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, dedications. Obviously, the dawn of the database and the internet has helped enormously. Most importantly, Mike never has to ‘hang around’ anymore...

As a child, Mike was always juggling a multitude of jobs to sustain his love of music, footie and clothes (yes, a penchant for fond shirts even then). Mike was one of about 6 or 7 punks in the North Wales area and was used to the pointing and staring. Mr & Mrs P Senior were secretly appalled by his clanking spurs down Rhyl High St. Mike didn’t care and filled his spare time with trips to Eric’s in Liverpool, Old Trafford, Quaintways in Chester, nourishing his dreams of rock’n roll success in those ‘calling’ Mersey lights of ‘Spirit of 76’.

In his middle youth (!), Mike is exactly the same. He loves creating an idea, seeing it through personally, making the attention to detail. That’s why he made last year’s Snowdonation a reality (raising approx £12,000), why today we have The Gathering, and why the MPO has gone from strength to strength - it’s because Mike approaches all of it with enthusiasm and passion. This energy ignites us all at MPO and coupled with the passionate input from all of you, makes for a special community...

Speaking of proactive lead singers, I’ve been sparking with another energetic lead singer this week, Mr. Wayne Hussey of Mission UK fame. Wayne has made me laugh so much by e-mail alone. He’s also a proactive make it happen kind of guy. Wayne and Addo are in rehearsals in LA as I write, together with guitarist Mark Thwaite and drummer Scott Garrett (Coloursound’s drummer and former Cult drummer). Together with James and Jay from Gene Loves Jezebel who are already MPO-related (James is ‘Mike Peters’ guitarist and Jay Aston supported on Mike’s last UK tour), we are all incredibly excited at the prospect of the Res Erection Tour.

The last time I saw Wayne Hussey was with The Alarm at an Italian festival in San Remo. The Alarm were reluctantly forced to mime to Sold Me Down The River and were then followed by a less reluctant and much drunker Mission. My abiding memory of Wayne is of him staggering around the stage with his microphone stuffed down the front of his pants. In the rather spectacular aftershow party, attended by the likes of Depeche Mode, Belinda Carslile, Sinead O’Connor, Dave Sharp insisted upon clearing the dance floor with his blues renditions on the tiny stage set up for bands to ‘entertain’. Ignoring the onslaught of beermats and heckling, Sharpy continued nevertheless until Wayne successfully pushed Dave out of the way and took over. Until very recently, Wayne thought Mike was Dave and was wondering how the Resurrection tour would work out... check out Mike’s hilarious Mission/Alarm story on last week’s ‘Talk Mike Peters’.

Anyway, Wayne seems quite keen to become involved in a ‘Diary of a Rock’n Roll Star’ in conjunction with the Resurrection Tour so hopefully, this will make fantastic reading... I plan to document the tour thoroughly (photographs/film) and hope to scan photos of our ‘res-erected’ activities to Steve Fulton on a regular basis.

Firstly though, Coloursound at LA 2 on October 9th. You should all be receiving your postcard about now (in the UK) and then on the 11th the official Coloursound release. You’ll be pleased to hear we’ve shifted very favourable quantities already throughout Europe and the MPO has been inundated with orders from overseas. Please be aware that all Coloursound CD’s will be mailed outside the UK this week in order that you receive this (‘rock’n’roll masterpiece’- B.Duffy) as close to the UK release date as possible, but not before. Tickets for the LA2 have sold really well and this week Coloursound adverts can be heard on London’s XFM. Coloursound will be taking the stage at 8.45pm so please make sure you’re there in time - curfew is at 10pm.

I’ll be tottering about no doubt around the MPO desk so please come and say hi... Be seeing you all soon.

Ciao ciao,

Jules X

PS Mike has just finished tapping passionately and is now watching MUFC V Chelsea passionately (only the third time this week!)

The debut Coloursound CD available on import direct from MPO
(available to MPO members outside the UK only).

Packed to the gills with all the irrestistible riffs and passionate lyrics
you would expect. The eponymous album is released on October 11th in the
UK with an American release date set for early 2000 and is available as a limited edition CD digipack from all good record stores. If you live outside the UK and can't wait until the year 2000 then please make your order directly with MPO from the MPO Superstore Shop. Cleck Here to order.

Tuesday September 28th, 1999 will mark the first day of "Mike Peters Week" on the Alarm digest. Mike Peters will be monitoring the Digest All-Week (Tuesday through Saturday), and he will answer as many questions as possible. Send our questions directly to the list, addressing Mike by name.

if you don't belong to the list, then you can subscribe by sending an e-mail to
alarm-subscribe@onelist.com

Ask away!!!

It’s Friday night and I’m sat writing ‘Jules News’ in bed with
only my laptop for company :( It’s a tragedy, being deprived
of my BFNO (Big Friday Night Out). To be truthful, I have been
spending too many BWNO (Big Weekday Night Out). You see, when
Mike’s away on Big Rock Star Business, it gives me chance to
stretch my tendons and share a few beers with the girls. I
like drinking with the girls. Girls’ pints last for ages for
starters and the whole night is so much more relaxing. Big
Nights Out with Mike and the boys is always so much more
exhausting. You’ve barely wrapped your lips around the rim of
your glass before one of the boys is petitioning another
round. I feel awash in beer, stranded on a conveyerbelt of
alcohol, surrounded by Olympic beer-gulping swiggers... This
week, I have been able to digest my hops at a more sensible
pace and alleviate my stress with the girls.

Yep - stress again. MPO has been awash with stress this week;
the MPO towers is so ridiculously flooded with business, that
BWNO’s have been essential. When I say stress, I should
stress, that this stress is of the fantastically busy
adrenalined kind of stress. Not negative stress. Make it
happen stress... Many moons ago, MPO originally started out as
a humble one-man stress-free answering and chatting service.
Hopefully, MPO is still based on those principles but in the
last few years the MPO has also swollen to 10,000 members, (all
with their active personal and individual requests), become a
satellite management office for Mike and Coloursound, a record
company, a shop and a six-unisex stressed staff! We’re not
complaining though...

You see, this whole MPO stuff has surpassed all of our wildest
dreams, including Mike. Post-Alarm, after Mike had
‘reluctantly’ walked off that Brixton stage, he had no idea
what lay ahead. We set up the phoneline and wondered if anyone
would call; we set up the PO Box address and wondered if
anyone would write. You did! On all counts. Lots of people
replied to Mike’s original letter to all 687 of the existing
Alarm Fan Club and Graham Brazier from the West Midlands
thrilled us with his first call (and he’s still calling!) Here
in 1999, we have about 10 new members joining the MPO each
day!

You’re all so different. So diverse. In one day, I may speak
to a binman, an architect, a computer operator, a policeman, a
prostitute (honest!), and on and on. Some of you are really
chatty; some of you only want the bare facts and no chat, some
of you put the phone down if you hear our real life voices
instead of the answer phone (barstards!):) We’ve made some
fantastic friends through the MPO family, a few enemies,
probably, but all in all, the experience has been, and
continues to be a blast.

So back to your messages and emails. I detected some concern
from some of you, worrying what status you actually were. I
hope I made it clear last week that all you MPO members are
really platinum status spotters in our eyes (creep) - you know
your stuff and that’s what makes being recognised by MPO members absolutely
fine. It’s when Mike is recognised for just being 'famous'
that it’s kinda wierd. So for those of you who are wary of
approaching me on the next tour, for fear of me grading your
spotter status, please don’t be!

Sooooo, I’ve digressed before I’ve updated you on latest news.
Oops. Well, let me see, ummmm, since we last communicated,
here at MPO, we have
1. Organised the Coloursound mailout - keep watching your
letterboxes...
2. Confirmed the UK December Christmas tour dates for MP
3. Ordered the T shirts for the US and UK tours ahead - thanks
for all your helpful suggestions bye the way
4. Organised the MPO postcard, detailing the Gathering, the
tour and of course, a new addition to the MPO shop
5. Set the US mailout into action - watch out US MPO members
6. Prepared ‘Logistics’ for Mike’s US tour
7. Liased with Koch (Mike’s new American label) who are
re-promoting Rise in the US.
8. Booked the flights for MP, Mission, Gene Loves Jezebel
9. Answered approx 300 e-mail MPO enquiries
10. Begun Gathering preparations - finalising bookings and
organising the weekend itinerary...???!!!!
11.Executed general MPO weekly jobs like sending out welcome
packs, mailing out merchandise and of course, updating Mr.
Fulton’s websites....

So this is why I’m in bed, writing to you now at 1:28am.
Writing Jules News helps me to relax and unwind... I think...
As I’m unwinding, I suppose I should mention the whereabouts
of Colour and Sound, Mike and Billy. Well, Mike and Billy have
been having,a tough time, bless them, being wined and dined
all over Europe. Sarcy jokes aside, they have been conducting
interviews all day which is immensely draining and
exhausting. Even when you are being taken out to fancy
restaurants, the journos and hangers-on all want a piece of
you... As well as exercising their larynxes, they have been
having a whale of a time allegedly, in their quest for Euro
Coloursound Domination. The Finns and the Germans absolutely
adore the record (I have to confess the boys didn’t go to
Spain afterall. The Spaniards are dead keen but it involved an
acoustic session and Billy and Mike prefer to present
Coloursound as an electric entity at this stage and reserve
their shyer more acoustic side especially for you lot at
events like Colourosound Day)... oh and while I’m on the
subject of Coloursound, can I please put rest to the
rumour-mongers who worry that Billy is dumping
Coloursoundworld in favour of CultLand. THIS IS NOT THE CASE.

We have always explained that Mike’s solo career would
continue alongside Coloursound - maybe we didn’t qualify at
the time that this parallel manouvering would involve The Cult
as well but it was always on the cards - admittedly nobody
thought The Cult would reform this year but we all knew it was
going to happen at least in the year 2000. As Billy has just
said in the Express (UK newspaper) this week, Coloursound is, in his view
a fuxxxxg musical masterpiece”. Coloursound is Mike and
Billy’s songwriting baby, vehicle, pet project, whatever you
want to call it. It’s of the moment and at this moment it’s a
very special moment. Okay, none of us can particularly
visualise Mike and Billy schlepping around the toilets of UK,
US etc (we reserve that pleasure especially for Mike’s
singer-songwriter expeditions :) because Coloursound is a band
that primarily works in big venues. That’s why there’s only
one show at this point, at the London Astoria/LA2. Coloursound
happenings are going to be special, one-off happenings but
committed and long-term all the same. The whole Coloursound
team is adaptable. Already, the European press have been
hailing Coloursound as better than anything The Cult can hope
to do. Who knows. All we know at this stage that we’re all
sharing in a fantastic band and an amazing experience. All of
you who have shared in the growth of Coloursound have helped
to make it happen. Think New Order, think Electronic, think
Monaco (well, ok, maybe not Monaco) - think lateral. Think
Coloursound, think The Cult, think The Alarm, think Mike
Peters...

Thinking Mike Peters, the last time I touched base with the
Spikey Boy Kid, he was basked in adoring Coloursound devotees
from the German record company which is situated bang in the
middle of Hannover’s Red Light District. You see, there is a
down side to being a rock chick - when your Rock Star lead
singer man is let loose with self-confessed Rock Star
Guitarist womaniser in Strip Club City. Ah well, there’s
always the latest Andy Garcia film on satellite. Thanks for
pointing out that he wasn’t Italian, bye the way. After
discussing this point with beloved Mr. Buchmelter t shirt
collector extraordinaire, from Cleveland, Ohio, I’ve decided
to point out ( obviously with the American tour rising on the
horizon), that when I said Italian, or was that Spanish, I
kinda meant American-Italian, or was that Spanish-Italian...Oh
yeah and in the future remind me to tell you about our MPO
staff polls that we hold - ‘best looking fan award’ that kind
of stuff. Don’t get all paranoid on me on this though, like
some of you did on the starspotter gag... I mean, come on, you
lot have all your polls and discuss Mike and The Alarm and all
of that kind of stuff, so it’s only natural that we turn the
tables on you every now and then :) :)

Right. Enough now. Time for me to hit the sack. I collect the
MP of the MPO from Manchester Airport tomorrow, just in time
to whisk him off to Old Trafford and his beloved Giggsy,
Becksy, Coley and crew. Then a BSNO (Big Saturday Night Out).I
know I was meant to tell you about Mr. Hussey this time around
but I’ll save it for next time. He’s not Italian, sadly but
he seems like a top bloke.

It’s 1.59 and as I drift off to the land of nod, BIG THANKS to
all of you for listening... just off the top of my head ‘Hi’
to Nick Moon, our new ambassador for Brighton, Batspice who
reminded us to post Mike’s BBC Celebrity Choice, relatively
new MPO-er, Alison Rodgers from Sheffield who’s taking the
plunge for a sponsored Gathering dip (Alsion - you’re mad!),
Simon Batty from somewhere near Woking (I think)who’s coming
out to NY, Boston and Washingon DC to see Mike in the US,
Dougieieieieiei from Houston Texas who’s coming to the
Gathering 8 and flying to Boston for the kickoff of the US
Tour, JB Kleiman from San Diego, California who’s confirmed
his booking for The Gathering, new MPO member, Chris who’s
just signed up to become a Gathering virgin, Caroline from
Norway who’s flying in for the Coloursound show on the 9th and
last but not least the FANTASTIC Mr. FULTON who’s been making
the MPO websites the most regularly updated websites in the
world!!!!!!!!!!!
Nos da,
Cofion Gynnes,
Jules J XXX

COLOURSOUND ON VH1

Mike and Billy appear on VH1's 'TalkMusic' (UK) on:

15TH October
17th October
19th October
21st October

(Please consult TV listings for actual broadcast times)


BILLY DUFFY OF COLOURSOUND APPEARS ON ITV'S
'POPPED IN CRASHED OUT'

16TH October

(Please consult TV listings for actual broadcast time)


COLOURSOUND WARNING

Please be aware that some advance copies of the Coloursound album have
already been made available in the UK through illegal sources. These CD's
are not finished product. Please be aware that the Coloursound CD (to be
released on October 11th) has been re-mastered since the release of these
early advance copies.

DIDYOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A ROCK GOD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

yeah,it was either that or working in forestry. forestry appealed because i
like the outdoors and i like to travel a lot.but i couldnt really work out
what to do in school with the whole career thing---- there was nothing i
really fancied doing.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER HOBBIES?

womanising and playing football. i do like to think of myself as an outdoorsy
type. ive got several goretex items of clothing and ive seen the top of ben
nevis,scarfell pike and snowdon.im into all that sort of stuff, whatever it
is you call it. i like to have dogs as well. i used to have a lot more but
its not very practical with the lifestyle ive got. youve got to be a lot more
set up than i am.


YOU CANT REALLY TAKE THEM ON TOUR WITH YOU CAN YOU?

i have in the past , when i was living in america.


DID THEY COME ON STAGE WITH YOU?

no, they never did.but you know bob dylan used to tour with his dogs. he used
to tour with two english mastiffs and he used to stay in cheap motels because
he'd have a room on the ground floor where he could get his dogs in . i have
this rule of thumb that i dont like people who dont like animals,particularly
dogs . it just puts my hackles up .


HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE NEW ALBUM BY COLOURSOUND,YOUR DUO WITH MIKE ADAMS
OF THE ALARM?

in my own words ? a f ****ing musical masterpiece. a rock and roll record.
yeah,its pretty much a hard rock and roll album, with me being very honest
and natural and real with the guitar. i dont know if it sounds like the cult
or not---- it just sounds like me playing the guitar.


BEING A ROCK STAR ISNT REALLY A PROPER JOB ,IS IT ?

its a laugh but it is work. travelling on a bus and doing this, that and the
other, sleeping on the bus , i mean its not the easiest thing. when your 18
and dont know any better its fine, but when you get into your 30's and youve
been around the block a few times its a bit different. i always say the hour
and a half on stage is a freebie, i just get paid for the 22 and a half hours
that im not on stage.


SO YOU TAKE IT A LOT EASIER NOW?

oh , yeah,well, you know ------ i still like to have a good time. were still
a pretty lean and mean organisation. im not quite in the pipe and slippers
mode .well , not just yet.

