue Me
Shelter
Regeneration
68 Guns
Into The 21st Century
We Are The Light
Declaration
Marching On
Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke?
It Just Don't Get Any Better Than This
One Step Closer To Home
Pavilion Steps
Reason 41
High On The Hill
Levis & Bibles
Spirit Of 76
Deeside
This Train Is Bound For Glory
Blaze Of Glory
Rockin In The Free World
Walk Forever By My Side
Merry Christmas (War Is Over)
 
Hebden Bridge: Trade's Club, 16th December 1999 (Compiled bty MPO member, John O'Donnell)

Unsafe Building
Rise
Absolute Reality
First Light
The Deceiver
Burnout Syndrome
Majority
Ground Zero
Strength
The Day The Ravens Left The Tower
Breathe
Rain In The Summertime
One Step Closer
Declaration
Marching On
Where Were You Hiding
Howling Wind
Sold Me Down The River
68 Guns
Spirit Of 76
Into The 21st Century
Blaze Of Glory
Rockin In The Free World
Merry Christmas (War Is Over)
 
Worksop, Regal Centre, 17th December 1999 (Compiled by MPO member, Batspice)
 
Part I
Feel Free
White Noise
Broken Silence
Love We Made
Rise
High on the Hill
Levis & Bibles
Burnout Syndrome
First Light
You are to me
No better than this
Regeneration
Breathe
Part II
Unsafe Building
The Stand
The Deceiver
We are the Light
Absolute Reality
Strength
Unbreak the Promise
Walk Forever by my side
Rain in t' Summertime
Rescue Me
Sold me down t' River
Marching On
68 Guns
Spirit of 76
Encore
Where Where you Hiding
Blaze of Glory


Mike Peters @ Glasgow.
 
Mike played one of his most memorable shows to date at the picturesque Cottier Theatre in Glasgow. Set against a snowy landscape, Mike treated his enthusiastic audience to a classic set of Alarm songs and solo compositions. A set of two halves, this enabled the audience to refuel as no alcohol or heating was available inside the church!
 
First Half
 
Feel Free
White Noise
Broken Silence
The Love We Made
Rise
High On The Hill
Levi's & Bibles
Burnout Syndrome
Alive
Ground Zero
Regeneration
Breathe
 
Second Half
 
Unsafe Building
The Stand
For Freedom
The Deceiver
How The Mighty Fall
Deeside
Majority
We Are The Light
Absolut Reality
Rain In the Summertime
Rescue Me
Sold Me Down The River
Marching On
Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke?
68 Guns
Spirit Of '76
Walk Forever By My Side
Blaze Of Glory


For information on the Scottish Bus travelling from Glasgow to Llandudno for the Millennium Gathering on Jan 14th and 15th, year 2000, please call James Newall on 01698 375189...
 
 


 
 

Flesh And Blood Play Info

Mike Peters Birday Show, Feb. 25th, 2000

For information on the Scottish Bus travelling from Glasgow to Llandudno for the Millennium Gathering on Jan 14th and 15th, year 2000, please call James Newall on 01698 375189...

Jill Tunstall talks to 4 Real Producer and Director, Dafydd Wyn, who has put the focus on Welsh pop music over the last 40 years... (Daily Post Dec 18th 1999)
 
It's not unusual to find a Welsh band at the top of the charts these days. 40 years after the record with that title became Wales' first number one, Welsh music is still making it's mark in the music world.
 
When Welsh rocker Tom Jones stormed to the top of the charts in the 1960's with 'It's not Unusual' it was very unusual.
 
And then it seemed to go quiet until the 1990's when a huge resurgence of Welsh national pride found it's voice in bands such as Catatonia and The Manic Street Preachers.
 
What people don't realise, says Dafydd Wyn, who has just produced and directed '4 Real - Four Decades of Welsh Pop', is that there were many Welsh bands around in between - but not everybody knew where they came from.
 
"There's a general lack of knowlege about the Welsh pop history. Everybody knows about Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey but there were a lot of Welsh bands that people didn't know were Welsh", says Dafydd.
 
"In the 1960's you had Tom Jones doing the pop star bit, Dave Edmunds doing the rock guitar and John Cale in New York doing Avant Garde with the Velvet Underground, they were the Holy Trinity, if you like."
 
Those were the instantly recogniseable but bands like Man, Budgie and Amen Corner were also Welsh as were artists like Tony Atoria in the 1970s, Steve Strange of Visage and Shakin' Stevens and Bonnie Tyler in the 1980s.
 
"The first programme takes us up to Mike Peters and The Alarm who were the first 'Welsh band' who stood up and said
'we are welsh', recording half their final album in Welsh which is very 'now', says Dafydd. "The Alarm represented a watershed for Welsh bands."
 
The second programme looks at how bands such as The Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, The Super Furry Animals and The Stereophonics built on that new spirit of Welsh pop.
 
It was at that time that The Manic's lead singer Richey Edwards carved '4 Real' into his forearm with a knife in response to Radio One DJ Steve Lamacq's questioning of the band's authenticity.
 
"The second programme looks at the Welsh language scene and the present day with huge stadium gigs tied in with nationalism," says Dafydd.
 
There's also a look at the Newport scene. In the early 90's, music critics labelled Newport, the 'New Seattle'. TJ's Club in the town was a prominent launch pad for new talent and was regularly visited by spotters from the top record companies.
 
As for the future Dafyyd's own prediction is that Big Leaves and Murray The Hump are the bands to put your money on.
 
He also likes to see an extended version of this two part series  - which features many interviews with the bands in their formative years.
 
"Itr should be eight one hour progrqammes instead of two half hours ," he said. "Hopefully, someone will let me do that next."
 
(* 4 Real: Sounds good: Wales has produced some great bands and singers including Mike Peters from The Alarm, Catatonia, the Manic Street Preachers and, of course, Tom Jones... HTV/Tuesday/5.30pm/21st December 1999)

 

A new feature, the "Flesh And Blood Photo Album" has been added to the site. You can get to it by clicking on the "Features" menu option to the left, clicking on the "Flesh and Blood Photo album" icon under the features section on the homepage, or by clicking here.

So Big Jim wanted me to tell you all about Mexico, did he? To be honest, Mexico was all about ‘hang over’ for me. We were all so wasted to begin with, after Los Angeles... Meeting Ado at LAX, I felt pretty sure we were going to have trouble at customs. He had a wild look in his eye and the same kind of deameanour as when I travelled and became inebriated with him from Heathrow to LA on a previous Coloursound voyage. I think we consumed almost 15 bottles of (small) champagne that trip much to the concern of Mike and Billy, ‘the band for the millennium’, who flew tee-total all the way.

Sure enough, at Mexico City Airport, we were all herded into a very concerning little white room. As James has mentioned, Mike quipped ‘No visas- no geezers’.. We didn’t have a clue what was going on. It was all a bit of a laugh at first but as the minutes ticked by, images of ‘Midnight Express’ (which coincidentally I had fallen asleep to only a few nights before) began to haunt me. I was dying to film it on MPO’s Digital camera but lacked the bottle. Mike Peters, surprise, surprise, had no such qualms and proceeded to give us all a near heart attack as he filmed the officials running back and forth, checking our visas.

We were released finally without any body searching, thankfully. It was another fiasco passing through customs with all our gear. Bags, cases, guitars cluttering the airport as we all clambered aboard our vehicle. Mexico City was freezing cold. I was so wasted and yearned to just shut myself away for a day to sleep. No such luck as instead we were whisked to a a press conference where MP, the Jezebels plus Ado, the sole representataive of The Mission proceeded to answer questions and generally extract the Michael out of eachother.

By the time we arrived back at our hotel we had perked up and were ready to party. Taking full advantage of the ‘charge whatever you want to your room - in moderation’ instruction, we proceeded to obey orders whilst forgetting the ‘moderation’ part. Why is it that 2 margueritas are never enough? The night passed in a blur of drunkard loud conversation and when I stirred the following morning I felt confident I had escaped lightly.

Not so. This was the Mexican Marguerita Hangover from Hell. As the day progressed I deteriorated rapidly. Driving around Mexico City with the concert promoters and journalists, absorbing the amazing sights and sounds of the city, I finally surrendered and unashamedly pebble-dashed the bathroom of the clothes/record/guitar store we were currently browsing. It’s not cool being hungover away from the security of your own bathroom, especially when you’re trying to pretend that you are not hungover, in the slightest. God, I felt so ill, so ashamed, so annoyed with muself. Where’s my self-control? Why do I always get so smashed in new locations (I drank myself into a frenzy when I first visited Japan with Mike in a Tokyo Karaoke Bar. Once, in Kansas City, I had to be physically removed from the Merchandise Desk for offensive drunkard behaviour). Other than that I’m fairly well behaved and nowhere near as bad as a certain Craig Adams.

Despite the hangover, I still managed to slip in some shopping - this had to be well manouevoured nevertheless, in between stomach lurches. Mike and I have a shared love of all furniture Mexican and so of course went overboard on the purchase of Mexican mirrors. We decided to worry about their trip across the Atlantic, later.

I tottered tentaively as Mike took the stage that night and winced somewhat as the Mexicans screamed wildly. The Alarm had never had a hit in Mexico, unlike the Jezebles and The Mish and so Mike decided to play a complete solo ‘Mike P’ set. He was received rapturously by the very warm-hearted Mexicans.

The Merchandise Desk was a joke and as my Spanish is limited (ie. non-existent) I had to leave my display in charge of the Mexican promoters. When I returned, the Mish/GLJ/MP store had been transformed into a Mexican record store and only the most die-hard fans would have been able to extract our merch. When in Rome...

All the chaps very much enjoyed themselves and the evening culminated in a raucous version of ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’. I was still hungover and very white at this point and nearly gagged when we were taken to a local bar after the show, serving authentic Mexican cuisine.

