Mike Peters and all the staff at M.P.O. (Alarm Information Service) in
Wales would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your
wonderful support during 2002. It has been an extremely busy year, what
with The Gathering, The Resistance Tour, the San Siro/Olimpico concerts
in Milan and Rome and more recently the outpourings of 'In the Poppy
Fields', Release 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, all in a period of 5/6 months!!!!!

In the last week, Mike has played in Amsterdam with Big Country, in
Milan, at the press launch of 'In the Poppy Fields' and last night,
closer to home, in the Village Hall of Dyserth where Mike played a
special homecoming concert to raise money for the Village Hall,
organised by wife Jules, a local Community Councillor and Committee
Member of Dyserth Hall.

Mike is looking forward to a well earned break for the first time in
months although rumours suggest this will be short-lived as he will be
back in the studio after Boxing Day to record brand new 'b' sides for
an upcoming single! (Mike premiered the new video of the single at his
hometown concert!)

Mike was very saddened to hear the news of the death of Joe Strummer
and at last night's concert in his home village, dedicated an emotional
version of 'The Rock'n Roll' to Joe, one of Mike's heros...

...Mike is looking forward to meeting up with many of you at the
ultimate rock'n roll party, The Gathering in January and on the road
during the 'In the Poppy Fields' Tour 2003. Dates to be announced
following on from the UK include Slovenia, Italy, Germany, Holland, and
Dubai! It is also hoped that a long overdue return to the USA will take
place in 2003 - apologies to all Americans - there just didn't seem to
be the time to fit it all in 2002!!!

So thanks again for being the greatest fans in the world. Your loyalty
is appreciated every day. Take care over the 'Holidays', enjoy
immersing yourself 'In the Poppy Fields' experience and we look forward
to kicking off 2003 in style with the greatest rock'n roll party ever
in Wales!!!!

Love and life,

M.P.O.(Alarm Information Service)
Wales, UK

To all ticket purchasers for QMU in Glasgow on 1/02/02 please note that
due to the success of ticket sales, the venue has been moved up to:

The Garage
490 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow

Tickets will be posted out in the New Year.

Thanks for your support!

MPO

Urgent!

Can all the following people who have recently ordered from the Alarm
store please contact MPO asap:
011 44 1745 571571
mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk
www.thealarm.com

Duncan Jardine
W. Addis
Paul Evans
Moira Anderson
John Silberlich
S. Southern
Keith Bailey
Stuart Collins
Deb Mattison
Denise Taylor
Haydn Powell
Robert Baker
Sarah Lloyd
Christian Verzeletti
Shaun Donnelly
Neil Shevill
Simon Aston
James Southall
Meghan O'Brien
Neil Stammers

Thank You
M.P.O.
The Alarm Store

Two new songs from "In The Poppy Fields" Release #3 have been added to 21stcenturyradio.tv.

"Trafficking" and "Be Still" can now be heard in regular rotation.

tURN sOMEONE yOU kNOW oN TO tHE mUSIC oF mIKE pETERS aND tHE aLARM
[and receive a free Italian ‘promotional only’ Alarm CD featuring
‘Close’ plus 20 classic Alarm singles]. Buy a second ‘In the Poppy Fields Bond’ as a gift or introduce someone new to the Bond or an Alarm Box set Collection
and receive a free ‘promotional only’ Alarm CD. [ Call 01745 571571 for details. To qualify, any new person ordering must give a name and address of the existing MPO member].

Thanks for all your support regarding 'In the Poppy Fields' bond and
for your amazing response to:
[21C025] iN tHE pOPPY fIELDS : oNE - cLOSE
[21C026] iN tHE pOPPY fIELDS : tWO - tHE nORMAL rULES dO nOT aPPLY


DISPATCH OF....
[21C027] iN tHE pOPPY fIELDS : tHREE - tRAFFICKING
[21C028] iN tHE pOPPY fIELDS : fOUR a mUSICAL cREATION rECORDED
eXCLUSIVELY fOR bOND hOLDERS

Release Three has been held back to send out with Release Four (which
is turning out to be an incredible CD). What started out as the mystery
CD is now the ultimate 'must have' CD of the 'In the Poppy Fields'
Bond. We would like to tell you more but have been sworn to secrecy by
Mr. Michael Peters! All will be revealed later this month as both CD's
will be dispatched to all bondolders approximately December 17th.
Thanks for your patience. We think you will agree that it will be worth
the wait! To get you in the mood please scroll down for an entire
tracklisting.....

[21C025] iN tHE pOPPY fIELDS : oNE

cLOSE
aLONE tOGETHER
iN tHE bEAUTY oF mY sURROUNDINGS
rIGHT bACK wHERE I sTARTED fROM
tHE rOCK aND rOLL
cONTENDERS
aLL sEEING
tHE LIFE yOU sEEK dOES nOT eXIST
wITH fRIENDS LIKE yOU wHO nEEDS eNEMIES
sWANSONG

[21C026] iN tHE pOPPY fIELDS : tWO

tHE nORMAL rULES dO nOT aPPLY
nEW hOME nEW lIFE
rAIN dOWN
wHEN yOU cAN’t hAVE wHAT eVERYBODY eLSE hAS
hOW LONG aND hOW mUCH LONGER?
45 rPM
eVERAFTER
I nEVER lEFT I oNLY wENT aWAY
mY dEFENCES
tHE uNEXPLAINED

[21C027] iN tHE pOPPY fIELDS : tHREE

tRAFFICKING
fEDERAL mOTOR vOTER
rESURRECTION
tHE sEARCH fOR tHE rEAL LIFE
wHEN eVERYTHING wAS pERFECT
tHE dRUNK aND tHE dISORDERLY
bE sTILL
iT hAPPENS
tERMS aND cONDITIONS
pEACE aGREEMENT

[21C028] iN tHE pOPPY fIELDS : fOUR

a mUSICAL cREATION
rECORDED eXCLUSIVELY fOR bOND hOLDERS

[21C029] iN tHE pOPPY fIELDS : fIVE

cOMING hOME
tHE iNNOCENT pARTY
kALEIDOSCOPE
fESTIVAL oF LIGHT
fREE iNSIDE
tRUE lIFE
fEW aND fAR bETWEEN
tHE nORMAL rULES dO nOT aPPLY
tRAFFICKING
cLOSE
iN tHE pOPPY fIELDS

Ex-Alarm bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Eddie Macdonald is going to auction off some of his clsssic Alarm guitars on
eBay starting December 5th, 2002!

The exact URLs are linked below. Below is an interview conducted today with Eddie, as well as detailed descriptions and photos of the items he is putting up for sale.

Bring us up to date on Eddie MacDonald. What has the past 10 years been like for you?

Well, there's been a lot of ups, a few downs and a few in betweens and
a few things I'd rather forget about altogether, but all in all, I'm in good
health, good shape mentally and physically and am enjoying life. As a few
people are now aware, I've changed direction in life and taken up
photography. I still love music but very rarely get to play nowadays but
that's not saying I won't ever play again - far from it. I'm still living in
London and am happy here. The one thing I do miss is visiting different
countries. I don't get to travel as much as I'd like but we'll see what the
next couple of years brings.

Is there any music in your future?

I suppose the sale of guitars would indicate no. But I've kept hold of my two
main writing guitars - my Gibson J45 and my Status bass so I'm still armed
and ready and could go off at anytime! I've written quite a few songs since
the last show in Brixton with a few different artists but I haven't found the
right vehicle for them as yet. But Alarm fans, don't worry! I'm not going to
help Gary Barlow/Gareth Gates have hits.

What prompted the eBay auction?

Feng Shui! I thought it was time to give the guitars a better home! I thought
someone else could make better music with them than I can having them sitting
under the stairs! Sometimes it's good to let go of certain things. They
brought me a lot of luck, maybe they will bring someone else the same. I
would like to think they would end up in someone's house rather than a Hard
Rock cafe!

Just seeing those instruments prompted an nostalgia-drenched, emotional
response from me that I did not anticipate. Were you gripped with nostalgia
when you started this process, or are you past that stage?

Not really no. I think it was more nostalgic when Mike was putting together
The Alarm Box Set. He sent me through a great deal of searching questions,
some of which I found very very difficult to answer, in other words, they
brought a smile to my face. To answer it fully, I would say that when you
haven't played a guitar for quite a few years, I felt a bit guilty.

What are your expectations from this auction? Monetary, satisfaction, closure, or all or none of these things?

It would be fair and honest to say a mixture of all three. The guitars are a
fine tool in their own right and the fact that they are sentimental would
probably mean more to fans of the band and myself than any outside collector.
Saying that though, the guitars are very collectable.

When will the eBay auction start?

It goes up Thursday night UK time and if I'm right, finishes on Saturday 14th
December. But I will confirm this and also send you a locator for eBay.

Is there anything you'd like to say to Alarm fans who are still "keepin the flames alive"? (besides "Get a life!!)