So the Canaries was a blast... The guitar accompanied us and the laptop but
thankfully both remained untouched throughout the holiday. The plan was to
remain anonymous and keep ourselves to ourselves. Assuming there would be a
shortage of MP/Alarm fans on the island of Fuerteventura, Mike decided
nevertheless to adopt the floppy black hat and wrap around shades as a
matter of precaution. This naturally attracted even more attention and we
were both flabbergasted at the frequency with which Mike was spotted. I have
to say that for the main part, we are talking 'bronze status star spotters',
you understand; not MPO category here... As you can imagine, there was a
terrific amount of '68 Guns whispering' across the pool and on the beach,
apart from the Scouser-spotters, who were soon bellowing '68 Guns of
Navarone'(!?) and drawing even more attention to the Spikey Boy Kid ( Hello
Pete, from BT if you are reading this - it was fun!)

All in all we had a most wonderful time, chilling out, boozing, soaking up
the rays, boozing, avoiding the starspotters, boozing and resolutely
refusing to discuss anything remotely MPO-related. We were doing quite well
and had abandoned all thoughts of music biz ness land until the brand new
supa dupa Coloursound CD arrived in all its lovely digi pack packaging! Our
new poolside friends hijacked the package and before we knew it, we were all
sharing in the Coloursound poolside experience.

In Mike's defence of keeping fit and Rock Star-like (yeah right - this is
very similar to the glazed look routine), MLP felt obliged to arrange a
daily footie match. By the end of the holiday he seemed to know every bloke
in the resort. 'Hi Mick!', 'Alright Mike!' wherever we ventured. The footie
unearthed even more previously-extinct Alarm fans (by the end of the holiday
it was more like 30-a-side!) and made me realise that there also exists the
'silent star spotters'. It's impossible to guauge the level of Mr. Silent
Unassuming Starspotter's knowledge obviously, as they are so silent. It
seems however that the silent ones are often the most deadly. They sit/play
footie quietly and unassumingly alongside you for days and then bang, they
reveal themselves to be platinum status spotters. We've been caught a few
times atually...

Once, on a train between Long Island and New York City, I'd been yakking
away with Mike for ages when after about an hour, the guy sat beside us, who
I wrongly assumed was into Whitney Houston or maybe, Celine Dion, chirped
up, 'Hey, Mike- I'd just like to say how much I admire your work and shake
you by the hand'. Yeah, cheers mate! This guy must have had a whale of a
time listening to the personal details of our conversation, before deciding
to reveal his true musical identity! Beware the quiet ones...

This can bring about paranoia. Put it this way, there are many things I do
alone, mainly because I can't cope with the pointing and whispering when
Mike is in tow. I think Mike finds apects of this quite convenient - for
example - he never has to shop for groceries, he never has to garden and as
you know by now, he never has to put the bins out...

I know I'm digressing but one day Mike was caught out big time by the
lurking star spotter. It was an extremely rare day - I think our gardener,
George was ill and Mike decided he was going to mow the lawn. He attired
himself in the most embarrassing tracksuit (navy addidas but before 70's
addidas became cool). I did suggest that he put on a hat as a feeble
disguise, as we do tend to receive the occasional 'fan' driveby-caller. Mike
had only been at it for about five minutes when amazingly enough, a car
pulled up at the top of the drive. It was only a gold star MPO member,
Helen Mesquita, all the way from Los Angeles on the 'Tour of Mike Peters'
Hotspots of North Wales'! Most amusingly for me, Mike had no option but to
have his photograph taken. On her return home, Helen proceeeded to adorn the
image of Mike in his dodgy gear on all of her stationery. I don't think Mike
has mown the lawn since...

Anyway, as a result of the Canaries climate, Mike is looking pretty damn
sexy at the moment. I know some of you girlies out there think he's pretty
cute (I mean he was the best-looking bloke in The Alarm, wasn't he - ok ok,
I'm biased). I think even some of you blokes think he's quite cute actually.
There are a few male MPO members (it's ok guys - your secret's safe with me)
who frequently enquire after the status of Mike's current hair-do. Mike's
hair has always been newsworthy which is why I feel I can discuss it here in
my column. It's shorter, quite rough-looking and oh yeah, he's got a
fringe... in fact he looks a bit like a Scandanavian sixties Beatle. With a
tan. A mahogany tan. Confused? I hope you American people will recognise him
on the forthcoming tour...

Mike's holiday ended very abruptly unfortunately when he was catapaulted,
the day after his return, from North Wales to London for a day of interviews
with the delectable Mr. Duffy. Billy's quite cute as well, don't you think?
In fact, all of Mike's bandmates post-Alarm have been cute. It's quite
exhausting you know, hosting a house-full of cute eighties rock stars ( I
hate the word eighties, bye the way - in my book they are very much
nineties men). Chez Peters tends to be the magnet for all rehearsals you see
and all my girlfriends are very envious that I have so many men to stay.
Very amusingly, our hairdresser actually mistook the whole line-up of
Coloursound one morning to be our builders (we were having a bit of work
done at the time). She thought it was strange that I had invited the
builders in for breakfast. God, she was so embarrassed when I explained that
the 'builders' were in fact the band.

The reason why it's exhausting, having all these lovely men to stay (apart
from all the cooking and cleaning because remember rock stars don't go
there), is because it requires one to look as rock chicky as possible at all
times. First thing in the morning, last thing at night, en route to the
bathroom. It's basically non-stop tottering. I know, it's a tough life. I
suppose I should be grateful that none of the guys are of Italian/Spanish
descent :) Double exhaustion...

As you can see, I am the Digress Queen today - this is because in reality
I'm actually quite stressed. I'm stressed because the MPO is terrifically
busy, Mike is in London and then all over Europe with Billy next week, I'm
preparing for Mike's tour in the US (spoke to Wayne Hussey today - more of
that next time), Mike's tour in the UK, Gathering, Mike's rehearsals for the
play 'Flesh and Blood', Coloursound release... Don't get me wrong - I do
love it - it's just that the stress is the main reason why I fantastise
about being a rock chick 100% of the time. I did ask Mike if I could apply
for early retirement but he started looking all glazed...

Ok, so on reading all of this, I see that I haven't revealed much news as
such but hey, you can check out the official MPO news section for all of
that. As I'm stressed, I've decided to totter off on a big girlie night out
tonight. While 'the Mike's' away... The question mark in replacement of my
photograph bye the way is because I decided that the site was starting to
look like www.jules.com. and I'm not really the stereotypically Rock Star's
wife, honest. I like to keep in the background obviously. Behind every good
man and all that... The plan is that I will try to master the art of
scanning and add a new photo each time Jules' News appears. Mike and I did
visit a nudist beach on holiday so I thought that could be a good start
(that's a pic of Mick not me:)

Adios for now,

Jules J X

MPO HQ busy preparations!

In the countdown to the Coloursound release on October 11th, MPO is furiously preparing for all the events to unfold for the rest of the year. Expect a postcard very soon detailing the Coloursound release...

Mike and Billy rehearsing and promoting in the UK

Mike Peters and Billy Duffy are currently in rehearsals for the forthcoming Coloursound show at London Astoria on Saturday October 9th as well as conducting press interviews for the release of the debut Coloursound album on October 11th. So far, Mike and Billy this week have

1. Recorded a piece for Radio 1’s Newsbeat session!

2. Recorded an interview with Paul King for VH1

3. Recorded an interview for London’s premier station XFM. This special interview will be broadcast on October 4th at 9pm

Mike and Billy in Europe!

On the 20th September, Mike and Billy will be out and about all week promtoing the debut Coloursound record in the cities of Madrid, Helsinki, Hamburg and Munich ...

State of Independence added to XFM

State of Independence has been added to the playlist of XFM. The station broadcasts in and around London on 104.9FM. Requests can be made on

0207 484 1049

Coloursound availability for overseas MPO members

Due to excessive demand, MPO HQ will have stock of the brand new Coloursound record from October 11th, available to order for all

MPO members overseas. Details will be added to the MPO SHOP this week and advance orders will be accepted.

Mike Peters in America and Mexico

with The Mission and Gene Loves Jezebel

In October and November, Mike Peters can be found at a US/Mexican (!) venue near you on the Resurrection tour. Watch out for a few surprises-looks as though MPO members will not be disappointed. An MPO postcard will be mailed out to all US MPO members.

Millennium Gathering

Gathering 8 takes place on January 14th and 15th year 2000. Tickets priced at £24 +£1 booking fee.

NEXT WEEK...

Check in next week for news of Billy Duffy from Coloursound appearing on brand new national ITV UK Music show..

New, on the Coloursound website, Mike Peters' Coloursound Album Recording Diary!!
Mike kept a diary chronicling 60 days of Coloursound recording, and you can view it now... well sort of. The diary will be displayed 2 entries at-a-time, updated daily for the next 30 days until the Coloursound album is released on Oct. 11. Come back to the site each day to read the new entries, then discuss them on the bulletin boards.

See you there,


CS Album Diary

"Ah, the Alarming haircuts of yore. Mike (or is it Meic) Peters may smirk
at the topknots on display in Boston, 1983, but the Rhyl rockers always paid
their dues live, and this is as energetic as you'd expect from them. Plenty
of Mark Brezicki-type drumming accompanies the acoustic thrashing, ebullient
vocals and half-shouted choruses. "Marching On" demonstrates the band's
upbeat twangin' forte in the tuneful Clash/noisy U2 mode with hints of the
Cult from Dave Sharps guitar. The patented "hey!" chants and drumrolls
continue through the set, with rockabilly and Western touches, building to
the corking rebelrouser "Blaze of Glory". There are soft ballad moments
too, and "Third Light" borrows a Billy Idol-ish electro drum beat before Mr
Sharp turns into fellow Welshman , the Edge. "Across The Border" is another
fuelled-up battlecry, topped with the frenzied "68 Guns", before a ballady
finale and bonus interview. Cor!"

If you thought that nostalgia tours were confined to the summer amphitheater circuit, think again. Starting in October, three artists from the '80s college radio scene -- the Mission UK, Gene Loves Gezebel and former Alarm leader Mike Peters -- will be hitting clubs across the country for what's being dubbed "The Resurrection Tour."

The tour will coincide with the release of the Mission UK's upcoming album, "Resurrection: The Greatest Hits"; however, fans should be warned that the album does not include the original versions of "Deliverance," "Wasteland," "Butterfly On A Wheel," or any of their other Mission UK faves. Mission frontman Wayne Hussey "updated" (read: re-recorded) the band's most popular songs for the album.


Gene Loves Jezebel
"Desire"
RealVideo
The Mission UK aren't the only act on the tour plugging new product: Gene Loves Gezebel will be supporting their recently released "VII," while Mike Peters will be performing songs from his most recent solo album, "Rise"; Peters also plans to perform songs from the Alarm's catalog. (A further note for '80s college rock fans: Billy Duffy of the Cult plays guitar and co-wrote many of the songs on "Rise.")

Here's where the Resurrection Tour will be hitting:

10/16 - Boston, MA @ Avalon Ballroom
10/18 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
10/20 - Washington DC @ 9:30 Club
10/21 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
10/22 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Metropol
10/23 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
10/24 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre
10/25 - Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues
10/26 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
10/27 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
10/28 - Omaha, NE @ The Ranch Bowl
10/30 - Denver, CO @ Lodo Music Hall
10/31 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Axis
11/2 - San Francisco, CA @ the Fillmore
11/4 - Seattle, WA @ Fenix Above Ground
11/5 - Portland, OR @ The Aladdin
11/6 - Reno, NV @ Reno Hilton/The Garage
11/8 - Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues
11/9 - Santa Ana, CA @ The Galaxy
11/10 - Los Angeles, CA @ House Of Blues
11/13 - Mexico City, MEX @ TBA
11/16 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Respectable Street Café
11/17 - St. Petersburg, FL @ Janus Landing
11/18 - Orlando, FL @ House Of Blues

Fans of mid-'80s British alternative music will be delighted to learn three of the scene's biggest acts, the Mission U.K., Gene Loves Jezebel, and the Alarm's Mike Peters, will be hitting a city near you as part of the appropriately titled Resurrection tour. The 23-date tour will kick off in Boston on Oct. 16 and wind through medium-size venues and clubs throughout the U.S. (as well as a dip down Mexico way) through Nov. 18 in Orlando, Fla.


Gene Loves Jezebel
Headliners the Mission U.K. will be touring in support of their forthcoming greatest hits package, Resurrection: The Greatest Hits (Cleopatra, out Nov. 7), in which singer Wayne Hussey has re-recorded all of the band's classic tunes. Gene Loves Jezebel will be touring together in its original lineup (minus Michael Aston) in support of the recently released V11, their first album of new material in five years. Mike Peters will be touring in continued support of his last solo effort, 1998's Rise.

Here are the dates for the Resurrection Tour:


Oct.16, Boston, Avalon Ballroom
Oct.18, New York, Irving Plaza
Mike Peters
Oct.20, Washington, D.C., 9:30 Club
Oct.21, Philadelphia, Trocadero
Oct.22, Pittsburgh, Metropol
Oct.23, Columbus, Ohio, Newport Music Hall
Oct.24, Cleveland, Agora Theatre
Oct.25, Chicago, House of Blues
Oct.26, Milwaukee, The Rave
Oct.27, Minneapolis, First Avenue
Oct.28, Omaha, Neb., The Ranch Bowl
Oct.30, Denver, Lodo Music Hall
Oct.3, Salt Lake City, Utah, Club Axis
Nov. 2, San Francisco, The Fillmore
Nov. 4, Seattle, Above Ground
Nov. 6, Reno, Nev., Reno Hilton/The Garage
Nov. 8, Las Vegas, House of Blues
Nov. 9, Santa Ana, Calif., The Galaxy
Nov. 10, Los Angeles, House of Blues
Nov. 13, Mexico City, TBA
Nov. 16, West Palm Beach, Fla., Respectable Street Café
Nov. 17, St. Petersberg, Fla., Janus Landing
Nov. 18, Orlando, Fla., House of Blues

V99 was a blast! To be honest, I usually find Festivals a bit of a bore.

..All that tramping around from one field to the next in search of something to light your musical fire. I certainly wouldn't pay £75 or whatever it was to tramp about in search of Something. Perks of the rock biz means that you don't have to part with seventy five spons and that you acquire a
different colour wrist band to all the other punters which allows you access into yet
another field. The only difference with this field is that you can play 'spot the star' if you're really bored with your 'search for
something'. At V99, it was a little bit like playing, 'Spot the ball', the stars were so
few and far between. I did manage a good nosey at Mr. Gay Dad who did look quite as perfect up close as he had in the distance at the recent Stereophonics Shindig and I also managed a good natter with one of
Mike's heroes, Pete Wylie, who had lost a tooth since our last meeting at Echo
and the Bunnymen's gig at Liverpool's Royal Court.

In fact these days, the punters look more like stars than the band members.
Gone are the days, when bands look like bands, I feel (this is a super
generalisation, afterall). I don't know about you but I like my stars to
look like stars. Take The Alarm for instance. When you were hanging out
with The Alarm, checking in to airport desks, hanging out in the lobby of
hotels, there was no doubt that you were part of a rock'n roll ensemble. It was
the clothes, the hair (obviously), the whole rock'n roll vibeyness of it which
was electrifying to be a part of. Mike and I would think nothing of popping down to our local, clad in the full gear, the cowboy hat, the leathers... in fact the only night we could be comfortably inconspicuous was on New Year's Eve when the whole of Rhyl would turn out in Fancy Dress and Mike and I
could just wear our usual gear! In the very early days, Mike's Dad would drop him off at the end of the road to avoid the neighbours whilst Mike, Redeye (Alarm roadie) and co. would saunter down the High Street , spurs
clattering around their ankles.

I caught Suede on Sat night (now, Brett's a star) and on Sunday, sampled Super Furry Animals (?), missed Clever Spice/Punk Spice or whatever condiment she is now and lost myself in the pogoing masses for the
Glorious Manic St. Boyos. I do so love the Manics. I preferred their starry earlier
period in terms of visuals but absolutely adore their later compositions. They make me feel close to the way I feel heading down the front at a Mike show when Burnout Syndrome is playing or at an Alarm show when Spirit of 76 was playing. Most of you know that feeling, I guess. That feeling of
complete abandonment. Being part of a surging throng as 'You Stole the Sun...' , You Love US' 'Everything Must Go' was fantastic. I do like Nick Wire' starriness too (even though he can be a bit of a tosser, I think and his few anti-Alarm comments this year were a tad annoying, especially as allegedly he used to trek down from the valleys to see the Alarm at St.
David's Hall). But hey, you can't have it all in bass player, can you... The point is, none of this matters because it's all about the music at the end of the day, isn't it , whether it stirs your soul...not whether the
drummer's a tosser or not :)

God though, doesn't pogoing take it out of you? I was pretty glad really because I had over-indulged somewhat and needed to burn off a few calories in the absence of my weekend aerobics session. It was great leaping about with a load of blokes (shame they weren't Italian, mind:)). It reminded
me of Alarm days when I'd wriggle my way as close to the front as I dared.