This was my second visit to Mexico and I would love to return with more time on my hands to visit the Pyramids outside the City and revisit the spectacular Cabo San Lucas (where Mike played at the opening of the Hard Rock Cafe a few years back). At this point, exhausted and suffering from food poisoning (my story and I’m sticking to it) I was very happy to return to America and the reassuring comforts of Florida.

Orlando Airport was a non stop experience of security checks even after stepping off the plane. That’s the Disney state for you. It felt great to step outside into a warm balmy atmosphere and of course the sterile House of Blues with all its creature comforts backstage. A bunch of Brits were on our guestlist tonight and surprisingly I felt remarkably perkier and was soon gingerly supping a Corona to raise my party spirits.

The rest of Florida passed pleasantly and I made a mental note to plan a vacation here soon. The last few times we visited had resulted in the issue of many speeding tickets and I had felt the Florida experience too authoritarian for my tastes. This time however it was a much more liberating time...

Mike and I had initially planned (or should I say Me) to tag a week’s vacation in Miami at the end of the Resurrection Tour. I was quite surprised at the time when Mike agreed to it but come to think of it he had looked a bit glazed. As the tour progressed and Mike turned his attentions to ‘Flesh and Blood’ I realised that a holiday was out of the question.

There are those of you I should imagine who will think we have just been on one long vacation and for some parts I expect you’re right. Like all professions though, life on the road can be demanding and tiring with its glamorous shiny bits and non-glamorous tarnished bits.

I did put my tired toes down however when Mike was trying to change the flights home a day early, as this had already been earmarked as my Christmas Shopping Day. I won and soon Mike was in his element trailing the Florida mall in search of gifts and of course the occasional shirt for himself.

Orlando to Manchester was uneventful despite the 21 years bad luck upon retrieving our Mexican mirrors. The frames were still in tact and so all was not lost. We were collected by the chattiest Welsh taxi driver I have ever met and we were soon updated on all the village happenings since our departure. This guy had played football with my Dad, drank in Mike’s Mum and Dad’s pub and worked with Nightrider’s Mum (who had been teching on the tour with us-Nightrider,that is, not his Mum)... Mr. Taxi Driver drove about 50 miles an hour all the way back to Wales as he regaled us with his tales of Welsh wickedry and wit.

As the Wesh border approached, I reflected on the last six weeks. It had surpassed all my expectations. We had been lucky to share great comaradarie with the Jezebles and the Mish and of course put faces to mames of many more MPO members. There were no real low points other than sheer tiredness and the desire for rest and recuperation. Otherwise, the Resurrection Tour had achieved its intention: a group of friends who enjoy eachother’s company taking a roadtrip across America with a few ‘right good tunes’ along the way. We had shared some spectacular sights along the way in America but as we reached the brow of the hill, the ‘green green’ of Wales failed to disappoint and I felt wildly elated to be back home...

{Next, Mission in the UK, Flesh and Blood, Mike Peters on tour in the UK...}

When rock musicians of the calibre of Mike Peters (the Alarm), Billy Duffy (the Cult), and Craig Adams (the Mission) get together, great things will inevitably be expected. And listening to Coloursound's debut, the band's pedigree is clear as they effortlessly meld influences from the past three decades of rock music to create a very solid debut release.

Coloursound's music is hard to pin down. One minute there are shades of classic rock, the next the early 80s sounds of U2 and the Alarm are apparent, and before you know it you're hearing shades of 90s revisionist rock. But while their influences may be divided by time, Coloursound's own music is consistently focused. Peters's vocals lead the proceedings, with a healthy dose of lead guitar from Duffy and a more than solid rhythm section in the form of Adams (bass) and Scott Garrett (drums).

Possibly the most immediate track, "Heavy Rain" has an apocalyptic tone as Peters sings of the changing times we live in. The lyrics throughout are rich with imagery while the tone shifts from the hopeful striving of the opener "Under the Sun" through to darker tracks. The writing comes from the combined pens of Peters and Duffy and its desire to find that which is real and substantial is constant. Hints of Peters's Christian faith are spread through the album, but the band won't be pigeonholed because of it.

The skill of these musicians, their passion and drive, combine to produce an excellent straight-ahead rock album. For those who like their rock to be meaty and well rounded, this is well worth a listen.

Legends in their own times, Billy Duffy, the axeman for The Cult, and Mike Peters, the front-man for The Alarm, have teamed up to create an album of full-throttle, guitar-driven rockers and melodic alterna-pop hits. Although this project was born out of mutual respect and friendship not ambition, their collaboration to reconquer the airwaves makes good marketing sense. Both of these blokes rose and fell from fame with a series of popular "alternative" albums in the Eighties and early Nineties, only to be left standing apart from their respective bands. Technically, The Cult's disbanding has turned out to be only a hiatus since they've recently reformed to tour and record another album, making Duffy's participation in Coloursound merely an interesting side-project between Cult gigs. The Alarm, however, effectively parted ways for good when Peters shook the dust off his feet exiting the stage during a show (let's just say he knows how to make an exit.) Although, Peters has maintained an impressive solo career for himself through a trio of acclaimed solo albums of impressive quality and high energy, he has not reclaimed his former and deserved radio air-play stature.

With many projects to their individual credit neither Duffy nor Peters really needed each other, but the pairing of their talents sure does sound like a brilliant way to reclaim some of the spotlight they've been missing. They are helped along here by a tight rhythm section consisting of bass guitar player Craig Adams, formerly of the Mission, and Scott Garrett, formerly of many bands, including a brief stint with The Cult.

As far as the shades of modern rock go, the colour of this collective sound is multi-hued and incandescent: modern rock that shimmers and shakes with high energy and appropriate rock and roll fury. If you are especially fond of guitar-driven anthems along the same lines these artists have delivered in the past, this project will be especially pleasing to you. Coloursound is the sound of a band that has not distanced themselves too far from their roots. Mike Peter's powerful caterwauling firmly recalls his former days fronting The Alarm. He still has an impressive set of pipes, whether he is shouting to the bleachers in the balcony or whispering a ballad. Duffy, by his own admission, is not one of the world's greatest guitar players, but he still knows how to crank out a catchy guitar riff. Fans of his work on Cult albums like Electric and Sonic Temple are treated to similar stuff here. Overall, the past and present collide to create the expected chemistry, causing great rock and roll moments to sound decidedly cool and contemporary.

To be fair, there isn't a clunker in this cache of cuts. A dignified diversity of sound, effects, energy, and overall songwriting make for a memorable, enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, there aren't enough runaway stand-out songs like "Alive" and "Under the Sun," to sustain the magic. If you are looking to revisit some of the glory of the past, than this album makes for a perfect side-bar to your Cult, Alarm, or Mike Peters collections. Unfortunately, it also adds very little new or noteworthy to the annals of modern rock. Given the talent of both Peters and Duffy, fans might have expected them to reach greater heights of creativity. Despite their considerable efforts, however, Coloursound is merely "solid" and "recommended," when it could have been "brilliantly breathtaking."

Mike Peters Live
From all the reports we have received, Mike Peters' "Flesh And Blood" (Weekend during which he recorded an entire album with ex-alarm member Eddie MacDonald, a string quartet, and the Morriston Orpeus Male Vpice Choir) follwed by his solo acoustic and UK Electric Tour supporting Big Country are going down a storm!

Check out the specific dates in the TOUR section for reports from fans.

Why No News?

News updates have been seldom on both http://www.mikepetersweb.com and http://www.coloursound.com for the past couple months and here is why:

Just after the early October Coloursound show, Mike Peters jetted off to the USA for the "The Mission, Gene Love Jezebel" tour. Right after that tour, it was the "Flesh And Blood" recording, and then the Solo Tour and UK Dates supporting Big Country. Right after those dates are completed, the MPO usually takes a 2-week Christmas break. The Gathering comes up very fast in January, and then after that, Mike embarks on a short UK tour to play shows that were displaced by the Bug Country tour. Then, in February Mike starts touring with the "Flesh And Blood" play production.

As you can see the last couple months, and the next few months are going to be very busy for Mike and company. Even in this age of instant communication, these hectic schedules have made it very difficult to catch up with the MPO and get tour reports, or any kind of news.

What I'm trying to say is that the lack of news is actually good news. Mike Peters and the MPO are so busy, that there has not been much time for updates. Instead of reading news here, it is time to get out and go to one of the UK shows, The Gathering, and the "Flesh And Blood" production. It is time to listen to "Rise", "Mike Peters: Live" and the "Coloursound" album. Next year will bring great things, but right now we must be satusfied that Mike Peters is a busy man, creating some of the best music in the world, for us all to hear.

Mike Peters is current on a UK tour with solo dates and dates with a full band (including Eddie MacDonald of The Alarm)supporting Big country. Why not add your comments about the shows toMPO Bulletin Boards. We'd love to here from you!

Discuss "Flesh And Blood" on the MPO Bulletin Boards.

How was the weekend?
How did you like the new songs?
How was Eddies?
How was Mike?

Tell us!

Mike Peters and Eddie MacDonald BBC Wales, Cardiff
December 4th

50 extra tickets for the Saturday night performance of Mike Peters and Eddie
Macdonald together with the Morriston Orpheus Choir are to be released on
Monday 29th November (due to a last minute increase in studio capacity).
Please e-mail mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk if you are interested in ordering a
ticket or telephone MPO on 01745 571571 (please leave your name and
telephone number if you reach the MPO Answer Service). Tickets are priced
£15

I think that Jules inviting me to participate in her legendary "Jules New" originated from me leaning over her shoulder from the seat behind in the tour bus reading her stories as they appeared on her lap-top screen as she typed away. "Come on, Jules - aren't you going to mention this or that". She got very fed up with me.

The Ressurection tour, I think has been a special tour for us all. Even the worst, hardest, most painful tours, one can look back on fondly in six months time, but this one has really been a non-stop laugh and fun from the start. Sure, a lot of hard drives and sleepless nights but the good humour has pervaded the whole of the past five weeks. The only other "package" tour I can compare it to was when Gene Loves Jezebel went out with Echo and the Bunnymen and New Order in '87 and that was a very different story.

