Tributes paid after death of The Alarm’s Mike Peters, age 66: “Totally free”

Mike Peters of the Welsh new wave band The Alarm has died aged 66.

The news was announced by The Alarm’s official Instagram page, writing that Peters is now “totally free”. No cause of death was shared, but Peters had lived with blood cancer on and off for 30 years since being first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1995. He was awarded the MBE in 2019 for his services to cancer care through his foundation Love Hope Strength.

Most recently, he had announced his cancer had returned on April 29 last year, sharing that his Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia had transformed into a High Grade Lymphoma. Shortly afterwards, he said that his leukemia had undergone “an overnight transformation into a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma known as Richter’s Syndrome”.

In a personal message posted on The Alarm’s Facebook page, Peters wrote: “I’m writing personally to thank you for the love and understanding shown to me and my family during my trials at The Christie Hospital, Manchester, throughout these challenging last few months.”

Born in Prestatyn, North Wales, Peters formed The Alarm in 1981 after its members had previously played together in punk band The Toilets. They scored a UK Top 20 hit in 1983 with ‘Sixty Eight Guns’, and would sell an estimated five million records in their career, along with being the first Welsh musicians since Tom Jones and Bonnie Tyler to crack America.

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A post shared by The Alarm (@thealarm)

That same year, The Alarm joined U2 on their US arena tour, and would go on to support huge names like Bob Dylan, The Police and Queen. They went on to secure a further eight UK Top 40 singles, with their most recent studio album being 2021’s ‘WAЯ’. 

Tributes to Peters have been posted on social media, with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) also paying tribute in a lengthy statement. Peters recorded Wales’ EURO 2020 song, ‘The Red Wall of Cymru’, and was a lifelong fan of Welsh football.

Ian Gwyn Hughes, the FAW’s Head of Public Relations & Culture, wrote that Peters was “so passionate and genuine”, adding that he was a “natural choice” to compose ‘The Red Wall Of Cymru’, “a song he described as a story of real people coming together.” He travelled the length and breadth of the country meeting members of the Red Wall in eleven different locations.

“Often seen at the side of the pitch at the Cardiff City stadium before matches, Mike was humble, always positive and smiling. He will not only be remembered for his music but also as just a proper, genuine football fan who made a huge contribution to the culture of The Red Wall. Our sympathies to his family”.

Find more tributes to Peters below:

RIP the Welsh legend Mike Peters

by Jules Jones Peters pic.twitter.com/PvpgoOGVGK

— Forever Delayed (@FDForum) April 29, 2025

“Live right up to the last breath and stay positive about the world, your family and the environment you live in.” Mike Peters pic.twitter.com/OkPRLBGR58

— Jo Caulfield (@Jo_Caulfield) April 29, 2025

“Mike will not only be remembered for his music but also as just a proper, genuine football fan who made a huge contribution to the culture of The Red Wall.”

Mae pawb yn CBDC yn anfon eu cydymdeimlad dwysaf at deulu a ffrindiau Mike Peters.

— FA WALES (@FAWales) April 29, 2025

Very upset to hear about Mike Peters, Alarm front man, talented songwriter & lovely guy. here we are at TOTP before their first appearance with 68 Guns. Last year Mike travelled all the way down south so we could catch up & do some Heritage Chart TV. A 68 Gun salute old pal. pic.twitter.com/m0GPrf072a

— Mike Read (@MikeReadUK) April 29, 2025

Farewell, Mike Peters. The saddest news about one of the nicest guys in rock.

The Alarm’s frontman spent much of the last 30 years living with cancer. His optimism and resilience in the face of adversity was inspiring. You lived a life of love, hope and strength. #MikePeters pic.twitter.com/psiGnwKq91

— Sue Charles (@Sue_Charles) April 29, 2025

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A post shared by Rock Hard Studios (@rhmgltd)

It was also revealed that Peters had completed the second volume of his autobiography, a 120,000-plus work manuscript titled ‘HOPE – 1991-2005’. The luxe edition will include previously unseen photos and details from his archive, along with a vinyl of ‘Lifetrack’. The superluxe edition will also include even more snippets from Peters’ life – find all details here.

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