It was all quite a nerve-wracking experience really. I always found that the most friendly blokes tended to be in Liverpool for some reason - they would always offer to hoist me up on their shoulders and ping, there you were, aloft on the wave of Alarmdom World. Occasionally, I would come face to face with MP and momentarily startled, we'd both share the moment. I
toyed with the idea of asking Mike if he would aloft me into Manicdom World but
then I remembered that he had a stiff neck (he gets then occasionally - stiff necks - often on tour). What with Coloursound and all that, I didn't want to take the risk. The blokes beside me were neither Scousers or
Italians which was a double blow really (At this point, I should add that I also find Spanish men fairly attractive, as the delightful Michelle G. from Boston informed me that I had confused my origins somewhat in my last column - Mr. Garcia is in fact Spanish).

Mike was starspotted a lot this weekend. You see, even if Mike dresses down, his hair still remains defiantly star-like. We tend to get grades of starspotters. You get the full-on informed Mike Peters spotter. I like
those very much - they're more often than not in the MPO and they know their stuff. They're spotting Mike for good grass roots reasons, easy to talk - gold star spotting status. Then you get silver star spotters. I quite like these too. They're less informed but may have one Alarm record in their
collection. They're also prime MPO virgins. Then you get bronze star spotters. I'm not overly keen on the bronzies as they tend to be less informed and spotters for all the reasons that Mike is 'recognisable'. They
shout things like 'Aren't you that guy off the tele?' which is a bit silly in itself because an appearance on Men and Motors and VH1 hardly constitutes a huge tele presence! More often than not , the bronzies are the 'Sixty nine guns' whisperers/muttererers/shouters'. The bronzies also like to 'mouth'demonstratively to whoever they're with, 'That's that guy from the Alarm!'This mouthing is more often than not accompanied by expansive hand
gesturing... A gold star mention however should be awarded this weekend to Tony Dolgarno from Stoke who is a top bloke and long-term MPO member.

Anyway, I'm going to sign off a little earlier today if that's ok. I'm off on my holidays tomorrow with 'MP' and absolutely no 'O'... The guitar is accompanying MP to far distant shores however and so no doubt his fifth album will be penned! (fourth album has already been loosely recorded -
more of that later). Thanks for all your messages of support. You really are
the best fans (not fanatical , nor white whirry things) in the world! I look
forward to hanging out with you all at an MP/Coloursound show very soon...

Ciao for now (do you think there'll be any Italians off the North Coast of Africa?)
Love,
Jules X

'State Of Independence' has been added to the playlist of XFM in London. XFM is to London what KROQ is to L.A. At present the track will be played once or twice a day and hopefully move up as it picks up.

The station broadcasts in and around London on 104.9 FM Listener requests can be placed on tel: 0207 484 1049

XFM will also sponsor the London Astoria show on October 9th.

You can also try to listen to the station via RealAudio and make requests here:

http://xfm.co.uk/

JULES NEWS

So here we are again, then... fresh from tottering, performing andgenerally misbehaving (not necessarily in that order) in Caerphilly, Padova, Modena and Swansea. God, how we get around... I told you it was
a glamorous life...

Let's begin in Sizzling Swansea, shall we, at the Stereophonics Concert. It was the hottest day of the year actually. We had arrived early for the 'Phonics' Five', the pre-concert celebrity footie competition and Mike was looking all serious, striking range poses, resplendent in a rather striking red football strip. He had 'PETERS' emblazoned across his back, which explained the strange limbering positions. I think he thought he
was at Old Trafford instead of Morfa Stadium...

If Mike hadn't become a 'Rock Star' (that's how he is always amusingly described in my local North Wales press - with a capital rolling 'R' and a capital 'S'), Mike had dreams of becoming a 'Footballer'. As most of
you probably know, when Mike isn't singing or strumming (which is most of the time), Mike can be found watching Manchester Utd., discussing Man. Utd or dreaming about playing for Man Utd..... This can create problems let me tell you. When Mike is looking glazed and unresponsive (most of the time), is Mike really creating a new masterpiece and therefore should absolutely
not be disturbed, or is Mike cunningly using the 'glazed look' to his advantage? Is Mike really dreaming of 'Ryan Giggs Ryan Giggs Ryan Giggs?' when he's strumming his takemine... We'll never know... Perks of being a 'Rock Star', I guess. Think about it, the 'glazed look' can be adopted at any tricky moment. 'Mike, darling,' could you stick the bins out?' (Mike adopts glazed
look')... Mike, mate, 'could you pop to the shop?' (Mike adopts glazed look')... Mike, sweetheart, 'could you clear the table (Mike adopts glazed look')... and on and on. (Come to think of it, it'must be one of those
infectious rock star diseases - Billy's got it too...)

Today, however, Mike was looking articularly nonglazed. He was perky and
ready for action! As the football kicked off, it dawned upon me that this 'round robin' malarkey was going to be murderously long-winded and I felt my previous
perkiness evaporating, especially when I clocked the fact that the VIP section (perks of a rock chick) was submerged in shade. On the hottest Welsh day of the year (and there are few), I decided to eschew my VIP status
(big of me I know) and plant myself directly 'Under the Sun' (plugplug) to
grill my already-developing fake tan (yes, classy bird, I know)This was heavy rock
chick territory with lots of fellow laminate-wearing back stage-pass-brandishing belly-bearing rock chicks at all various levels
of experience. I had my high heels on and was looking forward to a day of rock
chickdom with relish. I was gagging for a beer and in my search for the free
backstage bar, I managed to miss Peters' opening goal. Oops...

I nearly tottered over on the spot when I was tapped on the shoulder by two
members of the MPO, two policeman from Nottingham, Karl and Paul. As a result, I missed the rest of Mike's performance whilst Karl, Paul and I yakked and gossiped, attracting other MPO members to our small piece of MPO turf; me in my heels and
the boys, 'flying the flag' in their Mike Peters T shirts. 'Gareth from Porthmadog' met Mike for the first time, after we'd peeled off a few of Mike's younger girlie fans who wanted to congratulate Mike with kisses for his recent National Assembly concert (Rock star perks - young girlie
fans, that is: not Gareth from Porthmadog - no offence Gareth).

Swansea continued to sizzle and apparently it was due to the fact that Mike was so dehydrated after the footie (bless him) that he became so sozzled. Mike's outrageous behaviour was also due to his apparent allergy to Stella Artois and the fact that according to local folklore that is Mike's
mum, Mike can't drink more than 2 pints. Bless him. Mickey Thomas of Wrexham/Man
u /Wales footie fame came to Mike's rescue when MP started throwing up which
was helpful. I also pulled Mike out of a ditch at some point. I missed lots of tottering atthe Aftershow. Downside to being a rock star's rock chick...

On Sunday, Swansea was still sizzling and Mike didn't have a hangover which
pissed me off. I meanwhile felt horrendous and guzzled lucozade all the way home. It was so hot that Mike and I were still in Italian mode actually...

In Italy, we had enjoyed the most fantastic time hanging out with Lorenzo, (MPO Italy) Paulo, Luca, Stefano and all. God, why is it that all Italian men seem to be so drop dead gorgeous? I love Italy and all things Italian. Andy Garcia is one my fave actors and The Godfather is one my fave films. (I
was introduced to the Godfather by The Alarm actually. Up on my first visit to America to hang out on tour, I arrived alone in New York to experience great difficulties checking into Mike's room. After much frustration, it transpired that Mike's alias was Don Corleone... in fact the entire
band and crew were all named after the Godfather characters. Sharp and Twist were very convincing Italians and Mike's 'Don' impression at dinner every night was hilarious....)

Touring in Italy was turning out to be a lot of fun. The setting was idyllic. In Padova, Mike was singing outdoors in a romantic courtyard. The mosquitos were a pain in the arse but if you ignored the occasional
nips, it was possible to slip back into the easy warm atmosphere. The Italian audience consisted mainly of Alarm fans (obviously) who were transfixed by the intimacy they were afforded 'one on one' with Signor Peters...

In Caerphilly, (stupendous stunning performance by Peters at stupendous
stunning Caerphilly Castle)Padova and then Modena, Mike performed acoustic sets which incorporated a healthy selection of songs from practically every album in his history. In fact, on the third encore of the Modena show in Italy, Mike just looked at me, dripping wet, eyes panicked and gasped
'What else is there left for me to play?' He had already climaxed with
Spirit/68/Rockin in the Free World... Some bright Italian spark shouted for
'Third Light' I seem to remember or something similarily anti-climactic. I
think Mike pretended not to hear and instead the human jukebox rushed to his own rescue by plucking out the classic climax finisher of all time, Mr. Bob's 'Knockin on Heaven's Door'... It was quite emotional actually,
Mike and hundreds of Italians all singing 'Knock Knockin...' We enjoyed a
fantastico aftershow with the gorgeous Mr. Bedini (Italian MPO) Armin from
Switzerland (who had made a special journey), Brian from California
(who had made a really special journey) and of course, all those gorgeous Italians...

I'll leave you now with those heady thoughts of Italia intoxicating your senses. I'm already desperately late with Jules' News and I feel Steve Webmaster Fulton is already frustrated by my lateness (sorry Steve).
I'm back in MPO Office World today and writing my news between taking your
calls. There are so many of you. Today I tore out my tonsils with Paul Wilcox from Surrey (see u at the Coloursound show, Paul!), Barry 'Gathering Virgin' Mowat from Scotland (see u at King Tut's in December, Barry!), Mike 'Yogi' Arpaia from Brooklyn (see you in New York, Mike!) to name but a
few. Thanks for keeping me out of trouble, guys...

Next week you can find me tottering at V99 (Mike has bought another f*+*$£ng
shirt - I think he said black black (black) -apparently he now needs duplicate sets of shirts for the US tour). We'll be 'hanging out' with the very cool Dr. K (author
of the Coloursound album's fabulous artwork design) and 'checking out' Stereophonics, Manics etc. etc. Hopefully, I can keep Mike off the Stella and totter until dawn....

Until next time,

Jules J XXX

Tour dates posted today were not the FINAL list, just the CONFIRMED list. There will be about 15 more dates added through mid-November. They will go out to California, and then back through Florida. Texas should be on the itinerary as well.

Also, VelVel have been resurrected (sort of). They are now owned by a large media conglomerate named Koch. They are still selling "Rise" and they plan to support this tour with a possible radio-single release for Mike Peters!!! Cool, eh.

Sat August 14th
BBC Radio Wales 6pm
Tune in to Mike Peters recent SOLD OUT Caerphilly concert 

Coloursound release their eponymously titled debut album 'Coloursound'on October 11 1999.

The album will be released on 21st Century under exclusive license to Sanctuary Music Productions and distributed in the U.K. by
Pinnacle. Catalogue number: 21C008

The album, produced by Mike Peters and Billy Duffy and recorded at The Vibrating Room in Wales earlier this year, features Billy Duffy on lead guitar, Mike Peters on vocals and rhythm guitar, Craig Adams on bass
and Scott Garrett on drums.

The album features eleven songs:

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

The album was mixed in London at Trident Studios by Mike Peters and Jim Lowe and will be released in a CD Digipak with exclusive artwork by Karl 'The Design Doctor' Parsons.

Coloursound celebrate the new release by performing an exclusive show in London at the Astoria 2 on Saturday October 9 1999. Tickets priced £10.00 plus a booking fee and are available from:

The Astoria Tel: 0171 434 0404
Stargreen Tel: 0171 734 8932
Ticketmaster Tel: 0171 344 0404
Way Ahead Tel: 0115 912 9000 (24 hours)

Coloursound will announce plans for an international release of the album and further live performances as soon as details are available.

COLOURSOUND TICKETS SELLING FAST IN FIRST WEEK!

Thanks to all MPO members who have been ordering their Coloursound tickets for the Astoria in advance of general advertisement. Tickets have sold very fast in the first week. Please find to follow additional box office details:

The Astoria 0171 434 0403 (enq)
0171 434 0404 (credit cards)
(between 10am and 6pm)

Stargreen 0171 734 8932

Ticketmaster 0171 344 0404

Way Ahead 0115 912 9000 (24 hours)

MIKE PETERS ANNUAL CONCERT IN NORTH WALES!

GATHERING 8

14TH & 15TH JAN 2000

North Wales Theatre, Llandudno, North Wales

Tickets £24 +£1 booking fee

Gathering Hotels

St. George 01492 877 544 (£24 B&B)

Ambassador 01492 876886 (£21 B&B)

Esplanade 01492 860300 (£24 B&B)

Chatsworth 01492 860788 (£21 B&B)

Queens 01492 877218 (tbc)

I just added the new MPO store to the Web Site. It is VERY DIFFERENT from the old store. This one is more like a shopping cart system. It should be much easier for you to find the products you are looking for.

Check it out by clicking on the [Purchase] button from the menu to left, or on the "e.MPO.Store" logo on the home page.

I need feedback on this. Please send all complaints/suggestions to Steve Fulton

Thanks,
Steve Fulton

The MPO Store (for both Mike Peters and colourSound) has been experiencing some difficulties as of late. Instead of fixing those problems, we will instead step-up the production of the NEW MPO STORE.

Hopefully the store will be up tonight, or tomorrow. The new store is shopping-cart based and will sell products for various artists such as ColourSound, Mike Peters, and The Alarm. The store will include photos of the products (where available), and will give yo ua full-summary of your order before you decide to buy. Both USA nd UK prices and totals will be listed.

Look for the new store this week.

COLOURSOUND PLAY LONDON ASTORIA ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 9TH
Box Office No. 0115 912 9000
Ticket price £10.00 + booking fee (£1.25)

The London Astoria can be found at Charing Cross Road, London WC2 Nearest tube station is Tottenham Court Road. This will be a special album launch concert. Release date to be announced shortly.

Thanks to all of you spreading the word at the USA Cult sold out shows!! Billy is looking forward to returning to the UK for the Coloursound launch.

For an excruciating tempting piece of Coloursound, call MPO on 01745 571571
(011 44 1745 571571 for overseas). The Coloursound is now mastered - the
time is coming soon!!!!!!!!!

Mike can be seen playing football at the Stereophonics Concert in Swansea, South Wales at the Morfa Stadium on Saturday 31st July. After Mike invited the Stereophonics to play at Mike's Snowdonation Concert, the band and Mike have become good friends. Mike can be seen flexing his calves in the
celebrity 5 a side football tournament before the concert begins. There will
be 3 celebrity teams, each captained by Kelly, Richard and Stuart from the
Stereophonics.

Check in for lots more Mike Peters' news next week and of course the next
behind the scenes installment of Jules' News!!

Best wishes,

MPO

Jules' News
So, where were we? Ah yes... Chop'Em Out in London, where we spent the day transforming the Coloursound recordings into an actual finished piece of mastering CD. Do you know how exciting that is? To walk away at the end of the day with all the last two years or so of Coloursound World encapsulated like a magic bullet and flattened on this shiny perfect piece of gold compact disc. It's actually called a CDR and from this, the Coloursound record will be manufactured into shiny perfect silver CD's to be shipped far and wide into your sweaty and much-deserving paws.

As fans, (I hate calling you that - it makes me think of white whirly pieces of equipment - and let's face it most of you aren't 'fanatical' are you?- just regular boys and girls who like a dose of Mike Peters every so often - well, ok, so maybe some of you are fanatical :) but there again Mr. Peters is pretty fanatical about MUFC), anyway... as fans, you have pretty much shared the rocky road of the journey of Coloursound, you've travelled in the sidecar of our rock'n 'roll motorcycle and that's why a moment like this
at Chop'em Out is so special.

Anyway, before we all start sobbing over our keyboards, I'll lighten the tone... Mike,the maniac workaholic spent all day attending to the Coloursound mastering process alongside Declan Burns, the very able engineer. We experienced a shaky start when we 'A' 'B' 'd (compared)
the 'final completed mix' against the 'original monitor mix and I kept selecting the 'monitor mix' as my preferred listening choice. Mike looked absolutely apalled and I was just being appallingly honest. As it turned out, after a lot of faffing about (and believe me, there's a lot of faffing about in this business) it turned out that it was just this one particular track that needed fixing and that was why the monitor version actually sounded better.