I'd put it in a football analogy. If you follow a team you have to follow the
through thick and thin and that's what makes it special - the bad times count
as well as the good ones. It creates a perfect picture - you have to have
light and shade in anything to make it special. I'm always glad to say that
at least all of us are in good health, all reasonably sane, and still around
to tell the tales. There aren't many bands that can say the same. And
finally, thank you to all the fans for keeping our feet firmly on the ground
by not buying enough singles and not putting us in the top ten!!! Only
kidding! Correct me if I'm wrong but in the UK terms The Alarm still has the
record for having the most Top 40 singles without having a Top 10 single. I'd
like to sign off by thanking everyone for emailing me. If I don't speak to
you again, have a great Christmas and enjoy The Gathering in the new year!

All the best

Eddie

(click for larger image)	Ex The Alarm (Eddie Macdonald) 1964 Guild Starfire For auction a 1964 Guild Starfire semi-acoustic electric guitar -of interest to The Alarm aficionados and guitar and rock memorabilia collectors. Fans of the The Alarm will remember this guitar, held by Dave Sharp, on the cover of the ‘68 Guns’ 7" & 12" singles. The guitar was the instrument on which most of the music for the albums Declaration and Strength was written and was used on the songs Howling Wind, Third Light and Tell Me (Declaration) It was re-sprayed and meticulously restored by Guild in 1985 after the War Tour with U2. The Starfire comes with its original case and documents of authenticity and can be autographed on request.
(click for larger image)	Ex The Alarm (Eddie Macdonald) Squire Telecaster (Japan) For auction a 1980s Squire (Fender) Telecaster solid electric guitar-of interest to The Alarm aficionados and guitar and rock memorabilia collectors. This guitar, played by Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm, is a much sought after Japanese made Squire. The guitar was used extensively during the Change and Raw albums and toured on The Electric Folklore & Change tours and also on tours with Bob Dylan and Queen. The guitar is in good playing order but, having been toured long and hard, bares a few scars (the plastic toggle switch cover is missing.) Comes with gig bag and strap. The guitar can be autographed on request.
(click for larger image)	Ex The Alarm (Eddie Macdonald) Fender Jazz Bass Special For auction a 1980s Fender (USA) Jazz Bass Special electric bass guitar -of interest to The Alarm aficionados and guitar and rock memorabilia collectors. The Fender Jazz Bass Special was used for recording throughout the eighties on LP’s such as Strength, Electric Folklore, Change and Raw and was used on the accompanying tours. It can be viewed on The Alarm web site (http://www.thealarm.com/) in many pictures including the inside cover of the album Electric Folklore Live. The Fender Jazz Bass Special has a Jazz width neck, a P bass pick-up in the middle position and a J bass pick-up at the bridge. Sold with the original aluminium flight case. This guitar can be autographed on request.
(click for larger image)	Ex The Alarm (Eddie Macdonald) Ovation Preacher 12 String For auction an Ovation Preacher 12 string solid electric guitar -of interest to The Alarm aficionados and guitar and rock memorabilia collectors. This rare guitar from Eddie Macdonald’s The Alarm collection dates from the early seventies and comes in the original and rare natural finish. The versatile controls make it a great live and recording guitar. Often used on over-dubs to fatten acoustic and lead lines, this guitar has not been toured and comes with original Ovation case. This guitar can be autographed on request.
(click for larger image)	Ex The Alarm (Eddie Macdonald) 1980’s Guild Starfire 4 For auction a 1980’s Guild Starfire 4 semi-acoustic electric guitar -of interest to The Alarm aficionados and guitar and rock memorabilia collectors. This guitar was custom made especially for Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm by Guild USA and was used on all live work and albums from 1985 onwards. The guitar is finished in black with a Kahler floating tremelo bridge. The pick-ups are a Gibson humbucker at the bridge and a Di Marzio humbucker at the neck. Also included are two, unused, original Guild pick-ups. Comes with its original touring case (see image.) and can be autographed on request.
(click for larger image)	Ex The Alarm T Shirts (Eddie Macdonald) Set #1 All these T-Shirts were worn on stage for encores by Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm. Consisting of five T-Shirts from the Chant Has Just Begun period “Old but Gold” Can be autographed on request.
(click for larger image)	Ex The Alarm T Shirts (Eddie Macdonald) Set #2 All these T-Shirts were worn on stage for encores by Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm. Rare collectors pack consisting of a 2 Nike sponsored band only shirts plus 2 early declaration shirts and one Change tour shirt. Can be autographed on request.
(click for larger image)	Ex The Alarm T Shirts (Eddie Macdonald) Set #3 All these T-Shirts were worn on stage for encores by Eddie Macdonald of The Alarm. Three early shirts plus one hand made calligraphy shirt. Can be autographed on request.

2 BRAND NEW ITEMS AVAILABLE TO ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS

[21CDVD002]
THE STORY OF THE ALARM 2 DVD SET
Double DVD as told by Mike Peters at Rhyl Town Hall during the legendary 20th
anniversary concert. Over 3 hours of footage including all the major songs
and a host of photos and archive video footage and special features.

[Multi Region DVD Playable anywhere in the world]
UK £29.99 plus £1 p&p US $45 & $5 p&p
buy now!

[ARCC002]
ALARM RECORD COLLECTORS CLUB II
‘The Alarm live at Hammersmith Palais 1984’.
Following on from the successful release of ‘Alt-Strength’
Originally recorded for the BBC this concert captures The Alarm live
during the ‘Sound and Fury’ UK tour of 1984.

UK £14.99 inc.£1 p&p US $20 & $5 p&p
buy now!

Mike has been impressing Bob Geldof fans on his current UK outings this
week, so much so that Geldof fans are calling MPO HQ in droves to sign
up for 'In the Poppy Fields' subscription and next year's tour dates
after been impressed by hearing the new songs. Even Sir Bob himself
has been intrigued by the idea of Mike recording 50 songs and took away
Vol 1 (Close) and 2 (The Normal Rules Do Not Apply) himself last night
after Mike received a rousing reception at Reading Town Hall. Mike
premiered all new 'In the Poppy Fields' songs with the closing addition
of 'Rain in the Summertime'. Mike Peters will be appearing tonight
(Thurs Nov 28) in Salisbury and Tues Dec 3 at Newcastle Opera House...

In the Poppy Fields....MP

STOP PRESS **** LATE BREAKING NEWS ****STOP PRESS **** LATE BREAKING
NEWS

This year, The Gathering will feature a very special guest appearance from Dave Sharp who will perform an acoustic set on Friday evening before joining the band live onstage during the Saturday night. Unfortunately, G11 officially ‘sold out’ over 3 months in advance leaving many long standing fans unable to purchase tickets which are also selling as fast for the ‘In The Poppy Fields’ UK Tour. In an effort to avoid further disappointment members are urged to purchase their tour tickets a.s.a.p. Please call 01745 571571 for further details or to be added to the G11 ‘return’ waiting list.

What talent - this again has exceeded all expectations and there is more to
follow !! Long may this continue. I'll be bringing one old Alarm fan along to GXI
with me for the first time so he can witness all this for himself
Paul Doughty - Blackpool

Cheers for "close" - excellent!!! How about adding a Newcastle date to the tour next year?
Jim Fothergill, Newcastle

Mike's spirit is rocking as stong as ever! Absolutely brilliant album.
And to think 4 more are coming--can't hardly wait. Come to the USA and
play them live! Todd, San Francisco, USA

What can you say! The first CD is a blinder and I can't wait for the 2nd
installment. Have really got back into the Alarm/MP in the past couple of
years. The Resistance tour was fantastic, hats off to you guys for keeping
it real and not ripping your fans off!! Get the Close single out there.
Get Mike on TOTP's and give the world what it has been missing.
The rock and roll still burns in us... Adrian Bent, UK

There is only one cd at the moment in my home and in my car and that’s Close.
Close is one of the best songs you’ve ever wrote. (and the shortest I think).
Other favorites are Contenders and All seeing.
Emiel van Dijk, Holland

Just read the "feedback" and its all correct and accurate.
This is a great album and I cant believe there is more to come.
After in the poppyfields day I can assure those that werent lucky enough to
be there to listen out for "the normal rules do not apply" and "in the
poppyfields" which are definately destined to become legendary.