I think it's a lot to do with us all knowing eachother before the tour started and all being mates. Tours can become very tense and the friendship between us all has diluted the stresses that inevitably occur and the "cross-pollenisation" as we call it.

Craig and I are in Mike's Electric band. Scott is the drummer on the Coloursound record. Craig, Scott and I all played together in The Cult in '94/5. Craig is on Jay's (Aston - GLJ singer) solo album, "Unpopular Songs", Wayne Hussey mixed a track on the GLJ remix album, 'Desire', Jay opened for Mike acoustically on the 1998 Rise Tour etc. etc. It's only in the past 4 or 5 years that we've all become close but our paths have constantly crossed during the past fifteen years.

In fact, the first time I laid eyes on Craig was in 1987. He was being handcuffed across the front desk of the Hyatt on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles by two members of the LAPD for an incident involving nakedness, the hurling of suitcases and Craig not being able to get into his room. I've never been able to get to the bottom of it.

Anyway, the tour started on the East Coast, New York's Irving Plaza being a particular favourite gig for me. Through the grey Mid West (nicer to play in the Summer) and then out West through Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City to the West Coast. In San Francisco, we trod the boards of the legendary Filmore where the likes of Hendrix, The Who and Led Zep, and the whole of the 60's/70's West Coast USA scene had gone before. Really one of the most legendary venues of all. Now, we on the Resurrection Tour have all done more than our fair share of touring but I think it's fair to say we were all in awe of the venue and its legend to some degree.

I've been touring since I was seventeen years old. I think it was at the Filmore that Craig and Wayne said semi-joking (I hope) that I needed a bigger shirt to disguise my extremely minor but still slightly protruding beer belly (hey - I can still get into a pair of 28" jeans). We had a laugh when I pointed out that in the old days they'd have said, "James - you need to lose a bit of weight." Now, as we get older, it's "Hey James - you need a bigger shirt!"

My wife, Kirstin flew to San Francisco to meet us and come on the tour for ten days. Jules and Kirstin are avid shopping partners - I fear the worst. Luckily, after the San Francisco show we have a 900 mile drive to Seattle, so hunting time for new sartorial tit bits is thankfully, extremely limited.

After Seattle, and the gig a short drive away in Portland the next day are over, we are all dreading the drive from Portland to Reno where the gig is the following day. The 550 mile drive necessitates leaving after the gig in Portland and putting in at least 200 miles of the journey to make the 350 miles the next day feasible. My wife and I, Jay and his girlfriend, Jessica Blake (who has been playing keyboards for us on the tour), Wayne, Craig and Scotty G elect to pay for flights. We arrive in Reno, "The Biggest Little City in the World" at 1.00 the next afternoon, on a par, surprisingly, with The Mission contingent who've driven.

Mike and Jules have been travelling with us (there are two buses on the tour) and arrive with our bass player, Pete Rizzo and T.M. (Tour Manager), Richard Hawkins at about 4.00pm. They've driven through the night and look like they've just returned from a tour of duty in Vietnam. I moan about the stress of finding a taxi at the airport to piss them off.

We are playing in the Reno Hilton, right in the enormous gaming area. A surreal sight to behold. At soundcheck, Jay shouts at the "Mish" in his best Al Pacino drawl - "you guys are gonna make it to Vegas!" Craig is incorrigible about our dressing room rider deli trays being removed for dispoal after being out for 2 hours and deemed unhygenic. This prompts all kinds of banter about the US being responsible for consuming 50% of the world's resources.

The gig was fantastic, although both Jules and my wife miss it all. I told them to stay off the Margueritas. They've both had to retire early. The Mission leave for Las Vegas the next day. We all like Reno and decide to stay and make the long drive to Vegas the day after. I tragically lose on the blackjack tables (it was always easier in the school playground).

We have to leave at 7.30am the next morning. It's a slow drive 450 miles through the Nevada desert without motorways. I start moaning that we won't even "make doors" in Vegas, that we won't get there in time for a soundcheck, when our progress is slow. Jay christens me James "harbinger of doom" Stevenson. Touring is a wonderful way to see the world. When else would you be in the Nevada desert on the 95 South between Reno and Vegas, just west of Death Valley.

We all went pawn shopping in Reno the day before we left. I bought a guitar, Jessica bought a guitar, the bus is cramped. As we pass an antiques store in the middle of nowhere, Mike says there's a nice baby grand in there we should get. We all collapse laughing.

After Vegas we play Santa Ana and The House of Blues in LA. In Craig's diary www.themission.co.uk he compares it to playing a Mcdonalds. I know what he means. Clinical, sterile, corporate. After the LA show and the inevitable socialising afterwards we get to our hotel at 3.00am. We get picked up at 6.30am for the journey to LAX and the flight to Mexico. At the airport we are greeted by an extremely jolly Craig who's elected to stay up all night and got a cab to the airport in advance of the rest of us. Unfortunately, he's had too many "sharpeners" to facilitate checking us all in in advance. We all sleep on the plane.

At Mexico City we are greeted cautiously by that country's immigration officials and ushered to a room for undesirables, references to Midnight Express abound. We haven't got work permits. Do we need work permits? "No visa, no geezers" quips Mike. That stuck for the duration of our time there. The promoter in Mexico comes and sorts out the problem and its straight to an Instore appearance and press conference. We are asked to introduce ourselves. Mike first, then Jay, myself, Jessica, Pete from Gene Loves Jezebel. Craig is the only member of "The Mish" there. "And I am The Mission!" he shouts standing up, both arms raised... We should all get an early night but after the press conference the hotel bar beckons...

Singers get the short straw when it comes to promotion. Everyone wants to talk to them. To give Jay a break, Pete and I say we'll do the radio interview at 9.30am the next morning. The DJ asks us if we are from Wallace. Dallas? we retort. "No - you are from Wal-ess and Mike Peters too." We work out she means 'Wales'. We all go out to the fabulous and incredibly cheap markets (like the mirrors, Jules) before soundcheck.

The gig is wonderful. The crowd of 2000 is completely wild and spontaneous. We all get up for a grand finale "Knockin' on Heaven's Door' , Mike, Jay and Wayne singing a verse each. Jules' video battery unfortunately ran out almost immediately. Bummer.

We all finally get back to the hotel at 3.00am. We meet in the lobby at 7am. We thought the promoter was paying for all our bar tabs. He's not. Inevitable arguments and negotiations ensue regarding who had what. Apparently, no-one had much to drink at all. We get to the airport with 20 minutes to get on the flight.

Usual chaos in Orlando when we get there. We turn up at the wrong Holiday Inn. When we finally find the right hotel, everyone is too tired to even go out and eat. I am perplexed to find my guitar locked in its flightcase (I never use the locks). Another job out of the ordinary for the ingeneous Nightrider. Back in the USA. Jules will fill you in what happens next...the final three gigs of the tour in Florida.

-James Stevenson

With the help of Manchester's own John O'Donnell, we have upated many of the December UK tour dates with detailed venue information. Take a look.
Thanks John.

So where were we? Ah yes, the flickering flames of Seattle and the bus exploding with anticipation... There is always a point on tour, I feel, when things burst out of control. Seattle was that night for the Resurrection tour. Personally, I had a great night but for others who will remain anonymous, it was pretty explosive. In other words, we witnessed a lot of drunkard bickering and bitching. It's only natural I guess - fourteen people cooped up together for weeks on end...

I had been joined on tour by the Touring Beaver ( no jokes, please), otherwise known as Kirstin Beaver Stevenson, my dear friend and wife of MP/GLJ guitarist, James Stevenson. Kirsten and I are rock'n roll soul chick mates. She has a healthy passion for all heels high and I must admit to feeling slightly jealous when her arrival was marked by a spanky little outfit which put my tired jeans and trainers to shame.

(You might like to know that as a result of the recent Coloursound London show, I seriously damaged my big toenail, after I tottered the length and breadth of the Astoria that evening, answering to the beck and call of the Coloursound gods. I'm thinking of sueing for damages and so it's kind of killed the whole tottering thing for me for a while).

Anyway, back to the Touring Beaver. Let's say we had a lot of fun in Seattle whilst all the portents of doom were occuring. Touring Beav is the original Rock Chick and it was with much persuasion that I had to introduce her to the delights of merchandising and frontline 'fan' chatting, instead of tottering backstage. T.B. was very concerned about my toenail, more from the point of view of it damaging our shopping expeditions, I think, than anything else.

Seattle also marked a quite dangerous laundry moment as we were all a little low on smalls and I think this added to the growing tension. Upon arriving at our hotel, I decided to beat the rush by washing our undies at 3 in the morning. The things you do! We felt so good the next day. Clean clothes can become the be all and end all on tour.

As we ventured to Portland and the state of no tax, Mike and I sat smugly in our clean smalls whilst the others wallowed in another day of dirty laundry. The weather was atrocious and it was a treacherous journey to the Aladdin theatre. The Aladdin was a slice of fifties' nostalgia and suited Mike's acoustic performance perfectly.

By the close of play, the backstage area was littered with beer bottles and an assorted variety of Miss. Whiplash types who had been oggling Ado all evening. In fact, even I oggled Ado for a couple of numbers, admiring the way he moved and the high shine of his freshly shaved head. I extracted myself from the dressing room debris and settled myself on the bus in preparation for the arduous drive to Reno, Nevada. We drove all through the night and at ten the next morning, I awoke to the most spectacular lakeside view.

We arrived in Reno mid afternoon and allegedly looked as though we had just returned from Vietnam. I did feel pretty lagged, it has to be said and it was with much relief that I sailed past the slot machines to the luxury of my bed.

Satellite MPO was calling however and by the time I had attended to e-mails and telephone calls, it was showtime. As Mike took the stage, I was reeling with tiredness and close to keeling over every time I bent down to sell a T shirt. We were all set for a Big Night Out but the Touring Beaver and I had reached our touring peaks and we were both tucked up like Rock Chick Cinderellas at Midnight whilst our Prince Charmings continued their Big Night Out Without us.

