The Alarm consists of Dave Sharp (guitarist, vocalist), Eddie Macdonald (bassist), Mike Peters (lead vocalist, guitarist), Nigel Twist (drummer, percussionist).
The Alarm are a Welsh alternative rock band, who were most popular in the 1980s.
Mike Peters: Vocals, Guitars, Harmonica - born Michael L Peters on 25 February 1959, in Prestatyn, Wales. Dave Sharp: Guitars - born on 28 January 1959, in Salford. Eddie MacDonald: Bass - born on 1 November 1959, in St Asaph, Wales. Nigel Twist: Drums - born on 18 July 1958, in Manchester.
The band was formed in Rhyl, Wales in 1977 and was originally called The Toilets, and then Seventeen, which was the age of all of the members within the band. They were subsequently renamed Alarm Alarm. However, lead singer Mike Peters decided to change the name again, because too many bands during the early 1980s had redundant names, such as The The and Duran Duran. An early member of the band was Karl Wallinger, who later founded World Party.
The band toured extensively through the United States and Europe through the 1980s into 1991. They gained much popularity in 1983 as they were the opening act during U2's War Tour, and The Alarm were often compared musically to U2. Despite their success, and relative longevity, after the release of Raw in 1991, The Alarm disbanded.
Later, lead singer, Mike Peters, re-organized the group again with different members, including Craig Adams (ex The Sisters of Mercy, The Mission, The Cult) and Steve Grantley of Stiff Little Fingers, and released the In the Poppy Fields CD in 2004. The lead off single reached the Top 40, on indie Snapper Music, after the band credited the track to The Poppyfields and got a younger band to front the single in their video. However the second single, credited to the Alarm, charted a few places lower than the 40.
