The Alarm

The Alarm
The Alarm, 1984.
Background information
Origin	Rhyl, Wales
Genres	Alternative rock, new wave
Years active	1981–present
Labels	The Twenty First Century Recording Company I.R.S. Records Illegal Records
Associated acts	The Toilets Seventeen U2 Big Country Dead Men Walking Coloursound
Website	Official website
Members	Mike Peters James Stevenson Craig Adams Steve "Smiley" Barnard Mark Taylor
Past members	Dave Sharp Eddie Macdonald Nigel Twist Steve Grantley

The Alarm are a Welsh alternative rock/new wave band that formed in Rhyl, North Wales, in 1981. Initially formed as a punk band "The Toilets" under lead vocalist Mike Peters, the band soon embraced rock, displaying marked influences from Welsh language and culture. By opening for acts such as U2 and Bob Dylan, they became a popular alternative rock band of the 1980s, retaining a loyal following to the present day.

The Alarm's highest charting single in Britain was 1983's "Sixty Eight Guns", which reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. Their 1984 album, Declaration, which contained "Sixty Eight Guns", peaked at number six in the UK Albums Chart.

A punk band was formed in Rhyl, Wales, in 1977, billed as "The Toilets". It contained Mike Peters (aka Eddie Bop), Glyn Crossley (aka Steve Shock), Richard "O'Malley" Jones (aka Bo Larks) and Nigel Buckle (aka Des Troy). In 1978, the band ceased to exist, becoming "Quiasimodo" and playing note for note covers of The Who's Live At Leeds with guitarist Dave Sharp. This group also included Karl Wallinger on keyboards. Later the group named themselves "Seventeen," with both Mike Peters and Nigel Buckle alongside Eddie Macdonald (who had been Mike Peters' next door but one neighbor in Edward Henry Street, Rhyl). Seventeen began as a three-piece but were soon joined by guitarist David Kitchingman (who changed his name to Dave Sharp) and became a power pop mod band who released a single ("Don't Let Go" / "Bank Holiday Weekend") in March 1980 and toured with the Stray Cats later that year. They played their last concert together under the new name of "Alarm Alarm" in January 1981 at the Half Moon, Herne Hill, London, but this would also be the last time this name was used.