God, Sunday was actually a day off! I slept obscenely until mid afternoon, when I was awoken by the Touring Beaver and the rest of the Jezebels to go shopping. We spent all afternoon trailing around pawn shops and malls in communal pursuit of our shared love of tour purchasing. James Stevenson bought yet another guitar despite the continued lack of space on our vehicle whilst we, the girlies bought rings for our fingers but no bells for our toes, for obvious reasons. The rest of the night was taken up with long, lingering dinners and for some, fast, furious gambling...

I felt like throwing up at 7 the next morning when our wake-up call was delivered. We all piled into the van, caffe lattes and blueberry muffins accompanying us as revival fuel. By this point, we had all laid claim to our own personal space in the van and woe betide anyone who stepped out of line. I like to position myself somewhere close to James Stevenson (MP guitarist and Gene Loves Jezebel guitarist) as we are pretty much on the same page. We like a laugh, a 'sharpener' and making deals, not necessarily in that order. We also share a fascination with Everest (as well as Mike P) and while away many a roadmile discussing our 'on road' literature which includes 'Into Thin Air' and 'The Climb'. We have planned the idea of taking a trip to Base Camp together and once, after too many sharpeners, convinced ourselves of the idea of becoming the first Rock'n' Roll band to ascend Everest...

It was a long and winding and spectacular journey to Vegas. We all gasped in amazement as we drove along the strip to the House of Blues, despite us all having visited Vegas before. (Mike and I were last here in 1990 when we took a road trip to Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon (now, there's a story) and stopped off in Vegas to catch fellow Welshman, Mr. Tom Jones, in concert). Vegas had haemeorraged in the meantime and I filmed the whole scene in digital slow mo, for prosperity's sake.

If you've read Ado's Diaries at www.themission.co.uk then you will know that Craig compares playing the House of Blues to playing at Mcdonalds. I tend to agree. The first time I frequented the House of Blues was on Sunset in LA with Billy Duffy when we attended The Damned in concert. The air conditioning was incongruous for me as I was expecting a sultry atmosphere, laden with smoke. The stylised, corporate interior smacks of sterility but I'll take the House of Blues dressing rooms everytime - pure, unadulterated luxury.

After the show, we languished back at the Manderley Bay Hotel and cherished the mesmerising view from our hotel window on the 24th floor. I considered aborting sleep tonight and lay there for ages despite my exhaustion, just watching Vegas catch fire beneath me.

Two hours sleep and at seven am the wake-up call felt like a shot in the head. I showered again, despite having taken one only a couple of hours earlier, as cleanliness is my touring key to 'on the road' sanity. The streets were already glimmering brightly as we pulled away and on into the Nevada desert, bound for the City of Angels...

Mike was playing DJ and spinning favourite tracks (The Who, Led Zep, The Beatles) as I tapped away manically at my laptop catching up with UK business and the world of MPO. The heat increased as we glided into LA on a mission of business which will be revealed all in good time.

I arrived late at the Santa Ana Theatre and after exchanging a few words with the TM over hotel rooms in LA, I set to the setting up of the Department store, otherwise masquerading as the Merchandise Stall. We were all wasted again and in serious need of recharging. The 'setting up' was a laborious process, especially as Darling Wayne had an impressive array of MIssion stock. The tattoos were beginning to piss me off actually. They turned up everywhere and seemed to be multiplying rather than reducing. I think I had also offended quite a few bloke customers by offering them a free temporary tattoo with their purchase when they already owned the real thing tucked away somewhere under their black velvet. Actually, there wasn't that much Goth gear in evidence, to be fair. As the LA Times alluded, the Resurrection Tour was more about good songs rather than a revived 'scene'.

I confess I nearly gagged when I discovered the name of the tour back in Wales. In fact I almost refused to go. Resurrection? I mean, come on! Yuck! (Sorry, Wayne). Here we are, progressing 'Mike Peters', singer-songwriter of the nineties and Coloursound, the rock'n roll future of the new millennium and then MIke agrees to venture out on the fu**** Res-Erection Tour. "It will be fun, though" grins Mike and by God the man was right. I pacify myself with the knowledge that Resurrection was used in context with The Mish history and the new Mission CD of re-recorded hits but even so it still sends shivers of cringe down my spine when I accidentally catch sight of a poster out of the corner of my eye. I mean it's like calling the next Alarm album 'Reformation' and who'd ever come up with a stupid idea like that?

Touring Beaver came into her own tonight! I was pretty monopolised with lots of MPO Virgins, explaining the philosophy behind the Organisation that is 'Mike Peters' and signing people up to the Gathering, whilst TB was all about 'Sell, sell, sell'. It was at this point that I invited her on board as my partner on the Mission UK tour. I can't believe I ever agreed to take care of The Mission's merch back in the UK, what with all the MP stuff going on but I guess I'm a sucker for singers. and Wayne does make me laugh a lot, and then of course, there is Ado. Need I say more?

TB and I nominated a couple of winners of the 'Best Looking Fan Award' tonight and this was of course another reason for me inviting her on the UK jaunt. In fact it was proving quite difficult to move the 'winners' on from the merch desk, especially as they were inviting us to Mexico and looked fairly Hispanic.

I also wanted to hang out with the Famous Fultons (the controllers of www.mikepetersweb.com www.coloursound.com and www.thealarm.com) at some point but this was also proving difficult, especially as rock'n rollers that they are, they spent most of the evening 'hanging out' backstage with MP:)

After a few sharpeners backstage after the show (I didn't see a note of Michael Leslie Peters), I felt much more revived and began to fantasise about swimwear, margueritas and Mexico. We arrived back at the hotel in Los Angles around 3am and were welcomed by the very pleasant sight of Mr. William Duffy who was in residence with us fellow Resurrectors. Billy looked great and it took only a few minutes before he and Mike began nattering about City and United. Boys and their toys...!

We are the rock'n roll family. We have spent so much time these last few years cohabiting at close quarters, especially back at Chez Peters in Wales that we share the same familiarity as back in the good old bad old days of Nige, Eddie and Dave only this time it's Billy, James, Craig, Scotty G, Steve G, Johnny D... Our relationship transcends the typical work colleague relationship because being in a band necessitates a certain degree of nakedness. We are together for hours on end and know eachother's good points and irritating points inside out. This rock'n roll family in its middle youth period is also fairly incestuous what with all the swapping of partners. Billy with Mike, Mike with James, Craig with Wayne, Ian with Billy, Craig with Mike, Jules with Mike, Jules with Billy, Jules with James...just kidding:)

I was determined to take some time out for shopping today and refused to even fire-up the laptop. Mike spent time with Steve Fulton whilst the Touring Beaver and I 'spent' the afternoon at the Beverly Centre. James Stevenson 'feared the worst'.

The House of Blues on Sunset is pretty vibey and I think we were all happy to overlook the 'sterility' tonight. We all had various mates in attendance and the gig took on the atmosphere of the Resurrection House Party. I was desperately trying to forfeit my merch duties to party upstairs in the Foundation Room and had even worn a fancy outfit for the occasion. We smuggled the Fultons in through the back door and stickered them up with passes for access all areas.

The Mission UK were all snuggled up, sleeping like beanie babies (a new shopping purchase since being on tour with James - his son, Oscar is a Beanie Baby dealer) and I found it difficult to imagine The Mish delivering 'Deliverance' later that night. It was obviously time to call Joey Bag Of Donuts...

I was sharpening myself on a few 'sharpeners' whilst selling some swag and watching out for my guests. Billy was in residence with Sex Pistol, Steve Jones, Russell Young, Alarm photographer (Change album) and video director (Love Don't Come Easy, A New South Wales and 'Unsafe' where, yes, I do receive a whacking from MP) and my mate, Liz, originally Billy's girlfriend, now mine...

It was a fantastic night and topped off with Mike's best performance to date. Mike swaggered through his set, spurred on no doubt by the House of Blues cameras who were filming his performance for a web broadcast. He received a rapturous reception and I met and put names to faces of some lovely MPO US members.

Lily, one of Mike's original U.S fans made my night by presenting me with her gorgeous red handbag (she's a fancy handbag distributor) and so I tottered off onto the Sunset strip feeling quite the rock chick afterall.

At seven (again!) the next morning I felt like shit and distinctly unchicky as we travelled in silence to LAX. We had been devoured and spat out by California and were now bound for Mexico. I lay back in my seat and let thoughts of sunshine and lashings of Corona nurse my tired mind...
Adios for now...

The Stuio M Broadcast of Mike Peters show from Philadelphia, PA - 10/21/99 sounds amazing. Hear for yourself at their website

COLOURSOUND “Coloursound” (21st Century Rec./Sanctuary Music)

Tracklist: Under the sun, Fountainhead, State of independence, Heavy rain, View from a different window, Alive, This life, All kinds of wonderful, For the love of, Where do you want to go?, Fade in fade out fade away

Line-up: Billy Duffy (guit.), Mike Peters (voc., guit.), Craig Adams (bass), Scott Garrett (drums)

Producer: Mike Peters and Billy Duffy

What a line-up!!! Billy Duffy (THE CULT), Mike Peters (THE ALARM), Craig Adams (THE MISSION) and Scott Garrett (ex-THE CULT) are COLOURSOUND. The band plays fantastic and modern sounding rock music in the vein of U2 (“Achtung baby”), THE CULT (“The Cult”), THE MISSION (“Masque”) and BLIND FISH. The clear and melancholic voice of Mike Peters sounds very powerful and fits perfect to Billy Duffy´s brilliant guitar playing. Every song is melodic, but has always the right power to blow you away. Especially “Heavy rain” , “Alive” and “For the love of” are real rocking and proof, why Billy Duffy is one of my favorite guitarists. With “State of independence” or “This life” COLOURSOUND have written a few great rock songs with real hit potential. I also love the great ballad “All kinds of wonderful” Except “View from a different window” I like every song on this album. Friends of the named bands must take a listen to this great band!

