Mike Peters, the frontman of the Welsh rock band The Alarm, has died. He was 66.
The band was known for their early 1980s hits “68 Guns” and “Strength” which helped define a new generation of alternative rock. As lead singer and guitarist, Peters remained with the band through the 1980s and parted ways in the early ’90s.
Peters formed The Poets of Justice in the ’90s and reunited The Alarm in 2000, while also singing with Big Country in the early 2010s. Throughout his career that spanned five decades, Peters also performed with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and U2.
Peters was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1995 and later with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, per a press release, but his illness didn’t stop him from moving forward. Throughout remission, relapses and undergoing experimental treatments, Peters continued touring and performing.
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Peters was born in 1959 in Prestatyn, North Wales. Throughout his career, he performed to support Welsh causes, never forgetting his roots when using his platform.
Peters was a tireless advocate for blood cancer patients, founding the Love Hope Strength Foundation in 2006 which worked to recruit donors at music shows. The music-driven cancer charity that brought awareness and action around stem cell donation has helped add 250,000 people to the global stem cell registry.
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Mike Peters in New York City in May 2023
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Despite his medical setbacks, Peters remained positive. “The simple message is to stay alive and appreciate every second you’ve got,” Peters told Guitar World in 2017. “Live right up to the last breath and stay positive about the world, your family, and the environment you live in.”
Two years later, he was recognized as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to cancer care, per BBC.
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Mike Peters in Munich in 1986
Related: The Alarm’s Mike Peters Needs a Stem Cell Transplant. But First, He Must Find a Donor (Exclusive)
In April 2024, he was diagnosed with Richter’s Syndrome, an aggressive form of lymphoma. Last year, Peters spoke to PEOPLE about his journey to find a hopefully find a donor for a stem cell transplant after finding a lump in his neck before embarking on a U.S. tour with The Alarm.
“At one point, I had to think to myself, this could be it. I had to face it up to that because I had to find the strength to accept it and acknowledge it and realize it was potentially a real outcome,” he told PEOPLE at the time. “And then, I had to figure out how I was going to cope with it?”
Peters is survived by his wife of 39 year, Jules, and their sons Dylan, 20, and Evan, 18. Fans can donate to the Love Hope Strength Foundation in Peters’ memory.
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