The MPO/The Alarm, have a new mailing list that will eventually replace this one. Because the MPO has had so many lists over the years, they would like to try to update their information, and increase their ability to get the most important news and information about The Alarm/Mike Peters to you as soon as possible, by making one, new, list of all interested fans.

To do this, they have subscribed to a new mail system named Mail Chimp, and they would like you to sign-up for it. Because they know that your time is precious, the are offering an amazing prize to a couple select individuals who sign-up...an Living Room Concert! That's right, 2 people will be chosen to have Mike Peters come and play a concert in their home!! All you have to do is go the http://www.thealarm.com and click-on the graphic that sends you to the Mail Chimp sign-up. Fill out the form, and you are entered! Good Luck!

Sign-up here!

The Music Minded Blog has posted a new interview with Mike Peters:

Q: Some of the faster ones, like "Cease & Desist," "Superchannel" almost have a punk edge. It’s like getting back to the early days of the Alarm in a way.
A: That’s right. That’s what we’ve been able to do with this band is reconnect with the original energy that kicked the band off. In the ‘80s, because of circumstance and the way things went, we got lugged into being compared to U2 more often than not. We got thrown in with that U2/Simple Minds/Big Country thing. Really, the Alarm’s roots were much more of a punk rock band. When we first came out, we were seen as a punk rock band with acoustic guitars that sounded like The Clash meets Bob Dylan. Being led by me solely these days that comes out more in the music than the echo-drenched sound we ended up with in the mid-80s. Dave’s guitar style with the delay unit. Also U2 started to play harmonicas and acoustic guitars and wear cowboy hats. There were a lot of things incestuous from the days of us playing a lot of shows together. U2 brought us to America, so we were always grateful for that. They’re an amazing band, but I never understood why we got compared to them.

Read The Full Interview

In my latest 80's music blog, I cover a couple artists from the 80's: Mike Peters (our hero), and Mitch Easter (REM producer and power-pop craftsman with The Alarm's I.R.S. Label mates Let’s Active) who have found the current record industry climate POSITIVE for their ability to make, market, and sell music. This story includes an extensive interview with Mitch Easter I conducted over the past 2 days.

Read about Mike and Mitch here: http://www.8bitrocket.com/newsdisplay.aspx?newspage=10635

-Steve Fulton

Mike Peter's anniversary celebration for the Apr. 12 1986 UCLA gig is today! I'll be back wit ha full report later today, but I have to say this: I have not been more excited about a Mike Peters' gig in years. There is something about the 1986 show that sticks out as one of the most significant days in my life, and returning 22 years later will be very interesting.

As the web master for this site for the past decade I have periodically (but not often) used this forum to express my views about music in general. However, it was never really the proper place. That is why I have started a new blog named: "Forgotten Heroes Of The Teflon Decade: 80's Guitar Rock" where I plan to cover all my favorites from the 80's and lobby for their significance in the pantheons of rock history. While this blog will not be solely about The Alarm, they will feature prominently. I have already featured The Alarm in the first two entries, and the next entry will be about today's UCLA gig.

If you are interested, please click over to read:

www.sunshine-radio.net
THE ROCK SHOW ON SUNSHINE RADIO -- SUNDAY 6PM-9PM -- March 9th.
This week featuring Mike Peters of The Alarm plus The Tokyo Dragons and Killing for Company live!

The Alarm frontman Mike Peters talks to Jeff Collins about the band’s influential and highly successful career.
Spanning 25 years, millions of album sales and worldwide hit singles such as Spirit of ’76, Strength and 68 Guns, the Alarm have made a huge impact on the world of rock.
Tune in from 6pm to hear Mike talk about - among other things - the band’s early days, the huge success the Alarm enjoyed during the 80’s and 90’s and his fascinating meetings with the likes of Bob Dylan and Neil Young.
(Next week - March 16th - Mike will tell the Rock Show about the current projects he’s working on with the Alarm)


Jeff’s previous guests on the Rock Show have included Black Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice, Fish, Paul Carrack, Stuart Cable, Paul Rodgers, Richie Edwards from The Darkness, Marillion’s Mark Kelly, ELP’s Keith Emerson and Whitesnake’s Neil Murray, Geoff Downes (from Yes and Asia) and Yes and King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford.
Listen Online at www.sunshine-radio.net .