Rating: 8 points

Behind the gloomy imagery and creep-show fashion of gothic rock, most of the musicians are popsters at heart.
Though the Mission UK and Gene Loves Jezebel didn't attain the same degree of commercial success as the Cure or Siouxsie & the Banshees, they were foremost among the British goth brigade of the mid-'80s, and when the Resurrection Tour, a triple bill featuring the two bands and Alarm frontman Mike Peters, hit the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana on Tuesday, there were surprisingly few goth trappings in evidence, with the music the main focus of the evening.
The Mission UK, founded by former Sisters of Mercy guitarist Wayne Hussey in 1985, has maintained as much of a cult following as the Sisters despite the inconsistency of its material. Elegant anthems such as "Wasteland" and "Severina" were the highlights of Tuesday's set, though mellower material was unfocused and sometimes verged on mushy.
Consistency was no problem for Gene Loves Jezebel. Fronted by the wry and charismatic Jay Aston, the quintet turned in the strongest performance of the evening. Fueled by unflagging, edgy synergy, selections from the group's current album, "VII," played out with all the gritty, melodic verve of signature songs such as "Desire" and "Jealous." Opener Peters stirred up a quieter, more pensive but equally compelling ambience with his solo set.
Over the years gothic rock has been stretched in some extreme directions, from the shock rock shenanigans of Marilyn Manson to the morbid fixations of death metal. The Resurrection Tour is a pleasant reminder of its roots in wholesome musical values.

Just added, A review of the Resurrection your at Th Galaxy Theatre, abd A revie of the tour at the HOB in LA. Both have nice things to say about Mike.

Check them out in the "Articles" section.

HOB Webcast

The Mike Peters show from November 10th, 1999 at the House Of Blues in Los Angeles will be webcat, pay-per-view, on Jan. 27th 2000 at 6PM PST. Check out the HOB web site at http://www.hob.com for more details

Tour Continues...

The Resurrection Tour continues today as all the bands travel to Mexico City for some shows "south of the border". The tour returns to the USA on November 16th in West Palm Beach Florida.

Mission UK fulfills mission USA
ROCK: The '80s goth vets show American fans they still have some freshness.

November 11, 1999

By GEORGE PAUL
Special to the Register






Please see MISSION UK Page 5


MISSION UK FROM 3



The Mission UK,

Gene Loves Jezebel,

Mike Peters


Where: Galaxy Theatre, Santa Ana
When: Tuesday night



It seems ironic that an '80s retro tour package headlined by the Mission UK would be dubbed "Resurrection." After all, the British goth-rock band never really broke up, and released albums in Europe as recently as 1996. But with little American presence for much of this decade, the band was pretty much invisible here.

Thankfully, singer-guitarist Wayne Hussey, the only remaining core member, wasn't content to rest on his laurels during the group's long-awaited proper return to Orange County on Tuesday night. Having just put out a Mission UK retrospective (also called "Resurrection"), Hussey could have easily coasted by on all the old hits. Instead, he served up some obscure B-sides, fan requests, shrewd covers and a couple of strong cuts from the 1995 disc "Neverland."

The 15-song, 75-minute Galaxy Theatre set opened to an orchestral prelude, which set the menacing tone. Then, the foursome came out with all cylinders firing on "Beyond the Pale." Drummer Scott Garrett (borrowed from God Lives Underwater) kept a precise, assaulting beat, while Hussey's gritty vocal delivery was riveting.

With only a drum machine to serve as background, Hussey gave "Butterfly on a Wheel" a haunting reading that proved intense and endearing.

Now living in Orange County, Hussey said he was happy to be back home and see his family after a month on the road. It showed in his relaxed performance and banter with the moderate-sized crowd.

Hussey was alone with an acoustic guitar for the encore, explained that the band had played Vegas the previous night and proceeded with a low-key reading of Elvis' "Can't Help Falling in Love." It was a perfect fit for his low, wavering vocals. In fact, he almost bested Bono's version. Patti Smith's "Dancing Barefoot" was also compelling. Then the band reappeared and injected its own sinister undertow into Neil Young and Crazy Horse's "Like a Hurricane."

Picking up steam on the final encore, the band deftly delved into several genres at once (dub reggae, blues rock, punk) on the closing dual punch of "Wasteland" and "1969." Although the Mission UK has often been called shallow and bombastic, this well-rounded performance was strong.

Gene Loves Jezebel just released the enticing folk-rock-leaning disc "VII," its first in five years with most of the original lineup. Yet the band barely touched it. Instead, the set comprised several hits ("Jealous," "20 Kilohertz," "Desire") bogged down by a way-too-heavy rock thrust.


The Alarm's Mike Peters turned in his usual sturdy solo acoustic set that included pleading songs of unity and despair ("White Noise," "Rise"), ominous new tunes with a recorded rhythm track ("Festival of Light," "Kaleidoscope") and several anthemic Alarm favorites ("The Stand," "Spirit of '76").

The Mission UK, Gene Loves Jezebel, Mike Peters (formerly of the Alarm)

Location:
House of Blues
Address:
8430 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood 90069

Hours:
Nov 10 Wed


LA Times Press Release (From Kastle)


Ahhh, the '80s, a time when fashion and music ran rampant with creativity and potential future mockery. Out of the flood of sensory overload came three bands whose sounds proved timeless and beautiful -- even now.
The Mission UK transcended what death rock started with a fluid, ethereal quality, elegance and determined angst. Frontman Wayne Hussey (and former Sisters of Mercy guitarist) has re-recorded the band's greatest hits, including "Deliverance," "Wasteland" and "Blood on the Wheel" for a new compilation on Cleopatra Records entitled "Resurrection."

The Brothers Aston -- Jay and Michael of Gene Loves Jezebel -- began as a quirky glam/Goth group full of color, charm and tenacity. The brothers each retained their own personality while tossing vocal duties back and forth with ease. However, sibling rivalries eventually got the best of them and Michael has since left the group. (Despite the fact that he continues to perform under the name "Gene Loves Jezebel") Original members James Stevenson, Chris Bell, Peter Rizzo and Jay Aston return for this tour in support of their first album in more than five years, "VII," on Robison Records.

With big hair, a bigger guitar sound and a rootsy Western flair, the Alarm burst out of the mid-'80s full of integrity, zest and underdog anthems. Frontman Mike Peters led his band on a musical mission fueled with inspirations from bands such as the Clash and U2. The band broke up in the early '90s and Peters -- who took a time-out to battle throat cancer -- continued making music as a solo artist. He will be performing songs for his latest, "Rise," as well as selection of the Alarm's best-known songs. -- Kastle

I'm sat on the bus travelling between Salt Lake City and San Francisco. The mountains are darkening despite the stubborn streaks of red like blood staining the yellow blue sky. There are more colours than I can describe waltzing before me and all of it is cradled gently in the comfort of the illuminated Utah mountain skyline.

We have just passed The Mission UK on the highway, together with the US contabulary. Naturally this amused us no end. Let's hope they have recovered from last night's Halloween debauchery in Salt Lake City...

Halloween in the State of Utah was... an experience to remember. I wasn't overtly keen on the Freak Show but I did however meet some really interesting people. I was mesmerised by a Momon Geologist, for example. He was a huge Mike Peters fan and I'm fascinated by the Mormon faith so suffice to say we had a lot in common.

Mike had a really good audience in tonight due to the fact that the local radio station had been blasting out Peters' tunes in the State of Utah. I sneaked a peek with the new MPO Digital Camera. The crowd were singing in unison and I headed back to the Mormon Geologist, content that Mike was in safe hands.

Meanwhile backstage things were hotting up. We had a substantial 'rider' tonight, ie. plenty of booze and a plentitude of nibbles. After the show, Mike and Wayne were inundated with autograph hunters and a few hunters of another variety were stalking the dressing room. I meanwhile was exhausted by the antics at the merchandise desk, downed a Corona and headed off in search of my bed, leaving the Mission and assorted Jezebels rockin'n rollin' with the Freaks and the beautiful people of Salt Lake.

Today was a travel day from Salt Lake to San Francisco. It was an exhilarating drive and I was reminded of a trip in 95/96 when we were stranded in Reno due to a blinding snowstorm. Today though the weather was all brilliant skies of breathtaking blue and shimmering sunshine.

After much tourbus discussion it was agreed in a roundabout way to make Reno our home for the night en route to San Francisco. To reach such a decision involves much bickering and squabbling and it was a miracle tonight that we were all able to agree. For the most part, our itinerary is fixed but on days like this, upon mutual agreement, we can be more flexible in our plans.

The Reno Hilton is a planet of its own. As we checked in, a bedraggled looking bunch, we were joined in line coincidentally by an equally bedraggled lot known as The Mission UK, the very same Mission UK who had been stopped by Mr. Plod, U.S and encountered a very hefty road fine. Ouch.

After a day of stir craziness on the bus we were all ready to rock. Ten minutes later and most of us were found gathered at a watering hole next to the slot machines which specialised in draught German beer. There was not much gambling but plenty of drinking; our appetites tantalised for our return trip to perform at the Reno Hilton in a few days time.

We set off remarkably hangover-free at 10am the next morning and again a vivid tangerine and turquoise background greeted our arising. The weather was treating us remarkably well from east to west and this was undoubtedly helping to make the touring experience so much more palatable.

We were all enjoying our stops on the road and many negotiations would develop as to whether we should 'make a grab', 'take a sitdown' or just 'take a pee'. With eight people on board, to 'take a pee' could take over half an hour. We would bark instructions at eachother as we clambered aloft our tourcruiser, shouting 'ten minutes, ten minutes'. Truck stops and promises of 'ten minutes' inevitably dissolve into hour long sessions, as all of us, shopaholics in our own way, find something or somebody, infinitely fascinating to while away a few extra valuable bus-free minutes.

As a result, we are very familiar with all types of American sweets and as a whole prefer the sour candy, searching high and low for Sour Charm lollies which are a particular favourite of ours. Good low fat snacks for those low energy tour moments.