At this point, I decided to slope off and leave Mike to it. As I have said
many times before to Mike and Billy, my whole take on Coloursound was to be rock chick...to drag out my high heels for every show, get pissed backstage, not watch the show, tell the band they were fantastic nevertheless, get even more pissed ,take the limo back to the hotel, rise late, do it all over agin the next night and generally throw Responsibilty to the wind.

Yeah, wake up Jules and smell the Coloursound coffee... I didn't figure that Billy would be so-pro MPO for starters, or that Billy would be so pro-Coloursound Fan Club or that Billy would be so pro-my involvement as General Organiser, or that Billy would be so pro-trainers/sneakers and so anti -high heels. Ah well. (I do still carry my heels around though in case of rock chick emergency)

Today, I was in heels so I tottered into the 'Rest Room' and hit the 'phones instead. I like 'hitting the phones' just as I love using American adjectives like 'hitting the sack', 'jumping into the shower', 'touching base', 'hanging out' and so on... Hitting the phones meant that I rang every person imaginable from my mother to my mate in Timbuktoo to tell them how fantastico (note the Italian) the Coloursound album actually is.

I had only reached 'E' in my A-Z (I was calling Eagle Records to 'touch base' with old friends from one of Mike's many past labels - in our spare time, we like to collect Record Company Labels like some people like to collect matchboxes) when Mike emerged from the mixing studio like a fresh bouncing baby to take a stroll down Portebello. He was happy and confident that the Coloursound album was sounding perfetto (notice the Italian) and wanted to purchase a few new shirts to celebrate. Mike, byetheway loves buying clothes and has a particular fondness for fond shirts (check out his 1987 period when I admit to being alarmed by some of his more exotic choices - do you remember the turquoise, embroidery-ridden Rain in the Summertime shirt? That was very fetching I thought; it was when Mike started adding scarves, tying them around every limb imaginable, that I became really alarmed. I did actually join in for a while, tying scarves around my wrists, my waist and of course my head. It all became too much for me however and eventually for Mike too, thankfully. It all came to a head around The Alarm's appearance on the very popular Roxy Show when Rain in the Summertime entered the British Top 40 at number 20, I think, as the highest chart entry.

Mike has still maintained his fondness for fond shirts and so here I found myself, trekking after him into Johnson's on Portobello where he purchased a very fetching gunmetal coloured shirt. I should imagine you'll see a lot of these shirts over the coming months as he has already planned to return and buy replica shirts in all kinds of lifetyle colours like vanilla (cream), black black (black), olive (green), mustard (dark yellow) and so on...

We both tottered back to the studio, Mike in his Dr. Marten sandals and gunmetal (dark grey) shirt, me in my new mules and blistered feet (too much tottering around obviously this Summer). Smothered in hummous and felafel (Mike's a veggie, has been now for 11 years) we were greeted by Mr. Simon Morgan, Coloursound's new business partner and Mastermind of the Colour sound Masterplan. Formerly of China Records fame, Simon is the man behind the success of bands like The Levellers and my favourite band of all time, Morcheeba. Now set up as part of the legendary Sanctuary Company, the new Coloursound album will be released on 21st Century with the backing and experience of Santuary and its extensive staff.

Simon is Welsh and therefore is naturally witty, charming and cool with a capital Celtic and Cymru 'C'. He was only popping in to make sure everything was okay and ended up hanging out all afternoon and all evening, vibing, planning and 'chopping out' the Coloursound plan.

As garrulous as ever, I've written far more than I intended and so I will draw to a close for now. There's still the story of Cornwall,Caerphilly and Italia so more of that later. Mike is playing at the Stereophonics stonkingly large concert in Swansea (that's footie not guitar) this Saturday. So if you see two blondes, one wearing inkjet (navy) and the other in staggeringly high heels, please do say 'Hi'...

As always, thanks for listening. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy recounting. Any questions, any avenues you want me to stroll down, call me on 01745 571571 or e-mail jules@alarmpo.demon.co.uk

Ciao for now (note the Italian :)
Jules J XXX

Welcome to Jules' News, a new weekly news column to give you the latestgossip on the wonderful world of Mike Peters and Coloursound.

It's been a busy week. Again. Back from London and the Coloursound mix, a few days catching up on MPO World and then back to the Big City tomorrow for a momentous day. This is the day when the Coloursound record is burnt for prosperity to CD!! It's always an exciting moment. This also means that we
are effectively on course for an October release. This event always happens
amusingly enough at a place called 'Chop'em out'.

Last week, I was hauled on board as Miss. Official Photographer to photograph the mighty Coloursound. To be honest I wasn't relishing the thought of trailing after His Lordship Duffy and Mr. Peters around the
streets of London. Having to be subservient and all that stuff. To be fair, they were both fantastic, looked gorgeous and were pretty damn easy to photograph. So if you saw a huge white backdrop draped around Kensington, yes, it was us!

Hung out with Craig, or 'Ado' as we like to call him, while we were in London. A lot of postive energy goes into the mix. There is a stupendous amount of hanging around, giving the thumbs up, smiling inanely and all that
kind of stuff. Ado and I kept slipping out for a few jars, as you do. Mike is exceptionally conscientous at times like this and Billy doesn't drink.

One night we joined my local MP (whom I used to teach with in North Wales) at the House of Commons for a few beers. (The studio was situated very close to Westminster). This is the second time Mike and I have partaken of such splendid activities and without gloating, it is the most amazing experience!!! Accompanied this time by Ado and the MPO's very own Danny Cohen, we had the most wonderful night out on the terrace at the Houses of Parliament, watching the world and the Thames float by....

James Stevenson from Gene Loves Jezebel, our very dear friend and 'MP guitarist' popped by. Rumour has it that we may be going on tour in the U.S. this fall with the newly formed Mission and Gene Loves Jezebel. Having
read all there is to know on the Mission and having shared a US Coloursound tour with Ado, I very much hope the rumours come true!

'Mike on tour in America' has today been challenged by the interest of a tour with Big Country. Oh how my eighties Mikey Boy kid is so in vogue! If we have time, I'm sure we'll do it all, including Mike's desire to tour the UK, Interactively Acoustically and all that, this December.

So I can safely say, life's pretty good at the moment. Mike has just had the most gorgeous new haircut. Think, lead singer of Gay Dad and the very handsome bloke in the French Connection UK ads:). Mike got pissed off at the David Beckham gags and believe me, Mike rarely gets pissed off.

I have so much more to say but must fly. Things to pack. I've just had 'Mr. Stranglers Guitaris't on the phone, organising our Big Saturday night (we're
playing a festival with The Stranglers in North Bideford (!) this weekend. Yipee! Then on to the banqueting hall of Caerphilly (via Cardiff, as Mikey Boy has written songs for a new Welsh play - more of that next week) and then on Wednesday to Italia for some 'Mike Peters' shows. Hey, it's a
glamorous life, I know...

Thanks to all who telephoned MPO this week - it was a pleasure to talk. To Gary from N. Wales, John from Cleveland Ohio, Tim from South Wales, Emiel from Holland to name but a few and especially a big thank you to Mr. Steve Fulton who makes all this interactive stuff possible!!

Love and life,

Jules Jones X

Last night at Caerphilly Castle, Mike Peters announced from the stage that he would have a new album out in early 2000. Named "Flesh And Blood", the album is a soundtrack to the play of the same name, that will be, conviently, opening just about the same time the album is released.

We will post more details when the become available.

For those Coloursound fans going to see the Cult this Summer, why not spread
the word of Coloursound? All you have to do is make up a flier including the
following ingredients:

ATTENTION ALL CULT FANS!

Billy Duffy from The Cult
And
Mike Peters from the Alarm

Have joined up to form a brand new band called
COLOURSOUND

Expect an album out in October this year and in the meantime check out the
latest reviews on THE most happening band OF YOUR DREAMS...

www.coloursound.com


WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU'VE SPREAD THE WORD OF COLOURSOUND
Email us here at the Coloursound/Mike Peters website and let us know how you
get on, the reaction from other Cult fans, details of your flier etc. Wear
your Coloursound T shirt! Every bit helps!

Every participant who endeavours to spread the word of Coloursound will win
a promo Coloursound CD! Remember the Coloursound album is now all set for
release in October so it's all happening!!!!!

July
Sat 17 Paramount Theatre - Seattle, WA
Sun 18 Roseland Ballroom - Portland, OR
Sun 18 Roseland Theater - Portland, OR
Wed 21 The Fillmore - Denver, CO
Fri 23 Uptown Theatre - Kansas City, MO
Sat 24 Club Quest - Minneapolis, MN
Mon 26 House of Blues - Chicago, IL
Tue 27 Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH
Thu 29 Clutch Cargos - Detroit, MI
Fri 30 Warehouse - Toronto, ONT, Canada
Sat 31 Agora Theatre - Cleveland, OH

August

Mon 2 Avalon Ballroom - Boston, MA
Tue 3 Roseland - New York, NY
Tue 3 Roseland Ballroom - New York, NY
Wed 4 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
Fri 6 House of Blues - Myrtle Beach, SC
Sat 7 The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
Mon 9 House of Blues - New Orleans, LA
Tue 10 Aerial Theatre - Houston, TX
Wed 11 Bronco Bowl - Dallas, TX
Sun 15 4th & B - San Diego, CA
Thu 19 House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
Fri 20 House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
Sat 21 House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
Sun 22 House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA

Four years after burning out at their brightest, the Cult light their fire again

The Cult's Ian Astbury is waxing poetic about the elite school of primal rock & rollers that shook his world as a young punk and still rattle his soul. He stands fast by such legends as Dylan, the Beatles, the Stones, David Bowie and Mick Ronson, but speaks just as fondly of latter-day groundbreakers Primal Scream, whom he believes with a die-hard fan's conviction will shortly return with an album "we can all get off on." The topic of discussion quickly leads to another wild card contender, Axl Rose.
"He seems to be a little bit late to the party on the whole electronica thing," Astbury muses. "Maybe he'll come out with a rock & roll record. Spin just did that cover story, 'What the world needs now is Axl Rose.' I don't know about that -- it's not 1989 anymore."

He leaves the gate wide open, and the devil's advocate swoops in: might one say the same thing about the Cult, which has just hit the road on a reunion tour?

"Yeah, but we've never been the media darling," he says. "Ever."

Indeed. In 1985, Rolling Stone critic David Fricke showed little affection for the group's second album, Love, snuffing out the "British sensations" in the first line of his review as "a postpunk Grand Funk Railroad." Astbury says they got it even worse from journalists in their own country. "They f---ing hated us," he chuckles. "And they wrote the most horrific things about me. Everybody despised us, especially me -- the way I looked, the way I dressed and my hair and everything."

Nevertheless, Astbury kept his hair long and co-conspirator Billy Duffy's bottom-heavy riffs got even heavier for 1987's Electric. "At that point, we really, really didn't care about what anybody said," says the singer, who fondly recalls the recording of the group's landmark album at Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland studio in New York with producer Rick Rubin. The Cult's stubborn determination soon paid off in spades, and the juggernaut riffs of the album's "Love Removal Machine," "Wild Flower" and "Lil' Devil" muscled the Cult out of the indie/Goth scene and to the forefront of Eighties' hard rock vanguard. When Sonic Temple ("Fire Woman"! "Sweet Soul Sister"! "Edie"!) hit two years later, the Cult seemed virtually unstoppable.

In truth, it was the beginning of the end. Astbury was soon sideswiped by the death of his father, and long-time bassist Jamie Stewart left the band. Nirvana came along and rewrote the book on alternative guitar rock, leaving the Cult between a rock and a hard place. Astbury was itching to move the band in the bold new direction hinted at on the electronica-tinged "The Witch" from the Cool World soundtrack, but the band was under the gun to produce a commercial follow-up to Sonic Temple. The resulting Ceremony had a few inspired moments Astbury is still proud of, but it was also loaded with tracks like "Wild Hearted Son" which he's quick to dismiss as "a pale-imitation of 'Fire Woman'." Astbury found some consolation in being able to explore his fascination with Native American themes on the album, adorning the cover with a picture of an American Indian boy. The karmic bid backfired when the boy's family ended up suing the band.

"That Indian lawsuit was kind of the big nail in the coffin," sighs Astbury. "I had a vision of being a part of this Native culture resurgence. Of course, that was closed down very quickly. And it did do fairly good damage to the band because, ideologically, Billy was always of the opinion that it should always be about the music, and I was always of the opinion that I should use the band to further my observations and my attachment to higher ideals. We had a bit of a stalemate."

They split the difference in 1994 with the best album of the their career -- The Cult -- then split all together later that year after a show in Rio. Contrary to reports -- or perhaps downplaying them -- Astbury says the parting wasn't really ugly, and was mostly brought on by exhaustion and disillusionment. Astbury went on to record one album with a new band, the Holy Barbarians, and then traveled to Tibet to get back in touch with his spirituality. Along the way, he found his inner-electronica child via a solo album, Natural Born Guerrilla, which Beggars Banquet will release in late September. Duffy, meanwhile, teamed up with former Alarm frontman Mike Peters to form Colorsound, which had just signed a deal with Velvel Records last year before the label went under. Finally, four years after the breakup of the Cult, Astbury and Duffy were reunited on stage at Los Angeles' Viper Room earlier this year for a brief set that has since snowballed into the duo's current North American tour and plans for a new major-label album next year.

Side projects and the odd solo gig notwithstanding, Astbury says both he and Duffy (along with veteran Cult drummer Matt Sorum and bassist Martyn LeNoble) are 100 percent committed to the Cult. He talks of "unfinished business" and dismisses any notion of nostalgia (the split wasn't that long ago, mind you, and he seems more comfortable now with the word "hiatus" than "break-up" to describe their time apart).

"We've had four years to reflect on the whole experience and ask, 'What is the lowest common denominator about this band?'" he explains. "It's about a four-piece rock & roll band. It's about dreaming, and having your heroes in your head when you play music. Those records [Bowie, etc.] that were so dear to me, when I put them on, they still get me going. That's what motivates me and that's the direction we're going to now . . . The next Cult record won't be full of samples and stuff like that -- it will be a rock & roll record."

But even if Astbury is putting his electronica jones aside for the Cult, he's not about to do the same with his "higher ideals."

"I think that's almost impossible," he says. "I really do try, because I know at times it can come across as being long-winded or self-important, but I'm compelled to be involved, compelled to say something."

I believe it is high-time that we added a photo archive to the Official Mike Peters Web Site (http://mikepetersweb.com). The problem is, I only have a couple good photos. What I would like is a kind of a "photo album" history of the past 8 years of Mike solo. I'd like to get 1 or 2 good shots from any show that you have seen with Mike solo (or with ColourSound). This would include photos of Mike with The Poets Of Justice, The Poets, "the Band", "ColourSound", and any shots of Mike participating in performance activities (i.e. playing soccer, in the recording studio , etc.).

I figured, the best way to get many people invloved would be to create a contest. All you have to do is send me 1 or 2 good photos (electronic copies please) from any show that you seen from Mike Peters in the past 8 years. The more diverse show, the better. (i.e We don't need 100 shots from G6). You can enter this contest as many time as you like, but each time your photos must be from a different show or Mike Peters appearance.

Mike Peters will choose his favorite photo, and the winner will receive a prize package of goodies (TBD) directly from the MPO.

You will retain the rights to your photos, but you will also grant the MPO and www.mikepetersweb.com the right to display the photos and make them available on the web site.

That's it.

Here is how to eneter:

1. email sfulton@ix.netcom.com
2. Attach 1 or 2 photos
3. Describe the photos, and the date/show they were taken at
4. Send the e-mail
5. Enter again, with different photos

I'm sorry that I can't accept photos surfaced mailed to me, because the work-load to sort through them-all would just be too great.

Thanks,

Steve Fulton

Rock N' Roll Insider Chat
Special Guest: THE CULT
SonicNet/Yahoo! Chat

Monday, July 12, 8:00 PM (ET), 5:00 PM (PT)

Go To: http://www.sonicnet.com/channels
http://chat.yahoo.com

SonicNet's Rock N' Roll Insider Chats with THE CULT

I've been getting complaints that I have not posted any new photos or stories from such events as ColourSound day, but I can't do it if I don't have it. If anyone has any Coloursound show stories or photos, please submit them to sfulton@ix.netcom.com

Thanks!