Please note: To avoid confusion, please select the 106.2 and the 107 streams (not the 855,054 or 1530 AM streams).


Email jeff.collins@sunshine-radio.net
The interview with Mike Peters will go out in three parts from 6pm-9pm on Sunday. Each segment will start with an Alarm song have a 4-5 min clip of Mike in the middle and end with an Alarm track. These section will start every hour after the advert break at around 15 past the hour. It can be heard through our website on www.sunshine-radio.net <http://www.sunshine-radio.net> .

“Not everyone realises that although Jeremy Beadle died of pneumonia, he had the same leukaemia as me,” said Peters, who has chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and still has his “chemo cocktail” treatment once every two months.
“Initially he had a kidney tumour and not long after he was diagnosed with CLL, and that was around the same time I was diagnosed.
“It was a bit frightening to see someone not pull through, but more frightening for my family than for myself because I know how strong I feel at the moment.


Read the full story here:
Jeremy Beadle’s death frightened my family’

Competition Winners!

Thanks to the great response to the XFM Stuart Cable competition for tomorrow's rugby match Wales V Italy

The competition winners are MPO members:

Martyn Suter + 1
Alan and Elaine Morgan

Congratulations and have a great day!


MPO Team

Alarm Information Service

Tel: 011 44 (0)1745 571571

Fax: 011 44 (0)1745 571577

Email mpo@alarmpo.demon.co.uk

www.thealarm.com

PO Box 709, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, LL19 9YR, Wales, UK

MPO is excited to announce a great competition in conjunction with Stuart Cable (formerly of Stereophonics). MPO has two pairs of tickets to give away! Your chance to watch the rugby in a secret pub in Cardiff, free booze and the company of Stuart cable’s Saturday show.

To enter this competition, you need to have purchased tickets to see Mike Peters on March 1st at the Point in Cardiff.

Please email mpo@alarmpo.demon.co..uk and mark your email ‘Stuart Cable’. Please include your name, address and daytime contact number. The winners of the competition will be contacted this Friday after 5pm.

Here is very interesting blog post from Derek Bell at over at Stevens Point Journal. It echos some of the sentiment from my 2005 post about The Alarm and U2. Close, The Alarm, And U2: The Words I've Been Holding In For Too Long.

Here is an excerpt from Derek's post::


For what was once the journey of rock and roll brethren, on a mission to recapture the "passion" that had disappeared through the early 80's new wave invasion, the moment Bono alerted the crowd at Red Rocks, at the beginning of "Sunday Bloody Sunday," that they intended on changing the world, the Alarm, became the best band that "didn't."


Read the rest here: http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/includes/newspaper/blogs/bell/2008/01/this-song-is-not-rebel-song.html

This is the first in a series about You. Send us your photos of you with an Alarm poppy from anywhere in the world (your hometown, downtown, capitol building, famous landmark, on vacation, at the Neil Diamond concert…any where).

The first entry is from Alarm fan Dave Spragg:

A great story on the Gathering:

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/01/28/roll-on-number-1
7-another-fantastic-gathering-for-alarm-frontman-mike-55578-20401284/

I've just got back after a 3-hour drive from Llandudno, and easily two of the best gigs I've ever been to.

I'm an 18 year old student, so I haven't been an Alarm/Mike Peters fan for as long as some. I first saw the band when they supported Status Quo a few years ago, and they instantly became my favourite band (they blew the Quo away!).

Friday night's acoustic set was full of older songs from the 80s, and I loved hearing so many of the classic tracks that I've never heard live before. Eye of the Hurricane, Majority and the medley of favourites in the middle of Moments In Time at the end of the set were particular highlights for me. The reaction from the crowd when Mike ripped into Declaration after singing "We were playing those guitars at a frantic pace" was electrifying. Me and a friend managed to get a spot right underneath Mike's mic on the "South side" so it was even more special!

Saturday night was even better. Being a slightly newer fan, Under Attack has always been my favourite Alarm album, and I've really loved the Counter Attack EPs that have been arriving throughout the year. I still think most of this music sounds much fresher than all the other supposedly new 'young' bands out there.