We are a motley crew on the road and naturally attract questions from well meaning petrol attendants and the like. We tend to moonlight as an 'Abba' tribute band and it satisfies the questions every time. In fact I signed an autograph only this morning as 'Agnetha' after the rest of the band wound up some poor, unassuming truckstop cashier.

We had a fantastic day, taking in views from different windows and sampling the various roadside cuisine of Macdonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell and if we're really lucky, Denny's. We were churning up the miles with a vengeance and it had become increasingly difficult to record all the memories mentally, never mind on film, tape and hard-drive, such was our speed as we ploughed the American highways.

The one thing I can remember however is the outstanding diverse beauty of Utah state. The memory of Mike performing 'You are to Me' on the salt lake outside the city will remain with me long after the digital recording...

In the cooler charcoal backdrop of San Francisco we were joined by Twi$t. Mike played one of his best sets here at the Fillmore Theatre, a venue which The Alarm had graced once before. The Alarm poster, Fillmore style was still to be seen gracing the hallowed walls of fame and infamy. Mike and Twi$t shared a few beers and a few memories. We did consider an aftershow party at a house in the hills which involved a swimming pool and nakedness but by 2am at the Fillmore, with the remnants of backstage liggers permeating our party, we were in no fit state to do anything else but reconvene back at the Hotel Bar.

The next morning it was a struggle to obey the 10am wake up but imperative if we were to include a little shopping on our itinerary down at Haight-Ashbury. With two days of travel to Seattle ahead it was difficult to take root in SF and shopping evaporated into two eggs over easy and hashed browns.

So here I am back on the bus. This is the Ressurection tour. It's been three weeks and feels like three months. We're hurtling towards Seattle in a desperate battle to make showtime. We've shopped and dallied all the way, taking advantage of taxfree Oregan on route. There is no bickering tonight as our itinerary is fixed. Silence pumps up the van and I fear it may explode with anticipation before we reach our destination. As the sun melts into a powder blue sky, I sneak glimpses of a wonderland Washington state, darting at my window like flickers in a flame.

Seattle beckons...

There has been some confusion about the exact date Mike Peters, Eddie MacDonald, and an electric band will be opening for Big Country. there are only 5 dates, and they are:

#Wed 8th #Newcastle, City Hall*****
#Thurs 9th #Wolverhampton, Civic Hall*****
#Sat 11th #Bristol, The University*****
#Sun 12th #London, The Forum*****
#Mon 13th #Manchester, The University*****

They WILL NOT be playing Glasgow on the 19th December!

As well, Mike has rescheduled several of his solo dates because of this Big Country Tour. They are:

19th January 2000 - Bristol "The Fleece & Firkin"
20th January 2000 - Cambridge "The Portland"
22nd January 2000 - Wolverhampton "The Little Civic"

The fine people at Net-Resource (who host this site)restored a back-up copy of the bulletin board database from last week. At least iot saves some of the entires that we had.

I apologize for the problems with the bulletin board, but it is not the end of the world. Let's get the BB back to the "hot" discussion it was for the past few weeks. Why not go there right now and make your thoughts on Coloursound/Mike Peters known.

-steve

I'm sat in the bus on the road in America en route to a radio session in Columbus, Ohio. This is the Res-Erection tour. It's been just over a week and it feels like a month. I'm travelling with Mike and the Gene Loves Jezebels with The Mission travelling in the bus behind. There are 4 Welsh persons on this bus which has to be a record. We're listening to Simon & Garfunkel - 'Homeward Bound'. It's raining outside and we're all warm, tired, mellow and relaxed.

It just threatened snow on the radio. Snow always excites Mike. Mike is reading and for once takes a back seat. He's reading John Connelly's 'Every Dead Thing'. For such a good-natured guy, Mike has a unhealthy fascination with serial killers.

It's a Saturday but could be any day on earth for all I know. After my first week of predictably despising life on the road, I am now, predictably loving every damn minute of it. I am so tired though. Tiredness like you wouldn't believe. There hasn't been much sleep so far due to a mixed bag of partying, long drives and Coloursound/MPO-lag from before the tour began. Resurrection feels like a good name at this point.

Before I start on the Resurrection Tour, let me thank all those thousands of people who have been purchasing the Coloursound CD from all good UK record stores and over www.coloursound.com. It's been quite a breathtaking experience so far and I hear on the grapevine that the Coloursound album has debuted at Number 12 in the UK Independent Chart. Cool.

The Coloursound show was amazing I thought, at the London Astoria. Thanks to all those who travelled far and wide. Fade in Fade Out Fade Away was a particularly spectacular finale. Ian Astbury seemed to like it too. I spotted him at the mixing desk looking rather fetching and soon dragged him off towards the dressing room to meet the boys.

The whole night was rather special and we ended up finally at the Little Havana in the West End where we said our goodbyes to the Coloursound camp, ie, Billy D. and set our sights on packing our smalls and heading West.

So here we are. Heading West in the Mid West. I'm back on the bus, this time en route to Chicago. The radio session yesterday was superb. Mike performed 'High on the Hill', electro-acoustic with the Jezebels as his backing band. I filmed it all on MPO's new digital video camera so watch out for broadcast quality MPO videozines in the future.

Life on the road. I expect you want to know what it's like. For me, it's a love hate thing. You feel isolated at first but gradually a home of sorts is created. We now have a community established and of course I'm loving every part of this rock'n'roll circus.

We even have a routine. The Mission Boys arrive at the venue first, accompanied by MPO's Nightrider, the infamous Steve Jones, from Rhyl. Together with Milky, The Mish's soundman, they prepare the venue for sound and set up all the backline (ie. drums, monitors, amps etc.). Around the time of 'check - one two', the Jezebels and MP arrive. Drinks and snacks are grabbed from the deli tray and work begins.

I set off to the merchandise area and begin setting up the Mission and Mike Peters Department store. Mr. Wayne Hussey invited me to represent him and as a result of Wayne's enthusiasm we have an impressive array of pens, keyrings and even temporary tattoos. Wayne is quite obsessive about his tattoos, I feel and regularly checks to see how many he's sold. He has yet to stick his micropone down his pants as yet which is a touch disappointing but there is still time. How much of the stories of the Mish bus I can re-tell, remains to be seen as Mr. Ado has always instilled in me from past MP tours, the importance of the sanctity of the tourbus. We shall see...

The merchandise stall is where it's all at, I believe. It's a magnet for all bandmembers, all crew members and all MPO members. It's like a unique travelling coffee shop. As the evening unfolds, a plethora of bandmembers pass by to check the satisfactory display of their wares. In the age of communication, we have a flurry of fliers, mailorder offers, website addresses and the MPO's very own 'Gathering competition'. The desk is heaving with literature as the communication-savvy musician of the new millennium performs in a whole new cyberspace world. These guys have laptops, mobile phones as well as their guitars. They no longer have as much time to party on down as they control their own labels and information centres from assorted dressing rooms across America.

Mike is juggling a whole range of projects on this tour. On the horizon, we have the recording of Flesh and Blood with Eddie Macdonald, Mike Peters on tour in the UK with Big Country and Eddie Macdonald, Mike Peters solo acoustic in the UK, Gathering 8, release of 'Flesh and Blood and some more UK dates in January, Coloursound in America, the release of Coloursound Acoustic. Already, it's time for Coloursound/Mike Peters Day in May... Can you lot stick the pace?

I'm squeezing in some rock chick behaviour, I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear. Without my high heels, sadly. This, I blame on Coloursound and the London Astoria. I was wearing the highest heels at that show in defiance of having to conduct managerial duties. It was a major mistake as I arrived in America with blistered feet and black toenails. I kid you not. Trainers for me on the Resurrection tour, all the way.

I do have a rock chick coat though and have already enjoyed some wonderful aftershow riotous behaviour. James Stevenson from GLJ and MP Electric is proving to be an excellent partner in alcohol crime. As a consequence, showering twice a day is essential at the moment to keep that wasted look at bay and also, the laundry situation is becoming pretty dangerous. Nine shows on the trot makes washing your smalls a major challenge.

Back to the routine. The dangerous and mean looking Mission boys soundcheck first whilst I continue to grapple with counting Wayne's shirts. The GLJ boys and girls come to check their wares before disappearing into soundcheck world. Mike meanwhile is mostly on the phone, e-mailing or writing new songs (enough songs, now Michael!). He has yet to expand his wardrobe as there is no time to shop on this tour but I'm sure he'll make up for it in LA.

Mike rarely soundchecks now as Nightrider sorts all of that. In fact, Mike is the most relaxed I've seen him on this tour (which is saying something as MP is probably the most relaxed man I know). He strides out onto that stage, the underdog of the Resurrection tour, and pours forth his compositions, set-list-less and totally free. He's even disbanded his band since Boston and New York, although his minidisc still accompanies him on the stunning newies, 'Festival of Light' and 'Kaleidescope' .

Whilst the Jezebels play, Mike often wanders out to the MPO desk and chats with MPO members and new fans.Whilst the Mish play, the Jezebels come out to chat and by the time the Mish wind up, we often have the entire Resurrection cast assembled at our makeshift gathering point.

I think as Jay Aston points out in a recent interview, the thing about being on tour, is that it makes you feel alive. That's what makes it so special. Meeting new people, inhaling new experiences is all such an enlivening experience.

As the crowd departs, the Resurrection circus deconstructs and like rewind we breakdown our equipment and stall and return to our tourbus and home for the night. It's all about routine. Pack your toothbrush in the same place every day and life get's easier, honest...

I'm back sat in the bus on the road in America en route to the House of Blues in Chicago. This is the Res-Erection tour. It's been just over a week and a half and it feels like more than a month. I'm travelling with Mike and the Gene Loves Jezebels with The Mission travelling in the bus ahead. There are still 4 Welsh persons on this bus which has to be a record. We're not listening to anything. It's sunny outside and we're all warm, even more tired, mellow and relaxed...

Chicago beckons...