Steve Fulton

A few new bulletin boards have been added to the both the Coloursound and MPO web sites. I've also attempted to edit out some of the nastier stuff that has been on the boards as of late, but I know I've missed a lot. Please, take a look at the new boards and post some positive and meaninful content.

Thanks,

Steve Fulton
MPO and Coloursound Web Editor

Mike Peters appears at the Milky Way, North Bidford, Devon on 17th July
alongside The Stranglers and The Damned. Ticket information to follow next
week.

Mike Peters plays in Modena on 22/7/99

MIKE PETERS ON BBC - CELEBRITY CHOICE
Stay in touch with MPO for details of a special Mike Peters' appearance on
BBC Radio Wales (CELEBRITY CHOICE) in the coming weeks. Mike has recorded
his own personal radio show based around 12 songs which have had a special
impact on his life. Needless to say, Mike was easily persuaded to dig deep
into his record collection! (Remember Coloursound Day!) BBC Radio Wales
staff were very impressed by Mike's 'natural' DJ skills. What next? Mike
Peters hosts his own radio show on BBC Radio Wales? MPO Radio?

MIKE PETERS COMPETITION
Guess the 12 tracks which have had most impact on Mike Peters' life so far.
The closest guess to Mike's 'Celebrity Choice' wins an autographed taped
copy of the show. Please e-mail your answer to MPO at
mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk and mark your entry 'Mike's Celebrity Choice'.

MIKE PETERS SUMMER SHOWS IN WALES AND ITALY
Please scroll down to last week's latest news for details of Mike Peters'
special Summer shows.
There may be an extra Italian date. Details coming soon...

COLOURSOUND IN THE STUDIO PUTTING FINISHING TOUCHES TO THE ALBUM!
Mike Peters is currently in the studio with Billy Duffy in London. Billy has
returned from his successful shows with The Cult in the U.S. to apply those
finishing touches to the Coloursound record. Mike and Billy are
'overdubbing' some final guitars and vocals before mixing commences on the
2nd July. A release date and details of Coloursound UK shows will be
announced shortly. It looks likely that things will start happening in
September. Watch this space.

COLOURSOUND UNPLUGGED!
It seems that Billy and Mike enjoyed Coloursound Day so much that they are
keen to embark on the Coloursound Unplugged tour together with the release
of a special limited edition 21st Century Coloursound Unplugged release.
Just when they can fit this in remains to be seen. Suggestions please to the
MPO Postbag! Maybe this can happen early in the New Year!

COLOURSOUND ALBUM TITLE
Billy and Mike are still toying with suggestions for album titles so please
feel free to e-mail your suggestion c/o the Coloursound website at
www.coloursound.com or you can e-mail MPO direct at mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk.

COLOURSOUND INTERACTION
As well as suggesting album titles, Lyn Nelson, a U.S. MPO member has
suggested another way for people to spread the word of Coloursound...

"So if you're looking for something to keep yourself busy between
Coloursound gigs,
check out the Tour Dates and the Share a Concert Experience sections of The
CULT Homepage , scroll all the
way
down past the Holy Barbarian's dates to the Coloursound dates and add your
own
gig reviews to as many of the shows as you attended over the past year and a
half!

They've got them all listed, from Gathering 6 thru Coloursound Day, but most
have
only the barest of essentials included, like the set lists - and little
else! You can even
send scanned photos for them to include in your review, so get over there
and let them
know how excited we are about the music of Coloursound!!!

Lyn

This is a great way for MPO members to pass on their experience of
Coloursound to new music fans. If you have any similar ideas, please feel
free to contact MPO with your ideas and suggestions.

Mike Peters of the Alarm clears his throat and hits the road Mike Peters, formerly of the Alarm, is back on the road after a serious health scare. In January, he revealed to audience in his Welsh hometown that he was diagnosed by two specialists with Lymphoma, a cancer that affects the throat. While readying himself for a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy treatment, a third specialist determined that the lumps in MikeÕs throat were in fact not cancer, but a virus that mimics Lymphoma. With all that behind him, Mike made immediate plans to move forward with his acoustic tour of the United States. The shows have been running for up to 2 1/2 hours and include old Alarm favorites, rarities from Second Generation - Rare Songs of the Alarm Revisited, plus new material from his upcoming solo debut.

Mike is currently preparing the Coloursound debut record for its mix in London this month. Billy Duffy returns from the US next week (where he has been preparing for the forthcoming Cult Summer shows and performing at the Tibet Freedom Concert) to join Mike on the completion of the Coloursound record. Mike and Billy will be adding a few last minute overdubs before the final mix takes place. It looks hopeful that the Coloursound record will be released in the Autumn of this year, together with some live shows. Watch this space!!

MIKE PETERS SPECIAL SUMMER SHOWS
Following on from the success of Coloursound Day MPO is proud to announce the following Mike Peters’ Summer concerts:

MIKE PETERS IN WALES July 19th
Mike Peters performs in the banqueting hall at Caerphilly Castle, South Wales.
The beautiful stone banqueting hall is the perfect setting for a special and intimate Mike peters performance...
Box Office - 01495 227 206
Tickets £7
(This is a headline Mike Peters performance)

MIKE PETERS IN ITALYJuly 20th Mike heads off to Italy to perform 2 shows:
July 20th - Ferrara, Italy (Support: Patti Smith) t.b.c.
July 21st - Padova, Italy (Headline: Mike Peters)
(Details to be confirmed)

MIKE PETERS ON RADIO
Mike appeared on BBC Radio Wales this week. The 2 hour session revolved around an interview, phone-in and live acoustic performance. The BBC was very impressed when MPO member, John Buchmelter from Cleveland, Ohio telephoned BBC Radio Wales live on air. John shared a few words with Mike and requested the song, ‘Breathe’. Other songs played are listed below, including a recorded demo of ‘To the End’ , a ‘new’ ‘New South Wales’ in the making!
Rise
Moments in time
Spirit of 76
Breathe
68 guns
To the end (demo version)
High on the hill

Thanks to all of you who took the trouble to call Mike live on air. If you are interested in acquiring a taped copy of Mike on BBC Wales please call MPO direct on 01745 571571 (office hours 11am - 4pm)

MIKE PETERS’ SONGWRITING
Mike Peters has also been finding time to spread his songwriting wings.
After Mike’s performance at Patrick Jones’ (brother of Manics, Nicky Wire) Kosovo Benefit Concet in Blackwood last month, Mike has been invited by a leading Cardiff theatre to write a set of songs for a newly written play set in Swansea. This weekend, inspired by the script, Mike wrote and recorded 12 new compositions! Watch this space too!

Mike Peters on BBC Radio Wales Question Time
Thursday June 3rd 1999 2-4pm
Please call (new Cardiff code) 029 20 578 928

Coloursound Day, other wise known as Mike and Billy’s House Party turned out to be a fantastic day for all concerned. Set in the grounds of the Faenol Fawr, a country manor house, MPO guests were treated to a unique fly on the wall experience. The day began at noon with guests arriving from all over the UK and even as far afield as Norway and the USA.
Meanwhile, tucked away upstairs, Mike, Billy and Craig, otherwise known as Coloursound were ensconsed in a recording session, laying down the tracks for ‘Coloursound Unplugged’.
At 2pm, the world premiere of the Coloursound debut electric album was played back in the ‘Room at the Top’. Guests were invited to guess the tracklisting of the record and suggest a title for the as yet unnamed Coloursound debut album.
The rest of the afternoon took place on the second floor where a recording
studio had been set up. The audience took part in a ‘question and answer’
session with Mike, Billy and Craig and shared in the recording process of
‘Coloursound Unplugged’. (One MPO guest asked if it was ok to ask a
non-Coloursound question and proceeded to request for Mike to play the
reworked ‘New Wales’
The evening session began with the widescreen premiere of the Coloursound Videozine, ‘The Story of Coloursound so far...’. The film documented the rise of Coloursound from its British origins through its travels across America and recording sessions in Hawaii.
By 9:30 the second floor studio had been transformed into the setting for the live performance: Coloursound Unplugged. The room was splitting at the seams as Mike, Billy and Craig performed a masterpiece acoustic show of the Coloursound repertoire.
A short break before the icing on the cake: Mike and Ado’s DJ Evening Session, ‘Now Then’. At 2am Mike and Craig were still spinning their favourite tracks and Coloursound Night was almost over. Thanks to all of you who took part. Look forward to seeing you at next year’s House Party.
Keep in touch next week for news of Coloursound Unplugged and Coloursound the Movie as well as a special South Wales Mike Peters performance, coming soon.
Best wishes,
MPO

Mike Peters ‘Last Minute Bulletin’ News
Following on from the success of Mike’s performance of ‘A New Wales’ at the Voices of a Nation Concert in Cardiff Bay to mark the historic opening of the National Assembly of Wales, Mike will be appearing on BBC Radio Wales this Thursday 3rd June. Mike will be on air between 2pm and 4pm performing approximately 6 songs live on air together with general chat of all that is happening in the life of MP today. Tune in to BBC Radio Wales 88.2 and 65.7 MW/ 93-104 FM Stereo.
Keep in touch for news of Mike’s next performance in a castle in South Wales
This week, (Monday 31st June), Mike’s performance of ‘A New Wales’ was broadcast on BBC 1 Nationwide as part of a programme called ‘Starry Starry Night’, featuring the highlights of the National Assembly ‘Voices of a Nation’ concert. Mike performed a moving rendition of ‘A New Wales’ for the first time, in front of the Queen, Prime Minister and 60 Heads of State. Mike was accompanied by the world famous Morriston Orpheus male voice choir and members of the Welsh Symphony Orchestra.

A New Wales
[Revised version of ‘A New South Wales’ for the Voices Of A Nation Concert 26.05.1999]
Lyrics by Mike Peters : Music by Mike Peters and Eddie Macdonald
A New Wales
A new wind’s blowing over the hill and down the mountainside
Through the vales and valleys over land and sea and sky
From the fairgrounds of the north to the southern city streets
From the west still holding back the sea to the border towns in the east
For now and forever more, from today and from now on
Let’s hear the congregation sing “Cwm Rhondda Oh My Lord”
Great, great change in the fair country
The future lies with our sons and daughters
South will meet with north
Great, so great is the fair country
Great is the need for a new Wales.

Many will rise and many will fall and history will say
Today was built on yesterday as tomorrow will be built on today
As the first ray of light is cut from the dawning of the brand new sun
Let all things come together on both sides of the mother tongue
For now and forever more, from today and from now
Let’s hear the congregation sing “Cwm Rhondda Oh My Lord”
Great, great change in the fair country
The future lies with our sons and daughters
South will meet with north
Great, so great is the fair country
Great is the need for a new Wales.

Oh oh someone hear my prayer
Oh oh someone hear my prayer
Oh oh someone hear my prayer
Oh oh someone hear my prayer
For A New Wales

A New Wales
[Revised version of ‘A New South Wales’ for the Voices Of A Nation Concert 26.05.1999]
Lyrics by Mike Peters : Music by Mike Peters and Eddie Macdonald


A New Wales
A new wind’s blowing over the hill and down the mountainside
Through the vales and valleys over land and sea and sky
From the fairgrounds of the north to the southern city streets
From the west still holding back the sea to the border towns in the east
For now and forever more, from today and from now on
Let’s hear the congregation sing “Cwm Rhondda Oh My Lord”
Great, great change in the fair country
The future lies with our sons and daughters
South will meet with north
Great, so great is the fair country
Great is the need for a new Wales.

Many will rise and many will fall and history will say
Today was built on yesterday as tomorrow will be built on today
As the first ray of light is cut from the dawning of the brand new sun
Let all things come together on both sides of the mother tongue
For now and forever more, from today and from now
Let’s hear the congregation sing “Cwm Rhondda Oh My Lord”
Great, great change in the fair country
The future lies with our sons and daughters
South will meet with north
Great, so great is the fair country
Great is the need for a new Wales.

Oh oh someone hear my prayer
Oh oh someone hear my prayer
Oh oh someone hear my prayer
Oh oh someone hear my prayer
For A New Wales

MIKE PETERS TO PERFORM AT VOICES OF A NATION: 26/5/99
MIKE PETERS RETURNS TO NORTH WALES FOR COLOURSOUND DAY: 29/5/99 (COLOURSOUND - MIKE’S NEW BAND WITH CULT GUITARIST, BILLY DUFFY )

Coloursound Day Saturday 29th May 1999, Faenol Fawr, Bodelwyddan, N. Wales a.k.a MIKE & BILLY’S HOUSE PARTY!
Itinerary
12 noon Arrival/Reception in Main Bar

2pm Coloursound Album Playback - World premiere of new
recordings
Competition to guess the tracklisting and title of the album
Coloursound Film Playback - ‘The Story of Coloursound so far...’
3pm An audience and workshop with Mike Peters and Billy Duffy in
person
Your chance to ask Mike and Billy the questions you have always wanted to ask.
‘How do they write songs?’
‘How does Billy Duffy get ‘that’ guitar sound?
‘Where does Mike Peters get ideas for his lyrics?
Using their musical instruments Mike and Billy will
demonstrate how Coloursound songs and sounds
are created
5pm - 7pm Buffet and Quiz (Buffet £5 per person on day)
7.30pm-Late Late night party featuring an acoustic performance by
COLOURSOUND
Coloursound [unplugged] with Mike Peters and Billy
Duffy
featuring BBC Wales DJ, Adam Walton.

Mike Peters and Billy Duffy will be in attendance throughout the day plus
continous film playback and d.j.
please note: itinerary subject to change
All day/night ticket priced @ £20 on 01745 571571

MIKE PETERS APPEARS at VOICES OF A NATION CONCERT Voices of a Nation: Wales - the future starts here:
Prior to Coloursound Day, Mike Peters appears at the Voices of a Nation Concert on May 26th. Mike will be performing the hit single, ‘A New South Wales’ with the Morriston Orpheus Choir and members of the Welsh Symphony Orchestra, alongside mega stars, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Stereophonics, Bryn Terfel, Sir Anthony Hopkins and many more...
The largest gathering of Welsh entertainers ever assembled will be descending on Cardiff Bay on May 26 for a spectacular free gala concert to mark the royal opening of the National Assembly for Wales. BBC Wales will be there to provide live TV and radio coverage. The concert will be performed in front of the Queen, Prince Philip and the Prince of Wales, the Prime Minister and 60 heads of state.
See below for more indepth information about Voices of a Nation...
The largest gathering of Welsh entertainers ever assembled will be
descending on Cardiff Bay on May 26 for a spectacular free gala concert to
mark the royal opening of the National Assembly for Wales. BBC Wales will be
there to provide live TV and radio coverage. LIZ DAVIES reports
Wales - the future starts here
In what is likely to be remembered in years to come as the concert to top all concerts, the very best entertainers that Wales can boast come together for a huge gala performance to mark the opening of the National Assembly of Wales, on May 26, 1999.Staged by BBC Wales in conjunction with Cardiff Bay Development Corporation the concert will be performed in front of the Queen, Prince Philip and the Prince of Wales, the Prime Minister and 60 heads of state. The evening includes stars of rock, the stage and opera - the first time that such a glittering array of stars will ever have performed together. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales will accompany many of the artists and will also perform a new anthem specially composed for the occasion by well-known contemporary composer Karl Jenkins, with words by acclaimed Welsh poet, Gwyneth Lewis.The artistic director, Michael Bogdanov, has gathered megastars Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey to the event, joined by The Stereophonics, Alarm and Coloursound frontman, Mike Peters, heart-throb Ioan Gruffudd, star of Hornblower and the BBC’s recent Great Expectations, Bryn Terfel, Charlotte Church, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Harry Secombe, John Cale, Michael Ball, Shakin’ Stevens and many more.The concert will be broadcast live on BBC Two Wales for the first hour and BBC One Wales for the final hour. BBC Radio Wales will also be broadcasting from the concert.Appropriately, Tom Jones will sing The Green Green Grass of Home which has become a sort of Welsh pop anthem epitomising hiraeth. Ioan Gruffudd will be joined by Welsh actors Andrew Howard, Rakie Ayola and Matthew Rhys to perform Guerilla Tapestry a track co-written by James Dean Bradfield, from the forthcoming spoken word CD Commemoration and Amnesia by Patrick Jones, brother of the Manic Street Preachers’ Nicky Wire. Former Velvet Underground legend John Cale , The Alarm’s frontman Mike Peters and Shakin’ Stevens will add a rock element, while Phantom of the Opera star Peter Karrie, who has just filmed his second series of star-studded chat shows for BBC Wales, will appear with Bonnie Tyler singing On My Own. Opera singers including Dennis o’Neill, Jason Howard, Della Jones, Rebecca Evans and Anne Evans, the Welsh National Opera chorus and BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales.Other stars from the world of Welsh acting will be well represented with Philip Madoc, Jonathan Pryce, Angharad Rees and Glyn Houston and music lovers will enjoy Charlie Barber and his band, the Morriston Orpheus choir and the brass sounds of the Just Rentals Cory Band. Dance company Diversions will also take the stage, and the evening will end with a rousing new anthem for Wales by composer Karl Jenkins, with words written by acclaimed poet, Gwyneth Lewis.In the evening, some of Radio Wales’ presenters will be mingling with guests and getting the low-down on the celebratory street party being held in Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay, in Thank The Lord I’m Welsh. Glass Onion presenter Alan Thompson and DJs Kevin Hughes and The Club’s John Lenney Junior will be bringing a mix of fun, music and interviews.Geraint Talfan Davies, Controller BBC Wales, says, “For this historic day BBC Wales is proud to have assembled the biggest array of Welsh performing talent ever seen at one event to celebrate the dawn of a new Wales. It promises to be a marvellous show which will entertain and unify the nation.
TV INFORMATION
“Voices of a Nation
BBC Choice Wales (7.30 - 8.10pm; 8.30-10.30pm)
BBC One Wales (8.30 - 9.40pm)
BBC Two Wales (9.35 - 10.35pm)The Welsh Assembly - a Nation Celebrates
BBC Two, 11.05pm Thank the Lord I’m Welsh
Radio Wales, 7pm

The new live album "King Biscuit: The Alarm" is now available and it is Brilliant!!!!