Big congratulations to all the MPO team. Keep it coming.
Ash, Warrington

I cannot wait for the next Poppyfields CD to come out, the Close CD is the best set of songs Mike has ever recorded
Tim Grosvenor, England

I've only given it the one play so far and I can say that I am looking
forward to 45rpm at the Gathering........ Close your eyes and it's 1977
again!! Fantastic... Denis Jones, Crewe

I got the first CD and have been loving it!! I can't wait for more.
Thanks again,
Glenn P, Oxford, OH, USA

Brilliant... can't wait for the next Poppy Field...
Steve nyc

Just got Vol 2 this morning......it fecking ROCKS!!!!!..In an age of
maufactured pop idol rubbish its good to know that Mr Peters is producing
the best music of his life.....
Justin Davies, Wales

The cd's just get better, 45 rpm, great punk sound, and how long iis a classic.
All the best, Neil Rhodes.. UK

Brilliant,moving...made this side of ireland that little bit happier!!
Doug, Sligo, Ireland

WELL DONE MIKE+THE LADS
YOU HAVE ONCE AGAIN RESTORED SOME PRIDE+PASSION
IN YOUR LYRICS,MAY IT LONG CONTINUE
AGAINST ALL COMMERCIAL CLAP-TRAP AND BANALITY
GOD BLESS, JOHN GLASGOW

Great CD, this sounds like the real "The Alarm"! Great songs, great lyrics
and please give me more...
Thanks Martin Flemming, Germany

Following on from Mike Peters' successful Italian concerts in 2002, Mike returns to Italy for a special presentation of 'In the Poppy Fields'. Details as follows"
Dec 17th December, Milano
"La Casa 139"
"Quadrophonic Sound In the Poppy Fields presentation"
"La Casa 139"
Via Ripamonti 139
20141 Milano
www.lacasa139.com
info@lacasa139.com

Mike Peters and wife Jules take time out from 'In the Poppy Fields
Bond' for a whole different Bond experience - at the James Bond
premiere, 'Die Another Day' this week at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Mike, an avid James Bond fan joined celebrities Madonna, Pierce
Brosnan, Halle Berry, Roger Moore, the Queen... for one of 20th Century
Fox' s most glittering film premieres to date!

Mike Peters made a surprise guest appearance last night (Fri) to Sir
Bob Geldof at Sheffield City Hall. Mike took the opportunity to 'test'
his new songs from 'In the Poppy Fields' which went down a storm with
the Geldof fans. Set list as follows:

alone together.
free inside
rain down
the normal rules do not apply
true life
the life you seek does not exist
in the beauty of my surroundings
close

Mike Peters will be appearing as Special Guest to Bob Geldof in the UK
over the next 10 days. Dates are as follows:

Nov 24 York Opera House 01904 671818
Nov 25 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall 01902 552121
Nov 27 Reading Town Hall 0118 9606060
Nov 28 Salisbury City Hall 01722 327676
Dec 3 Newcastle Opera House 01722 327676

Mike Peters will be appearing lIVE in ZAANDAM, Netherlands on December 14 2002
Mike will be performing together with 3 bandmembers of BIG COUNTRY during
a 5 hour event from 6 pm until 11 pm
For more info please go to
http://www.bigcountry.co.uk and look under news.

Two brand spanking new songs from "In The Poppy Fields" release #2 have been added to 21stcenturyradio.tv (and soon to The Alarm Radio Network). Go there now to hear "The Normal Rules Do Not Apply" and "45 RPM"!

The national US airdate for the documentary Nigel is in, Presumed Guilty
isWednesday, Oct. 23rd (though people should check local listings for their
PBS station).

More info at
http://www.kqed.org/tv/productions/baywindow/presumedguilty

Thanks once again for a brilliant album.If I wrote for Q I'd give it ***** Colin R, Denbigh

"Rock and roll" could be the new "spirit"- made the hair on my neck stand up on end- a timeless classic.
Darran, Lincolnshire.

I would just like 2 say that I absolutely adore the CD... it sounds totally fantastic :o) The tunes have stuck firmly in my head.
Roll on Gathering 11. Pete C, England

Really love 'In The Poppy Fields : One'. If the new tracks are anything to go by then I can't wait for Poppy Fields Day. Forget U2. Forget Springsteen. This is the real deal. Kevin D, Manchester

Mike's done it again another great set of recordings hasn't been of my stereo all weekend, Damian W, London

I read on the website that Mike wrote Sixty+ tracks for these Poppyfields sessions. I counted all the songs I've written in my life (I'm 32 now) and the total is 67...Mike has written as many for his new album as I have in my lifetime! I am in awe of his creativity...Great job Mike. You just never let us fans down. Keep it up mate, Brian T, California

The 'Close' album is absolutely cracking. I'm listening to it continuously in my car, Sara J, N. Wales

Rhythm, good melodies, fantastic atmospheres, great arrangements. This is really the unique sound of THE ALARM, Stefano, Italy

What a great sounding release!!!!! I got it today, and have now played it through 17 times!!!!!!This was really worth the wait!!!!! -John B, New Hampshire, USA

Just received and played volume 1 of ITPF .... fantasic to hear some new stuff from Mike. Great songs, poignant lyrics... altogther great ..... "Rock'n' Roll" and "Right Back Where we started" are haunting sounds ... memories of the Alarm at their best. Can't wait for the live dates ...and the small matter of four more albums. True class from a musical hero.Well done... and thanks !!!! Chris Houlden, UK

I'm surprised at the quality of all ten tracks on the single - they are all very good and there isn't a filler among them. If Mike can keep this level of quality up for the whole of the In the Poppy Fields release then I think he would have actually achieved the impossible, Ruth H, UK

Just received my copy of "In The Poppy Fields" today and got to say I love it…If this is any indication of what the final CD is going to sound like, it is going to be an excellent CD. Keep up the excellent work Mike and the rest of the guys. Tim Adams, USA

GREAT CD WHICH IS HELPING ME THROUGH A VERY SAD TIME. IM FINDING MEANING IN EACH AHD EVERY SONG. THANKS, YOURS DEAN SMITH, NORFOLK

Close to F****** brilliant. Thanks a lot, C Downs, UK

IN THE POPPYFIELDS ONE IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! A REAL INJECTION OF LIFE!! Marco, Italy

I have now had a chance to listen to all the songs on the new release and all 10 are great songs, J Thompson, England

Received vol. 1. played it over & over.LOVE IT!! Bring on vol.2. Andy Fountain, UK

I've been playing it more or less non-stop for the past week - it's mature and inteligent songwriting at it's best. - these are very exciting times indeed, Peter B, UK

Just listened to the CD for the 3rd time and it's brilliant!! A lot of personalisation within the tracks and some borrowed lyrics from early Alarm which adds to the whole euphoria. All the best, Dave McGachy, Aberdeen

Great songs! "all seeing" & "the life you seek..." among my favourite ones. The songs sound fresh & powerful. Congratulations to the "chef". Can't wait to listen to the rest of the whole album. Jordi R, Barcelona

I got the new CD last week, and I have to say it's absolutely brilliant!! Please pass on a big "well done" to everyone involved from me, G Harrison, Wales

CD arrived thgis morning so not yet played it all (listened to 8 tracks in the car). Absolutely brilliant on 1st listen - classic Alarm but still "new and different". Can't wait for the next 4 instalments! S Talbot, UK

Thanks for being so quick in distributing the first album of the In The Poppy Fields collection. I only ordered on Wednesday - and here by Friday !!! I must say it sounds brilliant - Mike sounds great !!! Stuart Gibson, UK

Just a few words to thank you for the wonderful music you create ! I received today in my mailbox In the Poppy fields one : Symply awesome ! Best wishes, Roger from Switzerland

Its not very often you receive an album which you can say that every track is brilliant right from the title track CLOSE to the last track SWANSONG - every track individual in its own right.How does Mike do it ? The talent in being able to write such influential songs with such meaning and strength... I guess its because he really beleives in what he is writing and singing about... Thank you Mike that "The Rock And Roll " still burns in you. you are such an inspiration to many people especially your fans and all that come in contact with you .Thank you for "in the poppyfields1" Trevor Finnis, England

Listening again and again to the CD and if Vol 2 is only half as good it will be worth the wait (is "wait" the right phrase when vol 2 will be here later this month!) , track after track brilliant.....The Rock N Roll... Grahame Bennett, UK

The CD arrived yesterday.... What a start in the weekend. Its a great CD and I can´t wait to get more, and see you all at G11.
Cheers Martin Flemming, Germany

One day all "singles" will be made this way...........What started out life as "Close" the single has developed into a full blown MP album of the highest order. There's not a weak track on the CD, Rumour has it that the best is yet to come.....In The Poppyfields II is to be even better.....can't wait! John Dawson Booth, West Yorkshire

Just received my copy. Another great album by Mike and Alarm 2002! My initial favorite songs are Close and Swan Song.I am listening to the album constantly. I look forward to the next four releases! I hope Mike tours the US in 2003! Thanks, Paul Manning, USA

The CD is really high quality, and if the fan base has to choose tracks from it and the others for an official
release, it is going to be one difficult job! Thanks to all involved and best wishes
Mark G (the one in Spain)

First of all thanks for the new Close CD. I really think that every track is excellent - its difficult to pick out a favourite track or indeed a weak track. If this was Mikes first solo release or Alarm release since '91 I would be more then happy with it as an album - the fact that there is more to come is an unbelieveable bonus. I think you have set a standard here Mike, that will
be difficult to follow up - but no doubt you will prove us all wrong and come up with more top notch releases. This is indeed your two steps forward, Colin Busher, Ireland

is it me or are mike peters songs getting better & better i have been listening to close for the last week & its just blown me away hope you can get a newcastle date in the new year, Mick A, Northeast, UK

