MIKE PETERS AND THE ALARM | LIVE REVIEW
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sat 10 Oct
Personal courage in the face of devastating illness. Would you be up to tackling the toughest fight of your life? One man who’s absolutely in it to win is Mike Peters of the Alarm. This night we witnessed a joyous, life-affirming testament to the power of hope and determination, and a love letter to family, friends, fans and Wales.
A director’s cut of his film, Man In The Camo Jacket, premiered – chronicling his journey with cancer over the past 20 years. The singer-songwriter first donned the camouflage body armour during the lymphoma struggle he subsequently beat, but has now twice been diagnosed with leukaemia. The documentary also follows Peters’ towards the dissolve of the original Alarm, his comeback and volunteer work with Love Hope Strength Foundation, the charity he co-founded.
We were also celebrating the 30th anniversary release of Strength, the Alarm’s second album, and the next half was devoted to music. And what a sound it was, delivered with such fervour, not only by one of Wales’ favourite sons, but also by the Welsh Pops Orchestra, and the Acquire and Morriston Orpheus choirs.
Over 20 glorious pieces from the Alarm and Peters’catalogue (many resplendently rearranged by Pops conductor John Quirk) were done and included 68 Guns, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? and Spirit Of 76. Armed with his guitar and harmonica throughout, the Prestatyn-born musician stood solo in the spotlight midway and drew us in closer with a handful of tunes. Before he launched into his favourite song the Alarm ever recorded, One Step Closer To Home, he declared, “I’ll never give up without a fight!”
Between delivering the hits The Stand and Rain In The Summertime, Peters announced Wales had qualified for Euro 2016, and national pride was ramped up even more, a chorus of cheers ringing out. Hugging Quirk, he asked, “Who’s going to France next year?” and jubilantly declared, “I know where I’ll be!”
During the poignant In The Poppy Fields, thousands of red paper poppies floated down from the rafters, showering the audience with the band’s ever-present symbol. The start of the encore gave us Morriston’s majestic male voices on two of the most stirring and magnificent songs about Cymru, A New South Wales and The Bells Of Rhymney, and an emotional Peters’ proclaimed that we were all Welsh tonight no matter where we came from. Though the evening finished with a rousing Blaze Of Glory, this isn’t the end of the story. Make no mistake. We saw a man in a war, steadfastly marching on, determined to survive. My money’s on the guitar slinger.
words RHONDA LEE REALI photos SAMUEL BAY
For more info visit: lovehopestrength.co.uk