The album contains 14 tracks recorded live by The Alarm in 1983, at The Paradise in Boston MA.

This is a MUST for any Alarm fan. The Album chronicles The Alarm in their early days. It is better than most any bootleg album I have ever heard.

You can buy it at your local store, or order it on the net from Amazon.com.
Get it Now!!!.
(Note: We will soon offer it for sale from This website).

King Biscuit: The Alarm
1999 King Biscuit Records


There has always been a huge gap in album catalog from
the Welsh band The Alarm: a scorching live album. Sure, the band recorded
two of the best rock albums of the 80's (1984's "Declaration",
and 1985's "Strength"), but
hearing The Alarm "in-the-studio" was only half the story.
In it's time The Alarm's live performances were nothing
short of legendary. They didn't merely "take-the-stage" but more
accurately "held it hostage", blasting their unique mix of
acoustic guitars, stomping rhythms, and fiery vocals to a frantic and
amazed audience left gasping for breathe and screaming for more.
The band released an the E.P. in 1988 called "Electric Folklore: Live", but that 6 song
disappointment did more to show how The Alarm's troubles
as unit in the late 80's than display their sheer
magnificence as a live band.

Now, in 1999, 8 years after then band broke up,
King Biscuit Flower Hour has released a live album that should
fill the live-album gap, and at the same time, finally secure
The Alarm as one of the 80's most underrated
bands. Recorded in late 1983 at The Paradise Theatre, Boston MA,
"King Biscuit: The Alarm" is a marvelous testament to The Alarm
as a band who were song-writers and performers at heart, as well
talented musicians. The album begins with an outstanding
version of "For Freedom" from The Alarm E.P. and doesn't let up
until the bands strums the final chords of the beautiful
"We Are The Light" from the "Declaration" album. King Biscuit included the full-set,
nothing has been edited or deleted. Only a couple of the band's well-known hits
were written in 1983 ("Sixty Eight Guns", "The Stand"), so the set
is filled with sparkling performances of songs
that were buried on albums, or very early singles. This is a
great advantage, because it proves that The Alarm were not only a very
unique band with many varied influences, but also were more than
the anthem-spouting rabble-rousers the music press
dismissed them as in the 80's. Diversity is really the key to
the success of this album. Not only are the songs multi-faceted,
but so are the musicians. Mike Peters sings lead vocals on nine of the
fourteen tracks, but guitarist Dave Sharp takes the lead with four
stunning performances (including brilliant versions of "Tell Me"
and "Across The Border"),
and even bassist Eddie MacDonald belts out
his "unknown soldier" epic, "Third Light". The two best tracks are
the emotional sizzler "Blaze Of Glory", and the storming rocker "Unsafe Building",
the first song The Alarm ever recorded.

The only fault I can find with the album is that the well-known songs sound
rather tepid compared their recorded counterparts. Even this is
understandable however, as these are merely early versions of songs that
would one-day become classics. Also, because the album includes
the full set from the show in contains two versions of "Marching On".
It seems odd, but since the song is amazing, it takes nothing away from the
the performance.

After the show concludes, the listener in treated to very good, recent
interview with Alarm front-man Mike Peters. The 10 minute segment
includes some hilarious and interesting insight from Mike Peters photographic memory of
Alarm history.

As live show, this CD is highly entertaining. As a historic document,
it provides amazing insight into one of the
80's best bands. As an album it is thoroughly enjoyable and gets
my highest recommendation.

Voices of a Nation Concert - Mike Peters
National ticketline number announced: 0891 114455
(Phonelines open from 12th May)
4 tickets per applicant
To be televised on nationwide BBC Live plus edited highlights

COLOURSOUND DAY - EXTRA TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE! £20
Extra Coloursound Day tickets now available.
Day and evening ticket priced £20
Please contact MPO to make your order:
Full itinerary of Coloursound Day to be added this week.

MIKE PLAYS CHARITY CONCERT FOR KOSOVO
Mike Peters recently played a benefit concert for Kosovo. On Friday April 30th, Mike appeared at the Blackwood Institute, at an event organised by Patrick Jones, brother of Nicky Wire from the Manic St. Preachers. Mike performed 4 songs, ‘Breathe’, High on the Hill, Bells of Rhymney and A New South Wales and played alongside artists including Martyn Joseph, Richard from 60Ft Dolls and James Dean Bradfield from the Manics.

MIKE PETERS’ LATEST GOSSIP
Mike and James had a chat during the Kosovo show - James commented that he really liked ‘High on the Hill’ and had last seen Mike perform with The Alarm at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff. He also confessed to writing to Mike and receiving a signed ‘Absolute Reality’ photo from Mr. Peters himself!
Mike was in attendance at last weeks’ recent Echo & The Bunnymen concert at the Royal Court, Liverpool, where he spent most of the night hanging out with Pete ‘Spirit of ‘76’ Wylie. At the aftershow, Ian McCulloch greeted Peters with the words ‘Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke?’, Mrs. McCulloch’s fave Alarm song!

MIKE PLAYS WELSH ASSEMBLY CONCERT ON MAY 26TH Mike next appears at Cardiff Bay on May 26th, a concert to commemorate the opening of the Welsh Assembly. Mike has chosen to perform A New South Wales, together with the Morriston Orpheus Choir, members of the Welsh Symphony Orchestra and Alarm pianist, Mr. Mark Taylor. Tickets are free and limited to 4 per applicant. Please stay in touch with the MPO phoneline for further details of the national ticketline number. The concert will be televised live on BBC.

TICKET INFORMATION
Application to be made in person:
(4 only per person) from :-
Aberytwyth Arts Centre,
Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor,
Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon,
CIA, Cardiff,
Carmarthen Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen
Theatr Ardudwy Cyf, Harlech,
Royal International Pavilion, Llangollen,
Torch Theatre, Milford Haven,
Newport Centre, Newport
Theatr Hafren, Newtown,
Hollywood Park Cinema, Swansea
Flash Leisure Centre, Welshpool.

MIKE PETERS’ SOLO PERFORMANCES

On Friday 30th April, Mike Peters appears at a Kosovo Benefit Concert at the Blackwood Institute, South Wales. The concert has been arranged by Patrick Jones, brother of Nicky Wire from Manic St. Preachers. Appearing alongside Mike will be Martyn Joseph, Richard from the 60Ft Dolls and another famous singer from a prominent Welsh band. Tickets are £5 and available from the Blackwood Institure on 01495 227206.
On Wednesday May 26th, Mike will be performing a very special song to commemorate the opening of the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff Bay. Mike will be appearing alongside a host of other Welsh artists and the concert will be attended by the Queen and Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Details of ticket information (tickets are free) will be released shortly.

MPO NEWSLETTER:
mpo is currently mailing out a newsletter detailing news of the Rise Demos, Coloursound Day, Gathering 8 and other information. Please keep in touch with the MPO hotline for latest news. This answerservice is updated weekly. If you wish to speak to someone in person, please call during office hours between 10am and 5pm. Alternatively you may leave a message after the tone and we will be happy your return your call.

COLOURSOUND DAY:
tickets selling fast. Faenol Fawr Country House Hotel now SOLD OUT. Please call Rhyl Tourist Board on 01745 344515 for hotel accomodation or alternatively camping is available at £3 per head in the grounds of the Faenol Fawr Country House Hotel. Think ‘Festival’ ! : )

GATHERING 8 -
G8Y2K now officially on sale
14th & 15th Jan 2000 Tickets £24
Official Sponsors: Miller Genuine Draft
The St. George’s Hotel is SOLD out. Please call the Esplanade Hotel on 01492 860 300.
Price £24 per person b&b

MIKE PETERS RISE DEMOS - CD’s to be dispatched 1st May. Check website on www.mikepetersweb.com next week for indepth liner notes of how the Rise Demos came to be...
MIKE PETERS RISE DEMOS - CD’s to be dispatched 1st May. Check
website next
week for indepth liner notes of how the Rise Demos came to be
mikepeters.rise.demos
a new double cd release from 21st Century / MPO
This brand new double album features the ‘Rise’ album tracks at 3 different stages:
Conception - early ideas and sketches of songs from Mike’s trusty notepad tape recorder.
Acoustic - the songs taken one step further with the addition of acoustic guitar, drum rhythms etc.
Electric - where Mike takes the songs into a demo studio to test the songs in an electric environment, played by the band.
All of this, along with complex notes from Mike himself as to how the Rise album came to be... including tracks from Mike’s undiscovered trove of forgotten gems. This time, the unreleased, ‘Break Bread With Me’ and the embryonic ‘I’m Falling’...
Track Listing as follows:
acoustic
song introduction
my calling
break bread with me
song introduction
down the road
songwriting extract - untitled
rise
in circles [mark one]
songwriting sequence - first light
first light
songwriting extract - untitled
transcendental
white noise pt.II
songwriting extract - the wasting lands
the wasting land
songwriting extract - high on the hill
high on the hill
i’m falling
songwriting sequence - untitled [one]
songwriting sequence - untitled [two]
burnout syndrome
songwriting extract - untitled
you are to me
songwriting extract - untitled

electric
ground zerø
white noise [pt.II]
the wasting land
first light
i’m falling
i want you
you are to me
rise
high on the hill
burnout syndrome
songwriting extract - in circles
in circles
transcendental
break bread with me


“Where does an album begin and when is an album finished? Personally, I never try to think I am working on a specific album as such, I never stop writing songs for starters, my whole life seems to revolve around one huge album with each title merely a snapshot of my experiences along the way.
You see, songwriting is my passion, I like nothing better than attempting to fit words to music and music to words. I do it for many reasons, but for the most part I do it because I enjoy it. To be able to record something that has been created out of nothing and share it with someone else is a wonderful experience.
To make a new album, I try and write as many songs as possible without putting my own ‘self’ in the way of the creative process until certain themes begin to reveal themselves and can collectively be heard as a complete album. Sometimes, I feel like I am working in the dark, compelled towards some unspecified goal. Sometimes, I have begun only to find I have finished. Sometimes, a whole universe can be opened up where at first I sensed nothing. Sometimes what is right can be revealed by what is wrong.
When putting together this collection of ‘mikepeters.rise. demos’, I decided to present the songs in the order that they were recorded. I hope in this way, you can hear everything in the sequence that I first heard it, and maybe begin to understand the excitement I felt, as the ‘Rise’ album was revealed to me.”
Mike Peters 30.03.1999

TO: ALL CONCERNED PARTIES
FROM: MPO WEB MASTER
SUBJECT: MPO CHAT DISABLED

After many complaints, I took a look at the LOG for the MPO chat site today and what I found was incredibly disturbing. Many individuals were not only uses multiple names (some as many as 30), but were impersonating each other, harassing each other, and generally making the chat a very horrifying place to be.

Chat use has been down for the past 6 months, but in the 2 months it has dropped off considerably. Sources have told me that no one wants to use the chat because they are frightend that they will be attacked by certain individuals. Upon lokking closely at the log, I found that there were MANY guilty parties, and not just one or two.

What happened? How did the the MPO Chat, which once a fun place to visit, turn into such a "wretched hive of scum and villany?" Only the perpetrators know the answer to that, but I would also like them to know this:

YOU HAVE RUINED IT FOR EVERYBODY!!!

I will be installing a new chat that we have developed that will require usernames and passwords, will allow you to see everyone who is chatting (even lurkers), and will not allow you to impersonate anyone.

Until that happens, the current chat will be disabled. I can't risk any liability to the MPO, Net-Resource, Wheat Media, Animus Communincations, or myself for the actions, and words of those who continue to abuse the privelege of the MPO Chat.

Have a great day,

Steve Fulton
MPO Web Master
ColourSound Web Master

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at sfulton@ix.netcom.com

MIKE PETERS IN WALES:Tune in next week for special news of 2 Mike Peters’ performances in Wales, taking place in April/May.

COLOURSOUND Day: tickets selling fast. Faenol Fawr Country House Hotel now SOLD OUT. Please call Rhyl Tourist Board on 01745 344515 for hotel accomodation or alternatively camping is available at £3 per head in the grounds of the Faenol Fawr Country House Hotel. Think ‘Festival’ ! : )
Please call 01745 571571 for more information
GATHERING 8 - G8Y2K
14th & 15th Jan 2000 Tickets £24
Official Sponsors: Miller Genuine Draft

MIKE PETERS RISE DEMOS - CD’s to be dispatched 1st May. Check website next
week for indepth liner notes of how the Rise Demos came to be
mikepeters.rise.demos
a new double cd release from 21st Century / MPO
This brand new double album features the ‘Rise’ album tracks at 3 different stages:
Conception - early ideas and sketches of songs from Mike’s trusty notepad tape recorder.
Acoustic - the songs taken one step further with the addition of acoustic guitar, drum rhythms etc.
Electric - where Mike takes the songs into a demo studio to test the songs in an electric environment, played by the band.
All of this, along with complex notes from Mike himself as to how the Rise album came to be... including tracks from Mike’s undiscovered trove of forgotten gems. This time, the unreleased, ‘Break Bread With Me’ and the embryonic ‘I’m Falling’...
Track Listing as follows:
acoustic
song introduction
my calling
break bread with me
song introduction
down the road
songwriting extract - untitled
rise
in circles [mark one]
songwriting sequence - first light
first light
songwriting extract - untitled
transcendental
white noise pt.II
songwriting extract - the wasting lands
the wasting land
songwriting extract - high on the hill
high on the hill
i’m falling
songwriting sequence - untitled [one]
songwriting sequence - untitled [two]
burnout syndrome
songwriting extract - untitled
you are to me
songwriting extract - untitled

electric
ground zerø
white noise [pt.II]
the wasting land
first light
i’m falling
i want you
you are to me
rise
high on the hill
burnout syndrome
songwriting extract - in circles
in circles
transcendental
break bread with me


“Where does an album begin and when is an album finished? Personally, I never try to think I am working on a specific album as such, I never stop writing songs for starters, my whole life seems to revolve around one huge album with each title merely a snapshot of my experiences along the way.
You see, songwriting is my passion, I like nothing better than attempting to fit words to music and music to words. I do it for many reasons, but for the most part I do it because I enjoy it. To be able to record something that has been created out of nothing and share it with someone else is a wonderful experience.
To make a new album, I try and write as many songs as possible without putting my own ‘self’ in the way of the creative process until certain themes begin to reveal themselves and can collectively be heard as a complete album. Sometimes, I feel like I am working in the dark, compelled towards some unspecified goal. Sometimes, I have begun only to find I have finished. Sometimes, a whole universe can be opened up where at first I sensed nothing. Sometimes what is right can be revealed by what is wrong.
When putting together this collection of ‘mikepeters.rise. demos’, I decided to present the songs in the order that they were recorded. I hope in this way, you can hear everything in the sequence that I first heard it, and maybe begin to understand the excitement I felt, as the ‘Rise’ album was revealed to me.”
Mike Peters 30.03.1999



PRICE:
UK £19.99 + £1 p&p
USA $35 +$5 p&p

HOW TO ORDER:
By MPO shop @ www.mikepetersweb.com

By e-mail @ mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk
By tel: 011 44 (0) 1745 571571
By fax: 011 44 (0) 1745 571577
By mail: (Please make check payable to MPO)
MPO
P.O. Box 709
Prestatyn
Denbighshire
LL19 9YR
Wales UK

Mike and Billy's House Party, otherwise known as 'Coloursound Day' has now been confirmed for the Bank Holiday Weekend, Saturday, May 29th, at the Faenol Fawr Country House Hotel, Bodelwyddan, nr. Rhyl, North Wales.