CD has arrived and been on permanent play for 24 hours! Can't wait for the next
installment....when's it due?!?! Will Ellis, England

Just a note to say it landed on Saturday, Just Brilliant hasn't been off since, not one bad track, the Man is just out of this world to keep producing music like this. Many Thanks Damian Corrgian, Co Tyrone

First impressions - what a breath of fresh air, it was fantastic to hear new music that Mike has produced that will keep the flame burning for many years to come. Any fears that quality would be sacrificed for quantity were immediately dispelled, the songs captured the indefinable spirit that is Mike Peters and in 40+ minutes gave a passionate reminder why the last 10 years or so following Mr P have been so rewarding, Ian Martin, UK

If you would like to email your thoughts regarding the In the Poppy Fields Bond to be included in our Feedback section, please email mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk

The Unforgettable In the Poppy Fields Experience... 19th October 2002

Thanks to all who travelled far and wide to celebrate In the Poppy
Fields Day in Wales this weekend. The sold out occasion saw Alarm fans
traveling from Sweden, Germany as well as Michigan and Wyoming in the
USA.

The impressive 3 story Country Mansion situated just outside Rhyl (home
of The Alarm) was taken over by Alarm fans for the day. Site of
previous years' Coloursound Day and Alarm Day, this location has become
a popular 'mid' year intimate alternative to the fast growing Gathering
concert, held in Llandudno every January (SOLD OUT).

Once again, Mike Peters and his team stretched the creative boundaries
with an impressive presentation of the new album, complete with
quadrophonic sound and slide show. Mike 'talked' through the recording
process of the final release (5) as well as featuring highlights from
the already much loved Release 1 'Close' from 'In the Poppy Fields'
bond. His 'talk' was peppered with dramatic deliveries of 'In the Poppy
Fields' songs, accompanied by an informative slide show of documented
photographs from Mike's personal collection. Sound Engineers, Martin
Wilding and Mike Jones worked tirelessly throughout the day, mixing the
backing tracks 'live' of the album as Mike sang along and played guitar
(acoustic and electric)

To finish, Mike was joined by fellow guitarist and friend James
Stevenson who executed a stirring solo on the unforgettable Swansong,
featured on Release 1 much to the delight of the assembled audience
(James received a roar of approval half way through the song!) A
fitting finale to an unforgettable afternoon....

Tracklisting for 'In the Poppy Fields' Day (Afternoon Session) as
follows:

Trafficking
Kaleidescope
The Normal Rules Do Not Apply
Festival of Light
Innocent Party
Close (accompanied by Close slide show from the recent San Siro Stadium
Concert in Milan)
Contenders
In the Beauty of My Surroundings
Right Back Where I Started From
The Life You Seek Does Not Exist
The Rock'n Roll
How Long
Swan Song

The afternoon session was a difficult act to follow but 'OrchestrAlarm'
did just that. Mike was joined by a six piece string section on stage
and the Alarm songs were performed as if for the very first time. The
final rendition of 'Spirit of 76' brought the house down and led
sweetly in to the aftershow party, held on the top haunted floor of the
Country House where Mike mingled with his guests into the small hours.
A 12 hour extravaganza not to be missed!

Following on from the SOLD OUT 'In the Poppy Fields' please note The
Gathering is SOLD OUT for next year Jan 24/25, 2003. Please contact MPO
with your name and daytime tel number/email if you wish to be added
to the Gathering Waiting List.

Mike Peters is currently performing 3 special concerts in Italy
following on from the continued success this year.

Release 2 of In the Poppy Fields Bond is scheduled to be dispatched
from MPO on the last day of October. The In the Poppy Fields Bond is
available to order now at a price of £45 plus £5 p and p (see I.T.
P.F.B section for dollar/euro price). The bond contains 5 individual
albums to be delivered to you monthly between now and The Gathering.

Any queries, please call MPO on 011 44 (0)1745 571571 or email
mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk

Following on from the success of this year's Gathering and subsequent
tours, MPO is proud to announce that The Gathering 11 is SOLD OUT,
taking place on the 24/25 Jan 2003. The MPO office continues to grow at
an incredible pace with new Alarm fans registering on a daily basis.
Consequently, many new Alarm/Mike Peters fans are attending the
Gathering for the very first time.This year, people are attending from
all over the UK, Japan, Australia, Holland, Germany, USA, Canada,
Norway, Switzerland, Spain and Italy. As the review of this year's
Gathering 10 summed up...

"It was 12.10am, Mike Peters and The Alarm MMII had been on stage for
almost three hours. It was all over except that you felt like it was
just beginning..... and in many ways maybe it was just the beginning."

NB. For those people still wanting tickets, please call the MPO office
on 011 44 (0)1745 571571 to be added to a Gathering Waiting List.
Thanks to all for your continued support.

Following on from a question & answer session which took place during the
early weeks of The Summer Of Love tour, as the second leg gets under way, as
promised at the time, Dave is going to take part in a second session.

Dave will be answering questions via the Dave Sharp discussion list, hosted by
Yahoogroups, during the week of 28th October to 3rd November. If you are not a
member of the discussion group, send e-mail to href=mailto:davesharp2000-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>davesharp2000-subscribe@ya
hoogroups.com or enter your e-mail address below & click the button.

Following on from the recent successful Italian outings this year, Mike Peters returns to Italy after the SOLD OUT 'In the Poppy Fields' Day, to be held in Wales on 19th October. Mike will present the new 'In the Poppy Fields' songs to his Italian fans. Dates are as follows:

23/10 Roma "Big Mama"
25/10 Udine-Buttrio "Balin"
26/10 Cavriago (RE) "Calamita" (to be joined by Marco Ligabue, Tavarre and friends)

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS OF PRAISE FOR vol 1 of In the Poppy Fields. Mike sends his best wishes from the studio where he is busy writing and recording new songs. Over the coming months we will keep you updated with Alarm fans' musings on the new songs from all over the world.

FEEDBACK...FEEDBACK...FEEDBACK...FEEDBACK...FEEDBACK...FEEDBACK...FEEDBACK...FEEDBACK...FEEDBACK...

Waited like an expectant dad for the postman to arrive - and I was not to be disappointed when i finally received my 1st In the Poppy Fields disc. Completely blown away by the new material! "Rock and roll" could be the new "spirit"- made the hair on my neck stand up on end- a timeless classic. "The life you seek" and "all seeing" are early favourites.
Cant wait to hear it all at "In the Poppy Fields Day" and at GXI.
Bring on Vol 2!!
Thanks Mike for keeping it fresh, real and alive!
Cracking photos by Jules!
Darran & Kate in Lincolnshire.

Classy Stuff MLP
Cheers
Deano The Inspired

Subject: new songs
What can i say.......2 great songs, can't wait to hear the album!!SUMMErRainRTIME

Contenders makes me even more curious what the new four "In the Poppy Field"
albums will bring. Great song! The Rock 'n'roll also sounds great. Will it
feature on a later release?
Anyway I hope the first album will arrive in my mailbox soon !
Greetings from Holland
Rob

dear mpo just listened to the two new songs on 21st century radio and two more masterpieces from the maestro.really starting to wet my appetite for the forthcoming releases can't wait.dave

I've been listening to 21c century
radio and Alarm radio network nearly all day and everyday! I have to say
Close and Contenders and The Rock and Roll are wicked tracks although I do
feel that Close has a very good radio sound to it and so does contenders
Billy duffy's guitars work very well with mikes voice as we all know anyways!

Keep up the good work mike although god knows how you manage to write so much
and create fantastic music over the years !

