The Alarm  

Formed: Rhyl, Wales . . . 1977 as punk band The TOILETS by MIKE PETERS, DAVE SHARP, EDDIE McDONALD and NIGEL TWIST. They became "mod" outfit "17" before the same quartet changed name again to The ALARM in 1981. After one indie 45 on the 'White Cross' label, they signed to Miles Copeland's US based 'I.R.S.' in summer '82. Just over a year later and now living in London, they entered the UK Top 20, not for the last time, with single '68 GUNS'. Compared to The CLASH, but inspired by the earnest passion of U2, the group's music was at odds with the limp synth-pop of the day, attracting fans who were too young to have experienced punk's heyday but still wanted energetic anthems that eschewed clever lyrics for a populist sensibility. Premiered by another banner-waving hit, 'WHERE WERE YOU HIDING WHEN THE STORM BROKE', the debut album, 'DECLARATION', arrived in early '84. Pan of a kind of Celtic triumvirate (completed by Ireland's U2 and Scotland's BIG COUNTRY), The ALARM were essentially a rock extension of the folk tradition, their acoustic rendition of mining ballad (previously recorded by PETE SEEGER and The BYRDS amongst others), 'THE BELLS OF RHYMNEY' hardly seeming out of place. 
As with U2, there was always the possibility of taking things too far down the road of grandiose stadium rock. The ALARM coming perilously close on follow-up set, 'STRENGTH' (1985). Another UK Top 20 hit (it also cracked the US Top 40, where their big sound was much appreciated), the record spawned a further epic Top 20 single in 'SPIRIT OF '76'. That self-same spirit seemed to be lacking on subsequent releases, although the 'CHANGE' album
saw them adopt a more rootsy approach, even looking to their native heritage with the help of a Welsh male choir and The Welsh Symphony Orchestra. Although the band continued to cut little ice with the more snobbish critics, they soldiered on for a final se