It's time to head Wales-wards again to an intimate Country House setting (a few miles outside Rhyl) for all the gossip on Coloursound. This one day VIP party (from 2pm ‘til late) is your chance to get close to MP and BD and partake in advanced listening of the Coloursound recordings so far.

Tickets are £20 and available from MPO HQ:

How to order:

By tel:
01745 571571

By e-mail:
mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk

By post:
MPO, PO Box 709, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, LL19 9YR, Wales, UK

Tickets are limited (250) so may we recommend early booking.

Hotel Accomodation:

Faenol Fawr Country House Hotel (Bodelwyddan)- 01745 591691
(Camping also available at £3 per person in the grounds of Fanol Fawr)

Kinmel Manor Hotel (Abergele)- 01745 832014
Plas Elwy Hotel (St. Asaph) - 01745 582263
Talardy Park Hotel (St. Asaph) - 01745 584957

Rhyl Tourist Board - 01745 344515

Please note: A food buffet is being provided throughout the afternoon and early evening at the Faenol Fawr Hotel at £5 per person. Please confirm with MPO for our numbers if you wish to be booked in. Please be aware that there are no restaurants in the immediate area, and so we are recommending people to take advantage of the buffet, enabling you to remain on site and enjoy all that Coloursound Day has to offer. Buffet payment can be made on the day.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Coloursound Finish Recording

Mike and Billy are currently on vacation (roughly translated to Billy ‘hanging out’ with various Cult members in LA; Mike ‘hanging out’ at Chez Duffy in London) after completing ‘recordings’ on the debut Coloursound album. After ‘living together’ since the Gathering 8, recording a pure masterpiece and surviving the breakdown of their first record label, Mike and Billy are said to be glad still to be in one piece and are looking forward to the negotiations ahead for the new Coloursound baby...

ColourSound Day!

To keep you all fully in the loop, Mike and Billy’s House Party, otherwise known as ‘Coloursound Day’ is now on. Saturday, May 29th, Bank Holiday Weekend It’s time to head Wales-wards again to an intimate country house setting (a few miles outside Rhyl) for all the gossip on Coloursound. This one day VIP party is your chance to get close to MP and BD and partake in advanced listening of the Coloursound recordings so far. Tickets are £20 and available from MPO HQ. Tickets are limited (about one fifth the size of the Gathering event) so may we recommend early booking (To all those who have already registered their names on the list, you have priority and we will be contacting you separately). Official venue details and information to be announced next week.

The Cult Re-Unite (for one night)

As you’ve now probably heard Mr. Duffy and Mr. Astbury have trodden the boards together once again. Together they performed ‘Wild Flower’ and ‘Love Removal Machine’ at the Viper Room in Los Angeles. Plans are in the pipeline for some possible Cult shows later this year.

Mike and Billy would like all Coloursound fans to rest assured that all this activity can only be good for everyone concerned and for all you music lovers to be prepared for a lot of activity from all camps over the next year.

Mike To Perform at Prestigous Show

Meanwhile, back in the MP camp,Mike Peters will be performing a very prestigious show in Cardiff in May. Please stay in touch for further news on this.

mikepeters.rise.demos

Following on from the success of 'thealarm.change.demos', MPO is proud to
announce the release of "mikepeters.rise.demos'. This special double CD is being released in response to the demand from you, the MPO, and your thirst for rareties, previously unreleased tracks and an overview of the whole songwriting process. This album will feature the Rise tracks at 3 different stages: Conception, which features very early ideas and sketches of songs from Mikes trusty notepad tape recorder; Acoustic, whereby the song is taken one step further with the addition of acoustic guitar, drum rhythms etc. and Electric, where Mike takes the songs into a demo studio to test the songs in an electric environment, played by the band. All of this, along with complex notes from Mike himself as to how the Rise album came to be...

Not forgetting previously unreleased bonustracks from Mikes undiscovered
trove of forgotten gems. This time, the embryonic I'm Falling and the
unforgettable, Break Bread With Me', to name but a few...

Priced at 19.99 +1 p&p

Please call 01745 571571

experience the evolution of rise from conception to completion... with extracts from mike peters audio notepad, extensive sleeve notes... live, acoustic, electric and hitherto unreleased songs from the pre-rise recording sessions...
this unique collection allows a rare glimpse into the world of mike peters - songwriter, arranger and producer...

As some of you already know it would appear that Velvel Records is either out of business or about to go out of business. As of March 31st their staff have all been let go.
Coloursound are currently under contract to Velvel and until we are formally notified by Velvel of their status we cannot comment or speculate as to the implications for Coloursound.
What we can say is that Coloursound is very much alive and well. We have fully prepared for this eventuality which we have been able to predict. We will move forward as soon as we are free to do so and do not expect to be unduly delayed.
We will provide more information as soon as we have hard news.

When asked to write this piece I was unsure whether to write a review of the year gone by or speculate about the year to come. I will start by saying that what is to come owes everything to what has gone before.
I will begin at the Gathering 6. A pivotal moment in the history of latter day Mike Peters. From my point of view, I wanted the event to look forward. There was the imminent release of ‘Rise’, the beginning of Coloursøund and I wanted the emphasis to be on the present rather than the past. During the acoustic tour leading up to the Gathering 6 I had been criticised (by some) for not performing enough solo material and too much Alarm. After The Gathering 6 I was criticised (by some) for not performing enough Alarm and too much solo. Sometimes you just can’t win. There will always be a challenge in following Mike Peters because I like to challenge myself. Sometimes I will ignore the past, sometimes I will embrace it. I thought the Gathering 6 had everything.
The Rise tour followed, and Billy Duffy followed the Rise tour, joining me and the band on stage at several venues throughout the North West. He even showed up at The Shepherds Bush Empire on May 6th, which was probably the best gig I’ve played in London since The Alarm at the Lyceum in 1983. Billy Duffy, Coloursøund... what’s going on I hear you say? Well, everything is going on. We started writing songs together first and then in time-honoured fashion decided to form a band. In fact, I now associate Billy Duffy with ‘days off’ because I never had any this year, or if I did have a day off, he’d show up and then there would be a song to write or a rehearsal to attend or a show to do.
It’s been relentless this year what with one thing and another, I hope you realise that there is just a lot more going on now. Nothing has changed. There will always be Mike Peters’ records, there will always be acoustic shows, electric shows, Gatherings etc., only just add Coloursøund to the list.
Back to the Rise album and guess what. good reviews. Laugh! I almost reformed the alarm! What a thrill it was to open up the music magazines and recieve two big thumbs up. Even Mojo, who wouldn’t touch me with a barge pole were raving after the Shepherd’s Bush gig. Yes, even the most hardcore fan was loving this one. Gone were the “it was better live” quips or the “not as good as the last one” jibes. No, even Nigel Twi$t had to admit this was a good one (he didn’t actually but we can all live in hope). The album came out in America to more of the same and with the added bonus of three extra tracks which featured the hardcore trip-hop versions of The Message and White Noise [pt.III]. You could even buy it in the shops.
Then came The Best Of The Alarm & Mike Peters album, a controversial mix of old and new tracks. This seemed like the perfect outlet for ‘Down The Road’ which EMI commisioned from the Rise recordings. Eddie Macdonald and I collaborated on the sleeve, although Eddie was p*****d off when EMI included his home phone number on the back by mistake. Even this album garnered some choice reviews in the home press which had once been so unfavourable. The Greenbelt Festival which has seen many a coming and going of The Alarm, Mike Peters and now Coloursøund, licensed ‘Down The Road’ from the ‘Best Of’ and included it on a compilation album marking the final Greenbelt of the millenium.
The summer. I can’t even remember the summer. Well I can, I just can’t remember in what order. I seemed to be either on a plane, on a stage, in front of a camera, in a rehearsal room, in a car or on the road. Somtimes I found it hard to work out which band I was playing with at night. Was it Coloursøund, The New Electric Band or Mike Peters solo and acoustic guitar only? Imagine my confusion when Twi$t of The Alarm showed up at the Fleadh Festival in San Jose Ca. to perform ‘We Are The Light’. It was good to see the old boy again. Even Sharpey was on the road this year. I would liked to have seen him play but when he was over here, I was over there.
America, what a great time it was when we went over to play @SXSW with Coloursøund. First, we had to rehearse a new drummer, Scott Garratt (just to add to the confusion, we had three drummers for coloursøund this year!) We all took the road trip to Texas; me, Craig, Billy and Jules (Scott flew). It was great. We even got to recuperate in Hawaii where we were joined by drummer number two, Johnny Donnelly (things had got even more confusing at the Viper room show in L.A. when both Scott and Johnny were in the dressing room!) In Maui, Billy and I wrote four brand new songs which we recorded with Bob Rock. When we got back to Britain, we had to rehearse for Shepherd’s Bush which was almost immediately upon us and then record some songs for VH1. Someone who should have known better left James Stevenson’s prized 1950’s Marshall outside in the street. (After leaving notes alongside notices for lost dogs and the like in newsagent windows throughout Shepherd’s Bush, James eventually got his amp back under very strange circumstances which involved a shopping trolley, a pub and a dishevelled looking bloke who wishes to remain anonymous).
I then went to Seattle for the start of the American tour that eventually started a month later. (Velvel had decided to put the release of Rise back a month.) It was decided to honour the first two dates of the tour as one was the all important Bumbershoot Festival. I then visited NYC and did a ton of pre release interviews for Rise including a retrospective piece for VH1 about The Alarm.
I got back just in time to start rehearsals with Coloursøund (enter drummer number three, Steve Grantley) and begin a tour and residency @The Barfly. It was also decided to release some of the demos. I thought this was a great idea as it let people get to know some of the songs before we hit the road and also act as a piece of Coloursøund history ala ‘Unsafe’. Next on the agenda was, ‘which Alarm and Cult songs do we play?’ Now, this has been the most difficult question to answer. The Cult songs fit the Coloursøund sound much easier than The Alarm tracks, at least for the moment anyway. ‘Strength’ fits great and at this point, I have to admit that when The Alarm were recording the original in 1985 we did have a copy of ‘Sanctuary’ on the turntable in the studio for reference. As Coloursøund develops and the new writing partnership between myself and Billy grows, who knows where it will lead. We have already been the subject of a lot of speculation in both the press and on the internet. We will be recording our first album in February. We’re all true believers in Coloursøund, this is our future, make it a part of your future too.
Talking about the future, the interactive acoustic works tour, a futuristic concept for touring or what? The overall reaction to the tour was fantastic from all sides. Using the internet to place requests for each show, gave touring a whole new meaning. I think this was one situation where I could please everybody all of the time (except when I lost the odd request, due to the sheets falling off my music stand-now there’s technology for you!). Apart from Madison WI (I knew it was going to be bad when on the morning of the show the local journalist emailed his apologies for “missing the show last night”).
The whole tour was superb. I think the most memorable nights would have to be Boston TT’s (beginnners luck), Milton Keynes (where I performed the entire ‘Hurricane’ album in sequence, as tribute to the fact that it had been recorded in M.K.), Glasgow King Tuts (Jet lag & Pogoing), Philadelphia (Rise - in sequence followed by all (well almost all) The Alarm singles - in sequence) and Cambridge, Nottingham and San Juan Capistrano (all memorable for the respect shown to the situation by the audience. It’s a pleasure to perform the songs when everyone is patient and not shouting out all the time between songs etc.) I think I’d like to do it all again sometime soon. Very soon.
The last night of the Interactive tour was up in Manchester and the very next day I found myself in Bradford rehearsing with Coloursøund. We then hit Birmingham and London finishing off with what I thought was a storming gig at Camden Palace. We drove home through the night to Wales, drinking beer and listening to the best album I had bought all year - “The Best Glam Rock Album In The World Ever...” I fell asleep and dreamt I was in a band called “The Children Of The Revolution” and we were playing at some party in LLandudno, I woke up in a cold sweat and thought oh my god!!! The Gathering Seven.....what am I going to play this year????
Mike Peters 1998

In the past week we have added two great, new peices to the ARTICLES section:

1. Jules Jones Definitive guide to G7
2. Mike Peters on Mike Peters: recapping of 1998.

Check them out!

The Coloursound pre-production sessions are continuing in Wales. Mike and Billy are tucked away in a quiet corner in the vale of North Wales. Apart from trips to watch their beloved Man City and Man Utd they have been working solidly on new songs since the Gathering 7.
In advance of the release of the Coloursound album, Mike and Billy are
considering the possibility of a Coloursound Day, whereby approx 250 people
will be able to attend a venue in North Wales to hang out with Mike and
Billy, ask questions about the making of the album, listen back to
soundbites of the album, experience a live acoustic performance of
Coloursound etc. etc.
e-mail MPO if you are interested on further news on this on
mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk
The new embroidered V neck Coloursound t shirt (black with
white trim) is available now priced £14 + £1 p&p together with the
Coloursound
skinny black shirt available at £14 + £1 p&p

Gathering 8
14th & 15th Jan 2000
North Wales Theatre, Llandudno
Tickets: £24.00

Please contact MPO Box Office on 01745 571571 or
online through the


MPO Shop

Diaries of MPO: The Gathering Seven Weekend:
Announcement of Milleniunm Gathering G8Y2K: 14/15 Jan 2000

The day had finally arrived - 15th Jan 1998. The Gathering 7 was upon us. As
we shut down MPO HQ for the weekend, we felt nervous and excited at what lay
ahead. It was really important to all of us involved in the organisation of
the Gathering weekend to surpass all other Gatherings and make sure that all
who had travelled to Wales would have the time of their lives.

As we decamped the MPO Office further down the North Wales Coast to
Llandudno, we soon spotted the early arrivals, many of whom who had made the
trip from overseas. There was German from Peru, Antonella & Damien from
Canada, Sylvie from Belguim and Dougieie from Texas to name but a few.
Meanwhile, The North Wales Conference Centre was beginning to fill up with
assorted Mike Peters' crew as we began the task of setting up the vibe that
defines the Gathering experience. The PA and crew arrived first, under the
capable guidance of Hubert Mathias, a long-time MP soundman from back in the
days of The Poets. Together with Hubert is Buzz, the PA owner and Gary who
is in charge of the lighting equipment. They have all travelled up from
South Wales and are now very used to the Gathering routine. The PA crew are
aided and abetted by the North Wales Theatre crew and together they load-in
and attack the job of setting up the huge PA system,speakers and mixing
desk. This year, by mutual agreement, we had decided to change the format
from Gathering 6 and instead, the main stage returns to its original
position of Gathering 5, only this time with the addition of a small centre
stage.

By lunchtime, we at MPO begin to breathe more freely as the venue starts to
take shape. Soon the band start to arrive in fits and starts. First up is
almost always MP, (fresh from his run along the Promenade), perfectionist to
the end, checking the angles, shadowing the 'line-checks', directing the
backdrop, studying the video footage. It has always been important for Mike
to soak up the atmosphere pre- show and the Gathering provides the ideal
opportunity for Mike to apply his natural affinity for attention to detail.