Well im sure by now after being an alarm fan and mike peters fan for almost
25 years now I love your music and you can do no wrong by me no matter what !
See you at the gathering this year I really cant wait

Love and Life
chris Puxley
p.s. cant wait to get my first edition of the BOnd


Just heard Contenders on 21st Century Radio. It definitely sounds like Mike is recording with a "band" again ...
Holy Shit! I'm listening to Rock and Roll right now and I am freaking out! What a track! "Six strings on a twelve guitar, all my dreams are made of stars..." Fucking Brilliant! "The faces change but the dreams the same..." All I can say is WOW! The references to Unbreak the Promise..."I tore it down to build it up..." All the Alarm references...so cool!
Okay, now I am listening to a KICK ASS version of Shine On...I've never heard this version...it ROCKS!
Okay, 21st Century Radio is now my favorite web radio station!
Whew, a live version of 68 guns..something I'm at least familiar with...I can get back to reviewing the new tracks now that I am not so distracted...
The Rock and Roll track was great. A departure from the similar sound of Close and Contenders. So far Rock and Roll is my favorite track, but perhaps it is because it is a reaffirmation of Mikes' vision...His epic promise that will not be undone...his undieing rock and roll mission that refuses to run out of steam or falter despite the ever-changing nature of the business...Mike and the Alarm 2002 ROCK and a new generation of fans are about to experience the SOUND and FURY.
Okay, Contenders is playing again...On a second listening, I am hearing a little David Bowie "heroes" in the mix, especially in the guitar lines...The drums and bass are definitely U2 influenced. Mikes' melodies in this song sound like Joshua Tree-era Bono, but I think that is a good thing since I am a big U2 fan as well, I just hate to make such a comment since he must get sick of hearing that comparison all the time.
I'm listening to a track I've never heard before..."I want what the world can't give me tonite" -that's one of the lyrics and the music is very classic rock sounding, complete with extended guitar solos and all....is that some rare Alarm demo I've never heard? Another song I've never heard "Its All Right I'm Only Bleeding" VERY ZEPPELIN sounding...fucking ROCK and ROLL!!! Where are all these songs coming from? Are these Poppyfields tracks? Man, that song rocked my world. Okay...I gotta sign off now. I gotta go write some songs of my own...I read on the website that Mike wrote Sixty+ tracks for these Poppyfields sessions. I counted all the songs I've written in my life (I'm 32 now) and the total is 67...Mike has written as many for his new album as I have in my lifetime! I am in awe of his creativity...Great job Mike. You just never let us fans down. Keep it up mate.

-with respect,
BrianTravis

Vol 1 of 'In the Poppy Fields' Bond has been dispatched first class to
all bondholders. Tracklisting as follows:

In the Poppy Fields: One

Close
Alone Together
In the Beauty of My Surroundings
Right Back Where I Started From
The Rock and Roll

Contenders
All Seeing
The Life You Seek Does Not Exist
With Friends Like You Who Needs Enemies
Swansong

Mike Peters and the band are currently applying the finishing touches
to Vol 2. Thanks to all of you for your incredible support.

Happy Listening

From all at MPO 21st Century

Two new items of interest today:

1. Two new songs have been aded to 21st Century Radio And The Alarm Radio Network. They are In e Beauty Of My Surroundings" and the final version of "Close"

2. We have new discussion forums, that are faster, better, have more features, and are now the OFFICIAL place to discuss The Alarm and related solo projects on the internet. You must re-register to use them, your old forum userid and password will not work.

As the release of Vol 1 of In the Poppy Fields looms ever closer, here's a taster of things to come...

Visit 21st Century Radio now and here two brand new songs: "Contenders" and "The Rock And Roll" Then, email us and tell us what you think!

Later tonight or tomorrow you will also be able to hear the songs on The Alarm Radio Network

After Mike/The Alarm MMII's successful appearance with Luciano Ligabue, Mike Peters has been invited back to Italy next week to play a special concert for peace. This gig will be the peak of the celebrations to remember the Terrorist attack, Mike has been choosen for the positive/pacifist/universal-love songs that he has written in his carreer and for his wide appeal.

11 Sept Reggio Emilia "Festa dell'Unità"
Mike Peters of The Alarm
Concert with strings
The Alarmorchestra
"Festa dell'Unità"
Campovolo
42100 Reggio Emilia


AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN MIKE PETERS AND ITALIAN PRESS

1) Did the twin towers tragedy affected your art? And how? (I
mean, songwriting, projects and so on)

On the morning of September 11, I had begun work on one of the songs for my new album called 'The Normal Rules Do Not Apply'. My wife phoned through to the studio to tell of the terrible events taking place in New York. At first, like everyone, I thought it was an accident but when the phone rang again to tell of another plane hitting the second tower, you knew something seriously terrible was unfolding. We tried to keep working on the song, but once we saw the pictures on the television we all left the studio to be at home with our loved ones. It was a strange day when everything that you had come to rely on suddenly seemed so fragile, the very infrastructure of modern life had come under direct threat and you knew that the world would never be the same again - 'The Normal Rules Do Not Apply'.


2) What is, or should be, the role of artists and art after the
twin towers, and what do you feel is, or should be, yours?

Not long after the eleventh I played at the Knitting Factory in Manhattan which is only two blocks away from where the WTC stood. It was the first time I ever performed 'The Normal Rules Do Not Apply' live, as I spoke about the song and my own experience of that terrible day, a hush came over the crowd who then listened to the song in complete silence. After the show the only song people wanted to talk about was that one and I realised that New York people want to talk about the eleventh, they want the chance to open up about there own experiences, to let their own emotions show and to allow the healing process to begin.

3) What do you think of the reasons that Bin Laden explained in
these months to justify the attack?

One of the tennets in the religion Bin Laden practices is 'Though Shalt Not Kill' or words to that effect.... there is NO justification.

4) What do you think of the American policy towards terrorism?

I think they are doing what they think is right to safeguard the well being of the American people.

5) What do you expect from your show in Reggio Emilia?

I am looking forward to it because it is an opportunity for me to present some very familiar songs in an unfamiliar way. I am also hoping to go and see Ligabue the following day.....

6) What are the main differences between playing in a rock band
and with a small orchestra?

Both are entirely different. In a rock band you are in command of a whole range of forceful dynamics such as volume and rhythm. With the orchestra, it is much more subtle and is driven more by the lyrics and the melody alone. The dynamics can be found in the silences that amplify the drama of the song or the pauses that highlight the narrative in the vocals.

7) Are you happy with what you’ve done so far as an artist?

Totally, I would not change one day, one lyric, one chord, one concert, one album. All have had their part to play in my musical life which I still enjoy as much today as I did yesterday.

Mike Peters and The Alarm MMII - 'In The Poppy Fields'

'In The Poppy Fields' - The first album of new material in over ten years to
bear The Alarm hallmark will feature some 50 brand new recordings which will
be released at monthly intervals via a unique bond / subscription service,
the 'In The Poppy Fields Bond'.

Beginning on September 21st 2003 and available only via www.thealarm.com and
The Alarm Information Service on the Twenty First Century Recording Label.
Mike Peters and The Alarm MMII will release not one, but four albums over
the course of the next six months culminating with the official release of
'In The Poppy Fields' at The Gathering on January 24 /25 2003. Bond holders
will also receive a special exclusive 'mystery' collectors CD in December
2002!!

Each of the first three releases will feature a principal track taken from
the 'In The Poppy Fields' album with nine other brand new recordings. The
first release 'Close' has been produced by Mike Peters & co-written with
OColoursound¹ guitarist Billy Duffy and described as a restless new wave
post-modern anthem featuring impassioned Mike Peters' vocals and guitars
that recall the sonic echo of OUnsafe Building¹.

In another ground breaking move, a special website,
www.inthepoppyfields.com has been created by Mike Peters to document the
entire recording process from beginning to end. Entry codes to areas of the
website will be given out with each release [to bond holders only]. The
website will also allow fans to download additional demos, outtakes and live
recordings to further supplement their 'In The Poppy Fields' collection.

Bond holders will also receive advance email notification of secret 'In The
Poppy Fields' happenings and have the opportunity to exclusively interview
Alarm lead singer and founding member Mike Peters.

Close can be heard now at www.21stcenturyradio.tv

The OIn The Poppy Fields Bond¹ is available now priced UK £45.00 / US $68 /
¤72 plus p&p [5 items]

Order now at www.thealarm.com or telephone 011 44 [0] 1745 571571.

---

Mike Peters & The Alarm MMII - In The Poppy Fields
Subscribe To The 'In The Poppy Fields Bond'



Your passport to the creative process with Mike Peters & The Alarm MMII

Subscribe To The 'In The Poppy Fields Bond' and save £/$/¤¹s on all 4 [four] Poppy Fields releases and receive a 'Free¹ mystery CD

Save over £10 off the total price of all individual Poppy Fields CD releases and receive a Œfree¹ mystery CD by subscribing to the ŒŒIn the Poppy Fields Bond¹.

From 21.09.02 and continuing on a monthly basis thereafter, bond holders will receive 5 brand new CD Releases from Mike Peters & The Alarm MMII

The first three releases will feature one principal track from the forthcoming ŒIn The Poppy Fields¹ album plus nine brand new tracks.

A Œmystery¹ bonus CD will be issued on December 2002 [available exclusively to bond holders only].

A limited edition - signed - Œproducers cut¹ double CD of the brand new studio album ŒIn The Poppy Fields¹ will then follow on January 20th 2003.

Totalling over 50 brand new recordings, the ŒIn The Poppy Fields Bond¹ also provides you with an entry code which allows unlimited free access to www.inthepoppyfields.com
[a website created personally by Mike Peters and featuring recording diaries, exclusive interviews and free downloads of demo tapes, outtakes and live tracks].

In addition bond holders will receive their CD¹s one week ahead of all individual release dates plus advance notification of secret ŒIn The Poppy Fields¹ happenings.

