Mike Peters, the charismatic lead vocalist of the Welsh post-punk group The Alarm, renowned in the 1980s for anthems such as “Sixty Eight Guns” and “Blaze of Glory,” has died at the age of 66. He courageously battled cancer for over 30 years while becoming a prominent advocate for cancer awareness.
His passing was announced via social media by his wife, Jules Jones Peters, though specific details regarding the time, place, or cause of death were not disclosed.
Peters was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1995, followed by two diagnoses of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2005 and 2015. Both illnesses are forms of blood cancer. In 2024, shortly before embarking on a planned 50-date tour across the United States, he was diagnosed with Richter’s syndrome, a particularly aggressive type of lymphoma.
Beginning in the early 2000s, Peters expanded his role beyond music by becoming a leading voice in cancer advocacy. He co-founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation, which organizes benefit concerts in extraordinary locations such as Mount Everest and Mount Fuji to raise funds for cancer research and treatment.
Emerging from the late 1970s British punk scene, The Alarm combined the raw energy of punk with a distinctive twin-acoustic-guitar sound. The band was known for their impassioned performances and hits like “Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke?,” “Spirit of ’76,” and “The Stand.”