By Friday afternoon, we are ready to begin tentative soundcheck. First off
is Mike Peters and the New Electric band, in this instance, taking the form
of a threesome line-up in a nod towards early vintage Alarm. Mike guides
Craig Adams (on bass) and Steve Grantley (on drums) through a selective
taster of tunes, whilst an ever- accumulating group of droppers-by converge
to digest the new sound. Next is Mike on the centre acoustic stage. This
acoustic performance has become an essential part of the Gathering weekend.
Here at soundcheck, Mike strikes a poignant figure, lost in his thoughts as
he strums casually through a ten year soundbite of his songwriting history.

Whilst all of this is going on, the rough and tumble and chaos of Gathering
preparations thunders on. Scaffolding is erected, lights are focused, gels
are replaced, strings are strung, tea is made... Nerves begin to tighten as
the whole MPO team work instinctively towards the final goal of 'doors
opening' and the witching hour of 7:30pm. Michael Jones (sound), Steve
Knightrider Jones (backline and general allrounder) and Dave 'Blind Date'
Coulter (Lighting Technician and Tour manager) are the Magniificent Trio who
have been holding the fort on the 1998's Mike Peters and Coloursound Touring
Front. At the Gathering, extra help is on hand from the Production team,
fronted by Jules J and Danny Cohen with support from the wingers, Laurie P
and Jamie Cohen. Drafted in for the weekend are Modnus Modnusson, the
Mastermind MPO Quizmaster, Andy Jones, the MPO e-mail man, together with a
bevvy of male and female merchandise staff, made up from an assortment of
Jules' old school-friends and MPO mates! Not forgetting, Webby from South
Wales who turns his hand to anything, John and Shelley, in charge of video
projection, and of course, the MPO stalwarts, PJ, Dottie and Marjie.

By 7pm, pulses are racing and the sight of the crocodile queue outside the
theatre, spells out the reality that the Gathering is about to roll for the
seventh year running. Showsec (official security) in place, lights muted,
music on and we're ready to open the doors. What a feeling!

They're off! Mike Peters' fans of all kind pour in from all over the country
and all over the world. This year, the 1200 capacity sold out crowd includes
almost 200 visitors from overseas, including the US, (Hey, Leah!)Canada
(Cheers Anthony!) Singapore (Hello, Peter!), Japan (Respect, Yoshi), Peru
(German, what can we say!), Holland (Yo, Emiel), Switzerland (Hi Geraldine),
Germany (Hi, Chrissy : )) to name but a few...

So enough of the backgound, and on to the content:

Friday Night : Set One - Main
Stage

Mike Peters : Acoustic and Electric Guitar+
Craig Adams : Bass
Steve Grantley : Drums
Steve (Knightrider) Jones : Backing Vocals/Percussion
*Steve Allen Jones : Piano/Organ

Declaration/Marching On
For Freedom
The Deceiver *
How The Mighty Fall *
Breaking Point *
Corridors Of Power *
Only The Thunder (Acoustic)
We Are The Light (Acoustic)
The Stand (incl. Rockafella Skank) +
Absolute Reality +
Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? +

================================
Friday Night : Set Two - Centre Stage

Mike Peters : Acoustic / Harmonica

Unsafe Building
Train A Comin'
No Better Than This
Unbreak The Promise
Levi's And Bibles
Statue Of Liberty
Father To Son
Permanence In Change
Spiritual
Broken Silence
Breathe
21st Century

================================


Friday Night : Set Three - Main Stage

Mike Peters : Acoustic / Electric Guitar
James Stevenson : Electric Guitar
Craig Adams : Bass
Steve Grantley : Drums
*Steve Allen Jones : Piano/Organ

Deeside
Majority
One Step Closer To Home
Knifedge
No Frontiers (Acoustic)
A New South Wales (Acoustic) *
Walk Forever By My Side (Acoustic) *
Rain In The Summertime (Acoustic / Electric)
Sold Me Down The River *
Spirit Of 76 *
Rescue Me *
=======encore=============

Blaze Of Glory *



How do you follow a cross-section of songs like that? Read on...

Sat morning and the Theatre is already buzzing in preparation for the big
day ahead. Whilst the crew and band soundcheck in the venue upstairs, the
Ocean bar downstairs is being prepared for the now essential part of the
Gathering experience, yes, the MPO Mastermind Quiz. A mixture of high drama
and pub quiz fun, the Mike Peters/Alarm Quiz has become an entertaining
event. Teams of 4 competing in a round of easy to impossible questions,
armed with paper and an MPO pen. Video footage, audio footage, Mod's quips,
giveaway prizes and of course the nail-biting final where the team captains
of the 4 winning teams compete for the feted Mastermind crown.
Congratulations this year to Kevin Morgan! Even MP can't resist sneaking in
to observe the proceedings, taking a well-earned break from a marathon
soundcheck upstairs!

By the time, the quizees have been cleared, the marathon of preparing for
the Big Saturday night is upon us and the race is on! Pulses racing, high
energy, time ticking, showsec in place, lights, music and we're off! Details
as follows:

Saturday Night : Set One - Main Stage
Mike Peters : Acoustic / Electric Guitar
James Stevenson : Electric Guitar
Craig Adams : Bass
Steve Grantley : Drums

Poetic Justice
In Circles
The Wasting Land
Ground Zerø
Rise
My Calling
Feel Free
All Is Forgiven
White Noise
High On The Hill
Breathe
Into The 21st Century
Regeneration
Burnout Syndrome

Saturday Night : Set Two - Main Stage

Coloursøund
Mike Peters : Acoustic / Electric Guitar
Billy Duffy : Electric Guitar
Craig Adams : Bass
Steve Grantley : Drums

Under The Sun
Where Do You Want To Go?
Strength
Independence
Fountainhead
For The Love Of
Rain
Perfection
Fade In Fade Out Fade Away
Heavy Rain
Alive
=======encore=============
She Sells Sanctuary (with James Stevenson)
Sixty Eight Guns (with James Stevenson)


What can we say! The Gathering almost over! Well not quite! For those who
have been following MP for some time, you will have now discovered that Mike
a la Alan Insane has a certain penchant for marathon performance. It was on
the December Coloursound tour via London to Wales, that Mike and Craig came
upon the idea of the Children of the Revolution. Glammed up and rocked up in
the St. George's Hotel, Mike, Craig, James, Steve, Steve and Steve (!) lived
out their childhood fantasies at about 3 am in the St. George's Hotel
Aftershow Party.

Saturday Night : Party

THE CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION

FEATURING : Rufus Stone (aka. Craig Adams) -
Bass/Vocals
Vince St.Clair (aka. James Stevenson) - Guitar | Heath Rowe (aka. Steve
Grantley) - Drums
Alan Insane (aka. Mike Peters) - Guitar/Vocals | Key Largo (aka. Steve Allen
Jones) - Piano
Knightrider (aka. Knightrider) - Guitar /Vocals|


CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION (vox: Alan Insane)
BLOCKBUSTER (vox: Alan Insane)
METAL GURU (vox: Alan Insane)
GUDBUY T'JANE (vox: Rufus Stone)
JEAN GENIE (vox: Alan Insane)
MOTORBIKIN' (vox: Rufus Stone)
GET IT ON (vox: Alan Insane)
CAROLINE (vox: Rufus Stone/Knightrider)

Watch out for the debut 'Children of the Revolution' album. Coming soon on
21st C Records : )

6am - Well, Gathering nearly over...almost...not forgetting the essential
Gathering Football Experience/shake MP's hand and other present and correct
band members. This is your chance to share a Sunday natter with Mike, (Man
Utd) with Billy (Man City), with Craig (absent without leave), James (How
much?) Stevenson, Steve (SLF) Grantley, and an assortment of the MPO
Tafia...

It's at this point of the weekend, that we at MPO begin to feel weepy...
with relief, happiness and of course a dollop of sadness that it's all over.
But by Sunday afternoon, it's back to reality with a bump. The St. George's
Hotel is on the phone. Have you heard? "The hotel is sold out already for
G8! Help, G8Y2K is still a year away! So be aware, and for the ultimate
Millenium Gathering experience, be there:


Gathering 8
14th & 15th Jan 2000
North Wales Theatre, Llandudno
Tickets: £24.00

Please contact MPO Box Office on 01745 571571 or online through


MPO Shop


Thanks to all of you who reversed the roles, came to Wales and helped to
make the Gathering such a magnificent seven weekend. Diolch yn fawr!

Mike Peters @ Houses of Parliament, Westminster Mike Peters attended a meeting on behalf of the North Wales County of
Denbighshire at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster On March 2nd, at the invitation of MP, Chris Ruane, in recognition of Mike’s achievements as a ‘Rhyl boy’ and now more recently, Mike’s recent works in aid of Mount Snowdon”

Mike was there to persuade Parliament to support the arts with an estimated 200 million pounds that has been slated for the area where he grew up, started The Alarm, and still lives to this day.
---------------------
In other news, Coloursound have been spending an unexpected amount of time in recording their new album in North Wales. They were expecting a short pre-production, and then a long session in L.A., but that might not be the case now. Mike Peters said "We get so much energy feeding off each other and pushing each other to play our potential, it has been hard to stop". Expect the "unexpected" from the album. Peters stated that some songs have gone through metamorphasis in the studio: "We don't want this album to be safe."

King Biscuit Flower hour will release a Live Alarm CD from 1983 or 1984 (the actual show date is still being disputed). The CD will be released on Either April 20th 1999 or March 23rd, depending on which source you talk to. The CD can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com.
The Track-listing is as follows:

1. For Freedom
2. Marching On
3. Reason 41
4. Murder
5. Deceiver
6. Stand, The
7. Blazing Glory
8. 3rd Light
9. Tell Me
10. Border, The
11. 68 Guns
12. Declare Yourself Unsafe
13. Marching On
14. We Are The Light




Don't forget, the following titles are also available from Amazon:
The Alarm:
Standards,
Best Of The Alarm And Mike Peters


Mike Peters:
Rise,
Feel Free


The Cult:
Love,
Electric,
High Octane Cult

Mike Peters, the singer-guitarist who led the Welsh band, the Alarm, in the 1980s, recently dabbled with electronica on his third solo effort, 1998's Rise. Peters' earlier solo LPs carried on in the tradition of the Alarm with socially conscious, anthemic rock melodies.


In addition to forging a solo career, Peters also recently paired with former Cult guitarist Billy Duffy in the band Colour Sound. They're readying a debut LP for Velvel Records.


Peters was born on this day in 1959. He formed a band called Seventeen in 1978 in his native Wales with fellow teens Nigel Twist (a drummer with whom he played in another group, the Toilets), bassist Eddie McDonald and guitarist Dave Sharp. Inspired by first-wave punk bands the Sex Pistols and the Clash, Seventeen moved in 1981 to London to gig on the club circuit. The band was signed by I.R.S. Records and changed its name to the Alarm.


The Alarm became known in the U.S. in 1983 when it opened a tour for Irish rockers U2, a band Peters admired and with which the Alarm would constantly, and unfavorably, be compared. Both groups specialized in passionate, sometimes-political anthems.


Peters and company scored a top-40 U.S. album with 1985's Strength and amassed a cult following based on their stripped-down but powerful live performances, during which they wore form-fitting leather costumes and punk haircuts.


The Alarm had several U.K. hits. They also reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. a few times, but scored only in the lower portion of that chart. The band's best-known songs in America were "Strength," "Presence of Love," "Sold Me Down the River" and "Rain in the Summertime." As its career progressed, the Alarm's sound got more electric, spurring more comparisons with U2.


Change (1989), with its emphasis on Celtic-flavored songs, was an attempt to establish more of a signature sound. But when the album didn't fare well commercially, the Alarm moved toward disbanding. Peters spent the next few years dealing with personal problems -- including a misdiagnosis of lymphoma -- before issuing his 1996 solo debut, Feel Free. The CD included a take on Grandmaster Flash's influential rap track "The Message."


Last year, Peters issued Rise, featuring the single "Transcendental" and "In Circles." Peters worked on Rise with Duffy, whom he'd met at a soccer game. Duffy then joined Peters on the latter's 1998 "Interactive Acoustic Works U.S. Tour." The shows led to their forming Colour Sound.


"There is a certain inevitability to it," Duffy wrote in a posting on the Michael Peters Organization web page (http://www.demon.co.uk/alarmpo). "I tried to actually avoid working with Mike for a while, because it could have been perceived as a bit predictable. But it just seemed to keep cropping up. It was an organic progression."


Other birthdays: George Harrison, 56; John Doe (X, the John Doe Thing), 46; Dennis Diken (Smithereens), 42; and Stuart Wood (Bay City Rollers), 42.

—

Mike Peters show for LiveConcerts.Com has been archived and is now available Here.

ColourSound are currently in pre-production on ther debut album. Recording will commence in March of this year and lasting through April, with post-production in May. Check back here for news about the planned "ColourSound In-Studio Web Cam" and Chat.

The band is currently tightening up older songs, and writing new material. They are also in a process of elimination with engineers and producers.

Whether or not the album will be released on June 29th (the release date posted on www.velvel.com) remains to be seen. Most likely, this date is just tentative and a more accurate one will be posted at a later date.

Football


"Can all Gathering football teams please register the names of their teams
and team members to the MPO. All teams to report to the John Bright Sports
Centre, Llandudno on Sunday 17th Jan, 1999 ."

Gathering Quiz


"Can all Gathering Quiz teams please register their team names to MPO for
MPO Mastermind. All teams to report to the North Wales Conference Centre at
approx 11am on Saturday 16th Jan, 1999."

>>>> Instructions <<<<
Pack those bags, shut up home, dump the cat next door, reverse theroles,and head north south east and west to Llandudno, North Wales.

>>>> Directions <<<<
>From your place via M6 M56 A55 / J.F.K. / Manchester / HeathrowAirport /Euston Station to Llandudno

>>>> MPO Preparations <<<<
Here at MPO, we're already getting pretty excited. It's Januaryas we write.The phones are red hot. We've visited the North Wales Conference Centre a zillion times to go through those teeny weeny details like,'can
we fit all of Mike's relatives and school friends on the raised seated area?' (there were 96 in his primary school class, apparently ) etc.We're planning and plotting the schedule right now. So many questions,so much debate, so many plans, so much preparation. Help! Why do we do it?Why
do we wake up with night sweats? (Did we confirm the Conference Centre for the 15/16 or are they expecting us the week before?) Why so much stress? Why? Because we love you! That's why! Because you love Mike. Because you're the best fans in the world (creep) Because Mike's a songsmithpsychopath.
Because we like you to suffer from jet lag/tour lag for a change. Because we like to stay at home. Because we like an excuse to party til breakfast. For all these' becauses'and more...

>>>> An idea of the schedule so far <<<<

Tune into LiveConcerts.com on 1/31/99 for a RealAudio cybercast Mike Peters at 6:30 pm pt.

Go there now!

On his fifth solo release, Rise (his first for the Velvel label), ex- Alarm frontman Mike Peters sticks close to the sound laid down on his previous solo release, 1996's Feel Free. Instead of returning to the Alarm's protest-filled punk rock, Peters' solo songs still tend to reflect the Beatles, which incorporate gently phased out guitar and mind-expanding lyrics (as heard on the tracks "Transcendental" and "In Circles"), while at other times reflecting another Beatles-influenced band, Cheap Trick (the album's title track). But the songwriting is consistently catchy and strong, with the tracks "Ground Zero," "You Are to Me," and "High On the Hill" being just a few of the album's highlights. The CD version of Rise contains three bonus tracks, including a remix of his interpretation of Grandmaster Flash's rap classic "The Message" (his original cover of the song appeared on Feel Free). Another solid release from Mike Peters, which will surely please longtime admirers. ~ ,

Mike Peters namechecks Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Bob Dylan on "Shine On (113th Dream)," the leadoff track of this solo album, and by the second song, "The Message," he is recasting the old Grandmaster Flash rap as a rock number, all of which pretty much sums up his highly referential style. The ruling influence, though, seems to be John Lennon, especially in his immediate post- Beatles period, as Peters points fingers ("You've been using artistic license making a lie with the truth") and looks back in anger ("I have been fooled by the rock & roll dream/All I ever believed in snatched away/By a piece of paper"). Could all this have something to do with his old band, the Alarm? If so, "All Is Forgiven," and Peters is moving on, which seems to mean adding trip-hop drum tracks to his folk-rock anthems and edging his earnestness with a ruefulness born of his unpleasant music business experiences. Still, as he notes in the hidden bonus track, which we'll call "Gone Elvis," he hopes to be delivered from Vegas. Good luck.