The ŒIn The Poppy Fields Bond¹ is available now priced UK £45.00 / US $68 / ¤72 plus p&p [5 items]

Order now at www.thealarm.com or telephone 011 44 [0] 1745 571571.


Close by Mike Peters & The Alarm MMII will be release one available from September 21st 2002.

Close is the first of three releases to precede the forthcoming brand new studio album ŒIn The Poppy Fields¹

Close is taken from the forthcoming album 'In The Poppy Fields' - Release date: 25.01.2003

Close is available to order now priced UK £12.99 / US$20 / ¤20 all plus p&p
Tel: 011 44 [0] 1745 571571 or visit @ www.thealarm.com



Close
CLOSE: RELEASE ONE OF FOUR : 21.09.2002
10 TRACKS ON LTD. EDITION CD

CLOSE
ALONE TOGETHER
CONTENDERS
RIGHT BACK WHERE I STARTED FROM
THE BEAUTY OF MY SURROUNDINGS
THE LIFE
ALL
NO RETURN
SWAN SONG
CLOSER

[Close can be heard now at www.21stcenturyradio.tv]

---

In The Poppy Fields Day With Mike Peters



Be amongst the first to hear OIn The Poppy Fields¹ the brand new album by
Mike Peters and The Alarm.

To be held on Saturday October 19th at The Faenol Fawr Country Hotel,
Bodelwyddan near Rhyl, North Wales.

In The Poppy Fields Day will feature a unique Olive¹ performance of the new
album by Mike Peters mixed using a special quadrophonic surround sound audio
system.

In The Poppy Fields Day will also feature OoRCHESTRaLARM¹ - a unique
acoustic performance of Alarm classics by Mike Peters and The Alarm
Orchestra.

OIn The Poppy Fields Day¹ promises to be an intimate 12 hour day in the
company of Mike Peters.

A strictly limited amount of tickets are available now priced UK £20.00.

To book your tickets telephone 011 44 [0] 1745 571571 or visit
www.thealarm.com

Alarm Information Service
MPO 21st Century Recording Label
P.O. Box 709 Prestatyn Denbighshire LL19 9YR Wales UK
Tel 011 44 (0) 1745 571571 Fax 011 44 (0)1745 571577
E mail mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk
www.thealarm.com

---

HOW DID THE IDEA FOR THE RESISTANCE TOUR COME ABOUT?
I had this idea for a kind of British version of say
the Travelling Wilburys, or a Crosby, Stills, Nash &
Young, coming out of my generation, and for a year or
so I approached various people like Pete Wylie, and it
took a bit of time to sink in for people. But in 2000
The Alarm and Spear Of Destiny went on tour together
in Britain, an it was on that tour I got talking
properly with Kirk Brandon and was able to explain the
idea over a few days and Kirk came on board straight
away, then Pete Wylie came to the gig in Liverpool
that we were playing and we press-ganged him into it,
and then Glenn Matlock came to the London show and we
got him in too!

I suppose the idea behind the Dead Men Walking project which features
myself Pete, Kirk, and Glenn was just showing that there is a lot of strength in unity,
and that by working togehter we can reach out to each
others' audiences and start to turn around all those
sort of nasty pre-conceptions that people have about
us because we're associated with a certain era. So all
of a sudden if we go out together Spear Of Destiny
fans who always thought they didn't really likeTthe
Alarm suddenly started to realise that they do like
us, and they only thought they didn't like it because
the press said it was no good - and when we were
younger we used to believe what they wrote in the NME!


But now people are finding things out for themselves
and Alarm fans are getting into Pete Wylie and Spear
Of Destiny and everything. The other great thing is
that it means that people - I think that thoughout the
nineties for example, Alarm fans have followed me and
my work in kind of isolation - but now those people
are meeting SpearOf Destiny fans at gigs and finding
that they've done the same journey but with Kirk
Brandon and the audiences have so much in common -
it's kind of a rock and roll Friends Reunited really!

One of the great things for us in Britain as The Alarm
was that we got to do a tour with Big Country and a
lot of their audience come to the shows as a result of
the relationships we made during that tour. In fact
Stuart Adamson was someone we were hoping to involve
in Dead Men Walking at some stage, but sadly we
couldn't reach out to him enough before he took his
own life... but we're all going to take part in
Stuart's testimonial if you like on the 31st of May.

So that's really how it all came about and by meeting
with Pete and obviously all talking about how we feel
an isolation as artists, and all that we've all had to
endure at the mercy of labels, and the inefficiency of
labels in their dealings with artists of our calibre
and nature, and Pete was articulating this idea of it
as the resistance - as a sort of theory, and I suppose
we were all articulating it ourselves anyway by
starting our own labels and dealing with our own fans
and so on, so it was a case of 'right let's put into
action the results of all our practices and our
theories' and the idea of The Resistance Tour is to go
out and play small places and to show that we can
actually make it work. In that way people can get to
see us close, and we can create a spread of ideas, we
can communicate what is a good idea in a small
environment - rather than tring to do it on a massive
scale where no-one really gets the point.

It's really the result of us all having been inspired
by, and having grown up with, punk rock; how that
started as a small acorn and for a year, before it
exploded in the tabloids, it was the greatest thing we
ever had. The myth of punk rock is that it was all
nihilism and black leather jackets and 'no future' but
when you were involved in it it was about the complete
opposite; it was about setting you free, creating your
own identity, making your own opportunities and
expressing yourself, though clothes, through fanzines,
through starting your own record label, and through
1976 and 1977 that was what punk was really all about
- not the kind of tribal, kind of gothic, black
leather look that the tabloids picked up on...

DO YOU FEEL THEN THAT THINGS HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE FOR
YOU?
In some ways absolutely yeah, and I think that in some
ways a lot of the audience have come full circle as
well. I know that a lot of our generation of fans -
the ones who grew up with The Alarm as their first
band if you like; a lot of the fans who saw us and had
their first ever experience at a rock concert - a lot
of that generation by the nineties might have had
children or were trying to establish themselves in
careers or whatever, which didn't allow them the time
or the space to go out and see their bands and at the
same time all of a sudden they dropped out of the
media target area for advertisers so it became very
hard to effectively promote your tours.

We all had to reinvent ways to get back to our
audience and making that connection, and I think that
full circle thing has happened to a lot of our
generation who've grown up now and maybe have children
who are old enough to babysit the other kids and so
they can go out again - and they turn on the radio and
they think 'what's happened to Radio One?!" or they go
through their old records and think 'we used to love
going to see The Alarm, where are they now?' and then
they click on the website and it's all still there for
them, they come back to us and realise there's a whole
world going on. One by one they come back into the
fold and hopefully they'll be back in for life!

HOW IMPORTANT HAS THE INTERNET BEEN IN REINVENTING THE
WAY YOU WORK?
It's been a lifeline for me - I was lucky to become
involved very early on. I actually used to work in
computers in 1976 before The Alarm, so I had a
grounding in it - in fact we used to run a very basic
sort of email thing in about '86, '87 when we were on
tour in America and we used to communicate with Wasted
Talent, our agency in London, with a little box that
we had which was very primitive - in fact I think we
only got it to work about twice - but I always
retained an interest in it.

When the original line-up of The Alram closed down in
1991, I started to carry on making music on my own and
I got a computer - a very early Mac to help me, and
then I started surfing about on the internet as it was
then, seeing what was going on, and I started to meet
fans over the internet and they said 'let's start a
chat group', 'let's start a website', 'let's put out
some information about The Alarm', and all of a sudden
from being an artist that didn't have a record deal or
anything like that I'd been given a voice to all those
fans I'd made through all those years of touring and I
was able to stay in touch with fans in Japan, and
America, and Europe even though I didn't have the
machinery to get over there as often as I could when I
had the backing of a major label.

Through being crative I have been able to build an
infrastrcture where I can now tour around the world
with or without record comapny backing... I've got The
Alarm's catalogue back, and I adminster all of that,
and I've been able to make all sorts of music over the
past ten years that has sort of set me free as an
artist.

I realised how limiting it is when we were in The
Alarm from 1981 to 1990, I realised how limiting that
actually was. If you'd ever wanted to make a solo
record in those days it was seen as being the death of
the band, whereas now I've learnt that some music is
meant to be small, some music can stand being put
through the mincer and being sent to radio and all
that, some music is strong enough to take that, but
some music is just meant to be played between you and
a small audience and I think I've learned to project
those ideas in the size that they were intended, and
because you've got a website you can communicate the
size of the idea, that not every release has to be the
big statement in your development as an artist, and
I've been able to go back to things... I did a
retrospective - I just went back to all the songs I
wrote as The Alarm and just did them on an acoustic
guitar and put them out to the audience and I think
that changed people's opinions of The Alarm because
they were able to listen to the music as a lyric and a
set of chords as opposed to in a concert with all the
fire and brimstone, and the haircuts, and all the
things that people didn't like about the band!