Coloursound is the brainchild of Mike Peters (vocals and rhythm guitar), who was the driving force behind the Alarm, and Billy Duffy (lead guitar) of the Cult. They wrote all of the tracks as well as producing and arranging the album. These two are aided and abetted by the Mission's Craig Adams and Scott Garrett on drums.

The album opens with 'Under The Sun' which gives an eastern kick to that classic Alarm sound - it's a pacey number with some great guitar parts. 'Fountainhead' leans much more towards the Cult's sound; a full on rock song with a quieter mid section - its driving beat supports a fuzzy guitar sound.

A more laid back atmosphere infiltrates 'State Of Independence'. There's an eastern feel apparent in the jangling guitars, and a really nice vocal change in the middle eight. A simple guitar line leads into 'Heavy Rain' which belies the fact that this is a real rocker. Thrashed guitar riffs are interspersed with some great anguished axe-man breaks, all underpinned with fuzzy bass sounds and a heavy rhythm.

'View From A Different Window' gives an entirely new perspective on Coloursound. It starts off gently with acoustic guitar supporting the vocals. This number is more vocal led than most on the album, but still has some wonderful guitar breaks. It's a great song - this and the next, 'Alive', are my two favourite tracks.

Yet another side of Coloursound is apparent in 'Alive'. It's seven minute length encompasses several mood changes - and some surprising sounds. It begins fairly quietly with some spacey sounds and echoing guitars. Then the pace picks up and the sound becomes somewhat reminiscent of Hawkwind at their rockin' best. This is followed with a harder edged, sparser sounding section before returning to the more space rocking! What a fabulous number - I love it.

'This Life' takes us back to basics - and these guys can certainly knock out a good basic rock song. 'All Kinds Of Wonderful' is another laid back number with some more of the fuzzy guitar sounds and a wonderful vocal melody. 'For The Love Of' is the weakest song on the album with, perhaps too many sounds being thrown together. 'Where Do You Want To Go?' is another rocker with another great vocal melody and some wonderful guitar work.

The last track on the album is another real goodie! 'Fade In Fade Out Fade Away' starts off with acoustic guitar accompanying Mike Peter's voice while, in the background, gentle electric guitar phrases sing out of alternate speakers. Then the sound gradually builds up, becoming much fuller and more bluesey, and the vocals become harsher before, sadly, the music just fades out ...

Now, I must admit that I have a fondness for Mike Peter's music (I still frequently play, and love, my Alarm CDs) and I guess that anybody who likes either the Alarm and/or The Cult - or indeed the Mission - will enjoy this album. Certainly, if you like guitar led classic rock music this should appeal to you.

Delay

I Apologize for the delay om getting the new Mike Peters' web site up and running, but i'm still working out all the bugs and adding new fetaures. Until then hre is the news I promised last week:

Mike Peters Solo tour/Big Country Support tour With Eddie MacDonalf

Mike Peters will embark on a solo tour in December, and will support Big Country on 5 dates as well. On those ates, Eddie MacDonald (ex-alarm) will be on stage, performing with mike. Here are the dates:

December
~Sat 4th ~Cardiff, Llandaff BBC Wales 01745 571571
~Sun 5th ~Southampton, The Brook 01703 555366
~Mon 6th ~Exeter, The Cavern 01392 495 370
~Tues 7th ~Chester, Telfords 01244 390090
#Wed 8th #Newcastle, City Hall*****
#Thurs 9th #Wolverhampton, Civic Hall*****
~Frid 10th ~Llantwit Major, St.Donats Arts Centre 01446 799100
#Sat 11th #Bristol, The University*****
#Sun 12th #London, The Forum*****
#Mon 13th #Manchester, The University***** ~Wed 15th ~Preston, Adelphi Theatre 01772 886852
~Thurs 16th ~Hebbden Bridge, The Trades Club 01422 845265
~Frid 17th ~Worksop, The Regal Centre 01909 482896
~Sat 18th ~Wolverhampton, The Little Civic Hall 01902 552121
~Sun 19th ~Glasgow, The Cottier Theatre 0141 357 3868
~Thurs 23rd ~York, Fibbers 01904 651250

***** Special Guest Appearance with full Electric Band together with <br>Eddie Macdonald in support of Big Country

Flesh and Blood

Mike Peters and Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm Reunited!

Friday December 3rd and Saturday December 4th 1999

BBC Wales Studio One, Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales.
In Concert and recording 'Flesh and Blood'.

The MPO has two types of ticket to offer for this event:

1. Saturday Evening December 4th concert ticket Mike Peters, Eddie Macdonald, Mark Taylor and the Morriston Orpheus Choir in concert 7.00 pm - 11.00 pm (times approximate) <br>Ticket £15.00

2: Access All Areas Laminate (50 Laminates only) Ticket £40.00

The Access All Areas laminate enables you to attend the recording sessions from 2pm (the laminate will offer you flexible access and enable you to come and go as you please) on Friday 3rd December, right through to the grand finale concert of Saturday evening. The AAA laminate provides you with the opportunity to witness the recording of an album from conception to completion, from the laying down of the backing tracks to the final sessions with the string section and choir, right through to the Saturday night concert. You will have access to the control room and direct contact with Mike and Eddie as they record the album, 'Flesh and Blood'. Obviously, due to the nature of this event tickets are in short supply so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Mike Peters records the songtrack to a new stage play 'Flesh and Blood' on December 3 and 4 1999 at the BBC Studios, Llandaff, Cardiff. The songtrack, which features original new music by Mike Peters, forms the basis of a brand new Mike Peters solo album, 'Flesh and Blood', to be released in early 2000.

Mike Peters will be recording the music with the help of Alarm songwriting partner Eddie Macdonald who will join Mike, playing acoustic guitar, as well as contributing towards the string arrangements. This will be the first time Peters and Macdonald have worked together creatively, since the last Alarm album of 1991.

The 'Flesh and Blood' recording sessions will begin at approximately 2pm on Friday the 3rd Dec. and continue through to Saturday evening 4th Dec, when Mike and Eddie will host a grand finale concert and be joined by Alarm keyboard player Mark Taylor and The Morriston Orpheus Male Voice Choir.

The BBC studios have been chosen because they hold a special place in the history of Mike Peters and The Alarm. Studio One was the location for the recording of 'A New South Wales', which originally took place on 26th June 1989. 10 years on, and Mike Peters has enrolled the help of The Morriston Orpheus Male Voice Choir, who sang on the original to take part in a special re-recording of 'A.N.S.W.', which will feature new lyrics by Mike Peters as peformed exclusively at the opening of The Welsh Assembly 'Voices Of A Nation' concert.<br> <br>'Flesh and Blood' - The play was written by Welsh playwright and actress Helen Griffin and will feature original new music performed 'live' by Mike Peters. 'Flesh and Blood' was commissioned by Phil Clark Artistic Director of The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff and will open in Cardiff in the year 2000 on February 19th, before embarking on a tour of Wales in preparation for a one month stand in London at the prestigious Hampstead Theatre. The album 'Flesh and Blood' by Mike Peters will be released on 21st Century to coincide with the opening of the play

We'd all like it make #1, but first we need to get it in the top-10. Tell everyone about it, play it forever one, and get them to buy it. Shop early for Christmas, buy one for your grandma, your uncle, your mailman, the scary guy next-door. Get the word out, the album bought, and chatrs screaming the name "Coloursound"!!

Comning Tomorrow: A newly re-diesigned, sleeker http://www.mikepetersweb.com, plus some fantastic touring and show newsfor Mike Peters. Be sure to come back tomorrow for the GRAND OPENING of http://www.mikepetersweb.com.

COLOURSOUND AT LA2 IN LONDON - CULT'S IAN ASTBURY AND ALARM'S EDDIE MACDONALD IN ATTENDANCE
Coloursound launched the release of their debut record Coloursound this week at London's LA2. Playing to a capacity crowd, some who had travelled from as far afield as Mailwaukee, USA, Norway and Holland, the band featuring, Mike Peters, Billy Duffy, Craig Adams and Steve Grantley played an exclusive Coloursound setlist
Under the Sun
Where do you Want to Go?
State of Independence
View From A Different Window
For The Love Of
Fountainhead
All Kinds Of Wonderful
This Life
Heavy Rain
Alive
Fade In Fade Out Fade Away

Cult singer, Ian Astbury was checking out Coloursound for the first time, alongside Alarm bassist, Eddie Macdonald and Alarm keyboard player, Mark Taylor. Bobby Troman, the Alarm's lighting designer joined the Coloursound crew on the lights.

OVERWHELMING MPO RESPONSE TO COLOURSOUND RECORD
The response to the concert and the brand new Coloursound record has been phenomenal! Thanks for all your calls and e-mails. Pinnacle has done a fantastic distribution job with the Coloursound record being well displayed and well stacked in stores like Our Price, Virgin and HMV.

FANTASTIC COLOURSOUND PRESS REVIEWS
Coloursound in Kerrang Magazine (4/5)
KKKK
Impressive return from former Cult guitarist.
It seems that good things really do come to those who wait. Or, at least they have come for ex-Cult guitarist, Billy Duffy, a man who has been away from the limelight for the best part of the '90's.

Duffy's latest project, Coloursound, is helped in no small way by former Alarm frontman Mike Peters - a man with a voice big enough to punch through skyscrapers. Together they produce a righteous, full-blooded rock album with granite riffs and enough hooks to land the biggest catch since 'Jaws'. Duffy sounds just as good as he ever did in The Cult but what's really impressive about Coloursound is the quality of the songs. There's only one track, ('This Life') which disappoints and that's only because it follows the impossible-to-ignore 'Alive'.

Focused and hungry, 'Coloursound' is a real riot. Steve Beebee, Kerrang

ALBUM AVAILABILITY
The Coloursound record is out now, available from all good record stores in the UK. Check out some fantastic reviews in Q Magazine, Kerrang, Metalhammer and NME! For overseas MPO members, the Coloursound record is available direct from MPO at a price of £14.99 + postage and packing. Check out the MPO shop at www.mikepetersweb.com or www.coloursound.com

COLOURSOUND ON VH1
Mike and Billy appear on a VH1 Coloursound special all this week. Look out for the bous on VH1's 'Talk Music'.

