Welsh music icon, Mike Peters MBE, the charismatic frontman of legendary 80s rock band The Alarm and a tireless global advocate for blood cancer patients, has passed away at the age of 66 following a 30-year battle with the disease.
Mike Peters and The Alarm recorded Cymru’s official song for EURO 2020 – ‘The Red Wall of Cymru’ – that saw him sing the song with members of The Red Wall at locations across the country. Peters was a passionate fan of Welsh football and has performed live in the stadium ahead of Men’s National Team matches.
Born in Prestatyn, North Wales, Peters never forgot his roots, often performing in support of Welsh causes and championing the community spirit of his homeland.
Reacting to the sad news, Ian Gwyn Hughes, the FAW’s Head of Public Relations & Culture, said: “Being brought up in the same part of the world I always looked up to Mike Peters and The Alarm and felt proud of his achievements. But of course there was also his huge passion for the country and football. I remember meeting for the first time and asking him to play in a celebrity match ahead of a Premier Cup Final between Wrexham and Cardiff City at the Racecourse alongside the likes of Joey Jones, Mickey Thomas and Dai Davies. He was just so passionate and genuine.
“He was a natural choice to compose and sing the EURO 2020 song, 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”
A voice of defiance and hope both on and off the stage, Peters first rose to prominence in the early 1980s with The Alarm, whose powerful anthems like ‘68 Guns’ and ‘Strength’ helped define a generation of alternative rock. Known for their rallying cries and heartfelt lyrics, The Alarm garnered a devoted international following, with Peters’ raw vocals and commanding stage presence at the heart of it all.
During a music career that spanned five decades, Peters performed with some of music’s greatest artists and bands including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and U2.
Diagnosed with lymphoma in 1995 and later with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, Peters refused to let his illness silence him. Instead, he turned his fight into a mission to help others.
Alongside his wife Jules, he co-founded Love Hope Strength, a music-driven cancer charity that revolutionized awareness and action around stem cell donation. Through its innovative ‘Get On The List’ campaigns — often hosted at rock concerts and even atop mountains — the charity has added over 250,000 people to the global stem cell registry and helped secure thousands of potential life-saving matches for patients worldwide.
Last April, just before embarking on a 50-date US tour, he was diagnosed with Richter’s Syndrome, an aggressive form of lymphoma, and despite extensive treatment at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, including a clinical trial and innovative CAR-T therapy, doctors were unable to prevent the cancer progressing.
Peters’ journey was one of resilience. He continued to tour and record music through multiple relapses, undergoing experimental treatments while using his platform to raise awareness and funds to help others affected by cancer.
His passion for life and belief in the healing power of music inspired countless fans and fellow musicians.
His story and voice transcended music, touching lives far beyond the stage. He is survived by his wife of 39 years and partner in purpose, Jules (58), and their sons, Dylan (20) and Evan (18).
The thoughts of everyone at the Football Association of Wales are with the family and friends of Mike Peters at this incredibly difficult time.
Mae pawb yn CBDC yn anfon eu cydymdeimlad dwysaf at deulu a ffrindiau Mike Peters.