The set started off brilliantly with the band exploding into Three Sevens Clash, one of my favourite songs, followed closely by Where Were You Hiding, Fight Back and Absolute Reality. An absolutely storming start which set the tone for the night. The energy just did not let up from there, and for just under 3 hours the band were on top form. The first portion of the set was made up mostly of newer songs from Under Attack and Counter Attack (with The Deceiver thrown in for good measure!). Blaze of Glory closed the first part of the set after 45 mins, the first time I've heard it played in the middle of set (ever since I've been a fan, it's always been at the end). Then the band surprised everyone by moving to a small stage in the middle of the audience that had been left over from Friday night. The boys then played Breathe, Close, RBWISF and 21st Century in a stripped-down style (but still with electric guitars and a small dru m kit).

Mike then returned to the stage, where the band came back with One Step Closer to Home, Hurricane-style. In the last part of the set before the first encore, Strength was played, a song I've never heard played electrically before, and its power was unbelievable. The band then eventually left the stage, coming back on for the first encore and playing some of the favourites like Deeside, Marching On and The Stand. They also played Trafficking, the first time I've ever heard this live. Such a great riff!

The second encore began with 45 RPM and a new punk medley was played, with New Rose, Boredom, God Save the Queen and Sheena Is A Punk Rocker. A rousing Spirit of '76 and Love Hope Strength closed the set and The Gathering in style.

This was my third Gathering, and they've been getting better every year. I just loved hearing the newer songs that I love so much alongside many of the older ones that I haven't heard played electrically before. A perfect combination!

Craig and Steve were as usual on top form, really holding the band together and pushing them on. James in particular was superb, he really hit the solos and just sounded fantastic. Mike was of course, also brilliant, and the energy he showed bounding around the stage was unbelievable. A true inspiration. I'll trying my hardest to be back next year.

Here's a rough set list. I think all the songs are there, but they might be in slightly the wrong order:

THREE SEVENS CLASH
WHERE WERE YOU HIDING WHEN THE STORM BROKE?
FIGHT BACK
ABSOLUTE REALITY
MY TOWN
THE DECEIVER
HIGHER CALL
KNIFE EDGE
WAR SONG
CEASE AND DESIST
I NEVER LEFT I ONLY WENT AWAY
THE ALARM CALLING
BLAZE OF GLORY

BREATHE
CLOSE
RIGHT BACK WHERE I STARTED FROM
INTO THE 21ST CENTURY

ONE STEP CLOSER TO HOME
THE DRUNK AND THE DISORDERLY
SUPERCHANNEL
STRENGTH
RAIN IN THE SUMMERTIME
RESCUE ME
SOLD ME DOWN THE RIVER
WITHOUT A FIGHT

DEESIDE
MARCHING ON
THE STAND
TRAFFICKING
68 GUNS

45 R.P.M.
NEW ROSE
BOREDOM
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
SHEENA IS A PUNK ROCKER
SPIRIT OF ‘76
LOVE HOPE STRENGTH

Venue Cymru The Promenade Llandudno LL30 1BB - (The Gathering) 7.45pm Saturday 26 January 2008

Westway to the Clash were formed with the sole aim of raising money for different deserving charities. The band is a not for profit organisation. As a founder member of The Alarm, Eddie has openly declared his deepest admiration for Joe and The Clash and comments: 'It is time for me to give something back for the inspiration they gave me in helping me to kick-start my musical career.'

As a founder member and bass player of the Alarm, Eddie Macdonald is delighted to be involved in live music again. He says: ‘The Clash were pioneers and an inspiration to many, their passion and style inspired Mike and I to form The Alarm. I hope Westway can recreate the energy and drive they injected into their live shows and their music in general'.

Westway, are made up of four friends, Greg Horton (drums), Charlie Fowler (bass), Marc Jefferies (guitar & vocals), Eddie Macdonald (guitar & vocals).

Eddie and Westway are proud to offer their support to the 'Love, Hope, Strength Foundation' and to raise as much money as possible - they say: 'Westway is not our job, it's our passion! So join us for a Rock n' Roll Roller-coaster!