So as well as developing as an artist and putting out
new songs, and developing as a writer, I think I've
also been able to bring the past along with me and
actually to marry the two together which is why we
have The Alarm 2002 as the vehicle to portray The
Alarm from then in the modern era alongside the stuff
I do now and to see that they all stand together and
that they all come from the sameplace.

GIVEN ALL OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, WHAT IS NOW YOUR
DEFINITION OF SUCCESS?
Being here right now talking to you. Being able to
make music in the way that I intended as a young gun
in The Alarm, and that's it. Going back through to the
very earliest interviewsI did, I always used to get
asked 'how long will you keep going?' and it was
always 'as long as I'm enjoying it' and I still am
enjoying it, and that is successs for me.

ARE YOU ENJOYING IT MORE?
Absolutely. So much more - you know you're not dealing
with... I was going to say wankers...

I THINK YOU CAN SAY THAT!
I'm now dealing with my audience on a day to day basis
and it's so liberating. I'm not having to go through a
journalist to communicate with my fans - I mean I'm
doing this now between you and I and that's great -
but now I can actually do things direct to the
audience and it takes all the stress out of it. I can
put a record out when I want to do it, in the form
that I want to do it, so through the website and the
internet I can be as powerful as Sony if I want to be
I really can, and that's why I don't need them to be
backing me as an artist. If they want to get involved
then that might be something to consider, but I don't
need them in the way that I had to have them there in
the 80s...

SO IF THEY WANTED TO GET INVOLVED NOW IT WOULD HAVE TO
BE ON YOUR TERMS RATHER THEN THEIRS?
Exactly. I think that the industry is having to look
at artists like The Alarm, and Marillion, and bands
like that who have very active fanbases, very healthy
record sales, and obvious international careers where
there's no funding coming in, and there's no marketing
resource there in the same way that you get from being
a label.

I think that they waste so much of their marketing
budgets on things that don't matter and they really
don't know how to build a band up from the ground up
any more. That has completely disappeared from the
record industry. Labels don't talk to the bands and
their managements about how they should be handled -
it's just a case of 'we know best' and they don't and
it's a tragedy for young bands coming through... I
help out a number of bands up here and I try to steer
them, and I always try to warn them off!

I think the music industry now is a pop industry full
stop, it doesn't mean music at all, but I do think
that there's a sea change coming, and I do think
they're going to have to realise that they've got to
develop acts for the middle youth - which is how I
would describe my crowd!

But you see so much snobbery in the music industry -
Imean even with programmes like Jools Holland you can
just tell that it's such a plugged programme.
Audiences are very intelligent now - they're so used
to living in a marketing world and landscape where
everything you look at is an advert for something that
they can tell. They switch off from these programmes
because they know they're seeing a formula and they
know it's driven by pluggers, not driven by passion.
There's not one music programme in the medai that's
driven by passionate people who would respond to the
passion of a Pete Wylie say, who would say 'well he
might not look 'right', but he's a fantastic song
writer and he's written classic songs in all his
era's', because he's not on Sony or anyone so he's
just not going to get a shot - it's a tragedy.

This all brings me back to The Resistance Tour,
because it's great to be creating our own
opportunities - we've set up our on internet radio
station for the tour, and it's all goes back to what
we all started at the beginning - Pete Wylie and The
Mighty Wah!, when I met him in the street outside
Erics in Liverpool in 1976 he talked about being in a
band one day and he actually went out and did it, and
he did his own label 'Eternal' and brought Black
through it, but then he had to sell the label to keep
going, but he actually put his actions into practise!
I wrote about him in the song 'Spirit Of '76', the
line 'Pete, he's seen his dreams come true' is about
Pete Wylie... he actually made his dreams come true,
he didn't just sit around and wait for some guy to
come along and tap him on the shoulder and say 'hey
boy, come along, you're going to be a star', he went
out and did it himself and he's still doing it now and
I admire that, that he's not given up on being an
artist.

We've all been in bands with people who've given up
when there's no gravy-train any more, which is why
none of us is really playing with the original
line-ups any more because that's what happens, and
when that success stops it tests their integrity, and
it tests their belief and their commitment to the
cause. That's partly why we want to go back and play
all these small venues - which we could all fill on
our own - but the idea is to have all three of us in
each place to show that we are real bands and we're
not bothered about fame, about who goes on first and
last, it's about communicating the idea that we're all
still alive and kicking... to quote Simple Minds!

WILL THERE BE MORE TOURS ALONG THESE LINES - MAYBE NOT
EVEN WITH THIS SET OF BANDS...
When we were all in the first generations of our
careers we all used to look at those sixties package
tours from the generation before, and think 'no way,
we never want to do that!" forgetting that we all grew
up on the 'White Riot' tour and the 'Anarchy' tour - I
mean the 'Anarchy' tour was Sex Pistols, The Clash,
and The Damned it was just phenomenal, and when you
get older people seem to think that it's just pipes
and slippers time and it just isn't! The idea of a
package tour came from the first things I ever saw;
going to see the Sex Pistols and going to see the
'White Riot' tour - which was incredible, it was The
Clash, Subway Sect, and The Buzzcocks and it was
amazing - and so I think it's great for bands t
double-up or triple-up because there's a power to it,
there's an excitement for the audience and it keeps
you on your toes as a band as well - there's the
school of thought that it can only be cool if it's by
18-year olds and if it's by 40-year olds it's just ike
cabaret... and that's just bollocks!

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU, AFTER THE RESISTANCE TOUR?
I've got a new album that we've been creating for the
last few months and we're trying to do something quite
different with that; it was almost going to come out
on the tour, but I realised that with the idea behind
The Resistance Tour and what we're trying to do with
it, an album would just get lost, so I'm going to hold
the album back and put it out over the summer.

We're going to put it out in new way, there's a new
concept for the release... instead of it coming out
and you promote it and that's it, we're going to do
all the promotion leading up to it. Over the last few
years - when I've really started combining my work of
twenty years rather than just playing my most recnt
two or three years worth of material live - I realised
that what made some of The Alarm's songs big was that
they were actually physically released as singles, and
people were then able to focus on them for a month
before they got them in the context of an album.

What I'm going to do for the new album is to actually
put out three - maybe even four - virtual singles
before the album comes out. When I describe them as
virtual singles - you will be able to actually
physically buy them, but they won't go to shops, they
won't be in Woolworths, they won't qualify for the top
forty, but they'll have a lead cut that I can send to
radio if I want, and spread around as something to
focus on from the new record, but I can put ten tracks
on it if I want, or twenty, and have some live things
and some stuff spread out from the past twenty
years... So we're going to put these three of four
virtual singles out to focus people on the main
tracks, to lead up to the album which will come out
when I feel that we've created enough awareness. It's
sitting here ready to go really, so I'll probably
start by communicating the ideas during The Resistance
Tour, and the first release will be in June or July,
but it'll probably all start on The Resistance Tour's
online radio station during the tour, and will
probably be played live on the tour, and building it
up as a way of focussing people.

I feel I've made one of the best records of my life
and I'm not ashamed to say that, and I think that it
will stand up to scrutiny. I've even built a whole
website to document the whole recording process and
with each release people will be allowed to get into
another section so it'll build up a full picture.

it's kind of like a timed release of the whole project
as opposed to what the music industry does; they've
got us all conditioned to thinking that an album comes
out one week and that's it and they move on to the
next one, but I want to have a period of my life where
we're promoting this record and all the songs that go
with it so that nothing gets lost, and to give people
time to get into certain songs - the 1984 Alarm album
'Declaration' came out after four singles and when
people go the album they already had the little
markers in palce to help them get the whole album... I
also think that CDs are too long to get into
comfortably - most albums are 60 minutes long these
days which is too long, and I have an idea to split
this album over two CD's so people actually have to
take a break. It's all a question of putting in some
love, care, and detail in because that's all gone from
the record industry today.

SAUNTERING on to the stage like the old pro he is, ex-Alarm guitarist Dave Sharp cut an eye-catching figure in his black PVC waistcoat and medallion.

He launched into his set and, with his two guitars and harmonica, he was truly a one-man band, the archetypal wandering musician.

Switching between acoustic and electric guitar, he varied the pace and kept things interesting. A mixture of rock, folk and blues, his electric style has no doubt been enhanced by his recent extended residence in New Orleans.

Every travelling trucker's favourite, Sharp might have been alone up there, but he created a rocked-out atmosphere much larger bands would have been proud of.