MIKE PETERS TOUR OF THE USA
Mike Peters is on tour in America between Oct 16th and Nov 20th promoting his latest solo record Rise, (Koch) alongside the newly formed Mission and Gene Loves Jezebel.

MIKE PETERS UK TOUR
Mike Peters returns to the UK for his traditional Christmas Interactive Acoustic Tour in December.

MORE INFO
If you have any further enquiries please call 011 44 (0)1745 57157 andl eave your name and number after the tone and we will call you back or alternatively e-mail mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk

All the best MPO

KKKK
Impressive return from former Cult guitarist. It seems that good things really do come to those who wait. Or, at least they have come for ex-Cult guitarist, Billy Duffy, a man who has been away from the limelight for the best part of the '90's.

Duffy's latest project, Coloursound, is helped in no small way by former Alarm frontman Mike Peters - a man with a voice big enough to punch through skyscrapers. Together they produce a righteous, full-blooded rock album with granite riffs and enough hooks to land the biggest catch since 'Jaws'. Duffy sounds just as good as he ever did in The Cult but what's really impressive about Coloursound is the quality of the songs. There's only one track, ('This Life') which disappoints and that's only because it follows the impossible-to-ignore 'Alive'.

Focused and hungry, 'Coloursound' is a real riot. Steve Beebee, Kerrang

CMM Music Promotion

Coloursound, the new band formed in early ´98 by THE CULT guitarist, songwriter and founder member Billy Duffy and THE ALARM frontman and singer- songwriter MIKE PETERS, have announced a new label, 21st Century Records via Sanctuary Music Productions, and an eponymously titled 11 track debut album, „Coloursound".

BIOGRAPHY

Billy Duffy, currently Stateside completing a 7 night stint at The House Of Blues, Los Angeles, with Ian Astbury and The Cult, returns to the UK in September to focus on the debut release of the Coloursound album he co-wrote with Alarm frontman Mike Peters. The Album, produced by Duffy & Peters, was recorded in February and March of ´99 in Wales and features The Mission’s Craig Adams on bass and God Lives Under Water and former Cult drummer Scott Garrett. It was mixed in June at London’s Trident Sudios.

Duffy and Peters first wrote together having met and played a football tournament at the Phoenix Festival where they discovered that each shared an equal passion for rock music and their opposing Manchester football teams, City and United. The Red Peters invited Blue Duffy to record with him on his Eagle Records „Rise" Album session, where they wrote and recorded their first compsitions „In Circles". Having enjoyed the experience of working with each other, Billy & Mike quickly wrote over twenty titles for possible inclusion on an album together. In early ‘98, Coloursound (named after the ‘70’s guitar effect pedal Billy had tried out for the recording of „In Circles") grouped together a rhythm section and headed for the US where they first appeared live in Austin, Texas at SXSW, and then at LA’s infamous Viper Rooms.

At this time Coloursound accepted an outstanding invitation to write and demo at Metallica and Cult producer Bob Rock’s Hawaii studio. On their return from Hawaii they played New York’s Mecury Lounge. In September ‘98 Coloursound released an EP of songs over the Internet (www.coloursound.com) and played a sold-out 3 week residency at The Barfly in London, before returning to New York in November to play at Life, and to sign a recording agreement with the legendary former CEO of CBS, Walter Yetnikoff’s Velvel Records. They ended ‘98 by headlining at London’s Camden Palace.

Whilst preparing to commence recording in early ‘99 Yetnikoff decided to retire from Musci Industry and to sell his label. Unhappy with the ensuing delay Duffy, in a chance encounter in Los Angeles with Bruce Dickinson, was recommended to record for Dickinson’s Management label The Sanctuary Group who enthusiastically took the album on.

The Coloursound personnel have all been busy with their careers since completing the debut album. Billy Duffy has taken on a US tour with Ian Astbury and The Cult and is considering offers to record his first album in five years with Ian in early 2000. Mike Peters has been writing the music for a new play. „Flesh & Blood", commissioned jointly by The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff and The Playhouse theatre, Hampstead, in which he will tour next spring. In addition, Mike is also booked to be joining Craig Adams and Scott Garrett on a North American tour with The Mission, Mike Peters and Gene Loves Jezebel before Coloursound plan furtherEuropean dates later in 1999.

MPO NEWS

MIKE PETERS IN AMERICA - RISE RE-PROMOTION ON KOCH!
Squeezed in amongst Mike's busy schedule, Mike has been conducting international 'phoners for the re-promotion of 'Rise'. As the information is fielded to MPO, we will post details of Mike's radio promotion schedule and press information IN America.

NEXT WEEK - EXCITING MIKE PETERS SOLO CONCERT NEWS
Check in next week for exciting news of a very special Mike Peters' concert
in December...?!!!!!???!!!

COLOURSOUND AT THE LA2 - BE THERE EARLY!
Doors open early on Saturday night (6.30/7.00pm) October 9th for the
launch of Coloursound! The band takes the stage at approximately 9.30pm

COLOURSOUND FRAUDULENT CD WARNING!
Due to the leak of Coloursound CD's in advance of the release date of
October 11th, the police and Trading Standards have now been contacted.
Please be aware that if you have purchased one of these fraudulent CD's, this CD is sub-standard and is not the re-mastered finished Coloursoundrecord. The fraudulent CD's do not feature the black sticker of Mike
Peters and Billy Duffy on the front sleeve of the album. You have been warned!

COLOURSOUND ON VH1
It has been drawn to MPO's attention by many MPO members that the VH1's
Talk Music on Coloursound may well feature earlier from Saturday October 9th.
Please check TV Listings to make sure you do not miss out. This programme will be repeated throughout the week.

COLOURSOUND PRESS
Coloursound has received some great press including Kerrang (4 stars out of
5), Metalhammer (8 out of 10) Q Magazine (great review - 2 stars out of
5 ?) and a traditional (3 out of 10) from NME :) We'll keep you posted as
the reviews come through...

COLOURSOUND RELEASE ON OCTOBER 11TH
The debut Coloursound CD will be available in all good record UK shops, distributed by Pinnacle. To all MPO overseas members who have purchased the Coloursound CD direct from MPO, your CD's have been shipped this week, to ensure arrival as close as possible to the UK release date.

Coloursound
21ST CENTURY RECORDS CLND001
Ex-Alarm man Mike Peters and Cult guitarist Billy Duffy's first born.

Coloursound's debut album is a brightly produced piece of melodic pop-rock with more than a hint of the 60's. Fountain Head has a Beatles-ish (and indeed, early Cult) feel while the rockier Alive shows a touch of The Who. Billy Duffy's guitars sound superb and the band , completed by vocalist Mike Peters, the Mission's Craig Adams (bass) and former Cult drummer Scott Garrett are undoubtedly a proficient unit, But while pleasant and accomplished it's not ground-breaking stuff and though All Kinds of Wonderful takes a stab at the early U2 arena style epic, the songs are just not commercial enough to dent the charts. That said, success on the live circuit seems possible. **

There's no doubting the pedigree of Coloursound; here we have ex-members of The Cult, The Mission and (ahem) The Alarm. So, it comes as no surprise that when Billy Duffy's trademark guitar chimes out on 'Under The Sun' that Coloursound have got The Cult written all over them. 'Heavy Rain''s similarity with The Cult's 'Rain', however, is perhaps taking things too far.
With Mike Peters' more impassioned vocals replacing Ian Astbury's leonine howl, and Craig Adams and Scott Garrett holding down a rock steady beat, this is rollicking stuff. Even though a Cult re-union is on the cards (which begs the question: why Coloursound?), there is some fine material here, as long as uplifting rock of the older school is your thing.

Ultimately, though the The Cult-isms remain -no bad thing, I loved the band - this is still a fine piece of work. (8)

I’ll keep it brief this week as I’m sure you all have more than enough to read after this week’s ‘Talk Mike Peters’ on Steve Varty’s Alarm Digest. Thanks for all your illuminating and interesting questions to Mike P. I do admit to feeling slightly grumpy around 4am one morning this week when Mike was still tapping furiously at his computer. As Mike pointed out, ‘Talk Mike Peters’ was an MPO idea so really I should quit grumbling. Point taken. The thing with Mike is, once he agrees to do something, he attacks the project with perfectionist zeal. He’s like this in the studio, when he’s writing, when he’s on tour and especially when he’s watching MUFC. He’s been like this all week. This means Mike is non-contactable and seems unable to answer the simplest of questions, like ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ Consequently, we’ve barely spoken all week. I’ve even taken to e-mailing him when dinner is ready.

Alongside Mike’s conscientious answering of questions from all over the world, Mike’s been a busy boy and is therefore forgiven for his un’broken silence’. Last week Mike was juggling artwork ideas for the UK/US tours, meeting with North Wales councils for a potential Mike Peters idea for Wales, liasing with Splendid on press interviews and next week’s visit to Spain (the Spanish are so keen that Mike and Billy are now going after all), conducting interviews with Koch (US label) across the water, preparing for Coloursound this Saturday and then of course the five week US Res Erection jaunt with The Mish and GLJ on Oct 16th.

It’s wierd how Mike is actually busier now then when he was Mr. Lead Singer of The Alarm. The amount of frustrating ‘hanging about’ that occurred in Alarm days was sometimes despairing as the powers-that-be decided the best time to go on tour, the best time to record, the best time to make a release. All these decisions were often misjudged and made by people who didn’t have a true and longlasting relationship with the band. This is not to say that there weren’t great people along the way who helped to make The Alarm happen - it was just that there was so much ‘hanging around’, that it was tough on someone like Mike who is so proactive and so much enjoys making things happen.

When I first met Mike in 1986, I remember him catching up with his fan mail here in North Wales after a mammoth US tour. It was nowhere near as much as he receives now. Today, we’re always calling him into the office to sign more photos, ded