The Complete Coloursound Collection
Twenty First Century Recordings (21C022,23,24) Three CD'S

Coloursound, the brainchild of Mike Peter's of The Alarm, Billy Duffy of The Cult, Craig Adams of the Mission/Sisters of Mercy, was bried flicker whose flame appears to have gone out. As someone who saw them live, I can say its a damn shame. Formed sometime in 1998, they toured extensively and released one full-length album that barely made a splash and never received Stateside release. Now it seems Duffy is back with The Cult full time, while Peters in concentratin on The Alarm. Coloursound were best described as The Cult with better Lyrics and vocals, and that description is spot-on. The three cd set represents the complete Coloursound recordings, and it's a stunning collection. Disc one is the 1999 Coloursound debut but in a remixed (for the better) form. "Under the Sun" kicks off the CD with a blistering riff from Duffy and tears down the walls in the same tradition as "Love Removal Machine." "State of Independence" is a showcase for the lyrical talents of Peters, while "Heavy Rain" showcases bassist Adams. "View from a Different Window" is a highlight with a huge chorus built over a great rhythm guitar line. There is a giant Cult-like break in "Alive" and another one in "Fade In Fade Out Fade Away," althogh they are both so good one can forgive the lifts. This disc closes with two highlights of the collection-a live Alarm cover, "Strength", along with a cover of The Cult's "She Sells Sanctuay," neither of which ar on the original release.

Disc two almost makes disc one pale in comparision, featuring 18 demos that have alternate riffs and lyrics and do-it-yourself urgency that make most of the tracks even more memorable than their fully produced counterparts. "Heavy Rain," "Under the Sun," "Alive," and "Fade In Fade Out Fade Away" were originally released as a limited edition EP of demo tracks and are all outstanding. "Time," "Revolver" and "Live Through You" are such good songs one wonders why they didn't make the cut on the original album, though "Starlight' is forgettable and closest thing to a clunker on the three discs.

Disc three features 11 of the album tracks in a acoustic form, and one track, "The Candle That Burns the Brightes (Is the first to go Out)," that is not available elsewhere. The acoustic material is all solid, but after the demos on disc two, it falls a bit short. This cd closes with four additional demo versions of "Fountainhead," "For the Love Of," "View From a Different Window" and "This Life," produced by Bob Rock, giving a hint of just how Cult these songs could have been. Disc three is the only disc that gives some clues as the timeline of this band, with some recording diary for the original sessions. I only wish such detailed insight was available on all the discs. Overall this is an indispensible collection for fans of The Cult and The Alarm and a real showcase for the talents of all involved. (www.coloursound.com)
- Brian Sherman

Afraid we have some bad news on the Aberdeen show scheduled for Thursday
night (15th August).

For reason's best known to themselves, the venue has cancelled the show.

Dave is extremely disappointed as after the welcome he received in Glasgow
on Saturday
he has been really looking forward to the remainder of his Scottish dates.

Shows in Portmahomcak on 13th & in Inverness on 14th August go ahead as
planned.

Resd a < href=http://www.efestivals.co.uk/estage/0112a/review.shtml> review of The Dead Men Walking from their Sunday 4th November 2001 show.

Photos from The Alarm 2002, Stadio Olimpico, Roma, July 15th, 2002 below:

The Alarm -- Declaration
I.R.S.
As Published in the March 1984


A lot of people are going to be put off the The Alarm, either because of their silly hair, or their rah-rah idealism. Those people are wrong. The Alarm are big. The Alarm are important. And on their new album Declaration (I.R.S.) is not only good, it's going to be the next major crossover on the order of U-Know-Who. Of course The Alarm do have silly hair, but I think that it's a manifestation of their philosophical outlook and their music. The Alarm are a combination of punk power and hippie idealism. And so is their hair. 'Nuff said.

While a lot of bands have tried to combine the '60s and '70s, none of them have been as successful as The Alarm. Musically, their secret is that they draw on Punk and then temper it with an acoustic sound while avoiding the wimpiness usually associated with folk. Lyrically, it works because they avoid Punk nihilism and concentrate more on positive personal politics. My only problem there is that many songs are about "us vs. them" without ever defining who "them" is. But when The Alarm's influences come together with a resounding clash, the results (and the bottom line) are great songs. The winner is the refurbished "Marching On," slowed down a bit, but with a new twist: Dave Sharp's Townshend-like acoustic guitar playing. There are others "68 Guns" is old to us but will run over A.O.R. and MTV ears, "We Are The Light," "Blaze of Glory" and the awesome set-closer "Howling Wind," which wraps up The Alarm's philosophy as neatly as "Marching On" declares it. This is rock and roll at its very finest and U2, R.E.M. and the rest are going to have to work very hard to top it.

--Jim Connelly

P.S. I still don't like their hair!!!

Pop Matter's Review Of The Alarm 2000 Greateast Hits Live

Alan Fahrner's Review of the Coloursound EP.

Read a a hef=http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/2001-04-18/vibes_recrev.html> review of the Alarm 2000 boxed set from Creative Loafing.

Read a review of the first Coloursound album from The Phantom Tollbooth.

Fresh from a successful trip to Italy where Mike Peters and the band performed to over 70,000 people per night in San Siro, Milan (2 nights) and Olimpico Stadium, Rome, The Alarm MMII made a welcome return to Sessiwn Fawr, Dolgellau, North Wales (their previous much talked about appearance took place in 1998) where they rocked the patriotic Alarm crowd with a mixture of classics including the forthcoming brand new single 'Close'. Also appearing at the festival and making it one to remember were Paul Young and The Levelllers!

Mike and the band will be taking a well earned break from touring as they prepare for the release of 3 singles between now and The Gathering (Peters' own Alarm Festival which takes place in Llandudno, North Wales every January and attracts 1500 music fans from all over the UK and the rest of the world) For more info, visit www.thealarm.com

N. Wales Press, July 2002

Sessiwn Fawr, Dolgellau Photos Below:

Paul Young has been added to the bill to play alongside The Alarm MMII and
The Levellers on Sun July 21st. Stage times for Dolgellau (approx) as
follows:

Paul Young 6.15pm
The Alarm MMII 7.15pm
The Levelllers 8.30pm

All accomodation in Dolgellau in sold out for the weekend - an 8000 capacity
audience is expected.

Photos Of The Ligbue Support Tour Below!

Mike Peters And The Alarm 2002 Rome Broadcast
The Alarm 2002 show from rome, July 15th should be webcast at http://www.ligalive.com. Last week, The Alarm 2002 went on at 10:20 PST. Just to be safe, you might want to tune-in 9:00 PST or even ealier to make sure you don't miss anything.

EXCLUSIVE

ONE of the world's biggest rock superstars is being lined up to appear at a North Wales music festival, we can reveal.

Bono, the frontman of the Irish rock band U2, is discussing a secret appearance at the Sesiwn Fawr in Dolgellau, starting on July 19.

Organisers are trying to keep the plans out of the public eye, but last night confirmed that talks are being held on what would be their biggest ever coup.

One of Sesiwn Fawr's founders Ywain Myfyr said talks were taking place with the superstar.

1 Mike Peters, the Dyserth-based singer of The Alarm, is a close friend of the Dublin singer and will be meeting him the night before their appearance in Dolgellau.

Ywain said: "Mike's group, The Alarm, are playing in Dublin the night before they play Y Sesiwn Fawr and it is probable that Bono will be there although we don't know if he'll be appearing on stage with them.

"It is possible that Bono might cross the Irish Sea with The Alarm and make an appearance in Dolgellau the following evening.

"If he comes he'll be more than welcome. We'll just have to wait and see, but it is something that we have discussed with Mike Peters."

Mike Peters is currently in Italy on tour and was unavailable for comment last night. A spokeswoman for Island Records said she had no knowledge of Bono's plans for that weekend.

Music fans, already looking forward to Sesiwn Fawr, said they hoped the rumours were true.

Sian Evans, of Caernarfon, said: "I've heard some whispers about Bono appearing. I hope they are true. It would be a great finale to the weekend."

Definitely appearing at Sesiwn Fawr will be pop singer Paul Young. The former chart-topper will appear on Sunday afternoon with his latest band, Los Pacaminos.
Ywain Myfyr said: "Paul is confirmed as appearing even though he will be in California right up until the start of Sesiwn Fawr."

The Alarm have re-formed especially for an extensive European tour, which includes Sesiwn Fawn. They will share the stage with another specially reformed group, Anweledig, from Blaenau FTestiniog. The band achieved notoriety at Sesiwn Fawr two years ago when two Penllyn farmers did the "Full Monty" during their set.

Also appearing on Sunday evening will be the Morriston Orpheus Male Voice Choir, Richard J Parfitt, chie' vocalist of the 60 Foot Dolls, and the Levellers.

Other international artists appearing include Yat.Kha (Siberia), Berimbrown (Brazil), Cara Dillon (Eire), Mez (Hungary), with Jamaican reggae band Burning Spear making their last ever appearance. Also booked are Fernhill, Soothsayers, Boys of Hill,
Bob Delyn a'r Ebillion, Blue Horses, Kangaroo Moon, Estella, Pigyn Clust and Amigos.

In a new move this year Sesiwn Fawr fans will' have to pay £10 to enter the festival which will be held in a car park rather than on stages located in Dolgellau's main square.

Eight thousand tickets have been printed for each of the three days and are selling well.

erylcrump@dailypost.c