Mike Peters Remembered

Posted by Robert Kinsler

I was so sorry to wake today to the news that singer-songwriter great Mike Peters has passed away after a long battle fighting cancer. He was only 66.

Mike Peters performing at The
Coach House in 2013.
Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

I first caught Peters back in June 1983 when The Alarm opened for U2. I was blown away and immediately went out and purchased the band's then-newly released EP. A few years later The Alarm actually headlined a show at Cal State University where I caught them as well.

Famed DJ Richard Blade posted the following a few minutes ago on his Facebook page:

"So so sad to learn this morning that our dear friend Mike Peters of The Alarm has passed away. Krista and I spent so many happy times with him, his lovely wife Jules and their children. From concerts to backstage, to hotel rooms, dinner, breakfast, laughs, movies and shared tears over his incredibly brave struggle during his three decades of fearlessly battling cancer, he was one of a kind. To know Mike was to love him. He will be missed by so many as we remember his Strength and pray that he is Marching On."

Geoffrey Downes, left, with Mike Peters
in 2024. Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Downes.

Keyboardist-songwriter Geoffrey Downes of ASIA and YES fame just posted the following on X:

"Very sad to hear of the passing of Mike Peters. A lovely man and a very talented musician who I had the pleasure to meet last summer at one of his gigs in Tenby, South Wales."

Guitarist Billy Duffy of The Cult (seen in the photo on the right with Peters) posted the following earlier today on X:

"No words today can be enough A light has gone out in the world. Sending love to Jules, the boys and all the family.   #RIP Mike"

Peter Hook of New Order posted the following on X today:

"So sad to hear about Mike Peters. The Alarm was a great band & Mike was a great, proud Welshman who loved this crazy business and appreciated that it was all about the fans. God bless you mate. Love Hooky. X RIP X"

Below are links to read some of my articles focusing on Peters, including a memorable 2015 solo show at The Coach House, and a 2013 concert where Peters fronted Big Country.

Mike Peters solo concert at The Coach House in June 2015. Read it HERE

Big Country 2013 concert review. Read it HERE

Review of The Alarm's 2023 album Forwards. Read it HERE

Review of The Alarm's 2018 album Equals. Read it HERE

Finally, here is the official media release from the artist's publicist Rey Roldan about Peters' passing:

Mike Peters, frontman of The Alarm, loses his battle with cancer

APRIL 29, 2025 -- 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 died at the age of 66 following a 30-year battle with the disease. 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 leukemia, 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.

Mike Peters: 1959-2025 Link: https://youtu.be/XxwcL7Qj20c?si=bcX9Xp5yj7k7de2U

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. 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. 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). Anyone wishing to donate to the Love Hope Strength Foundation can do so via this link Love Hope Strength Foundation - JustGiving   About Love Hope Strength Foundation   Love Hope Strength was co-founded in 2006 by the internationally acclaimed musician and healthcare campaigner Mike Peters after he was diagnosed with leukemia, his fellow musician and wife Jules, who has since undergone treatment for breast cancer, and their friend James Chippendale who had received a life-saving bone marrow transplant.   Led by volunteers, fueled by music and camaraderie, and propelled by a desire to give back and create positive change, Love Hope Strength strives to provide people affected by blood cancer a lifeline.

New music: The Waterboys, The Bablers, Johnny Rawls, Nathan McEuen

A terrific concept album from modern rock greats The Waterboys, an essential reissue from Finnish power pop heroes The Bablers and a soulful return from Johnny Rawls are among the great audio title releases of early 2025.

Artist: The Waterboys

Title: Life, Death and Dennis Hopper (Sun Records)

You might like if you enjoy: The Waterboys, Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple

Tell me more: The life and legend of legendary actor/photographer/filmmaker Dennis Hopper is revisited and masterfully brought to life via the Waterboys' ambitious new album Life, Death and Dennis Hopper. Waterboys band leader Mike Scott chronicles the life and mythos of the late Hollywood icon (Hopper died at age 74 in 2010) via a 25-track masterwork that proves to be one of the Waterboys' greatest-ever albums. While each of the tracks on Life, Death and Dennis Hopper stand on their own as great songs, the album is best listened to in chronological order and in its entirety. Things kick off with the acoustic Americana cut "Kansas," featuring guest lead vocals from singer Steve Earle (who co-wrote the nugget with Scott). Subsequent songs continue to highlight key events in Hopper's life and career; highlights include the jazzy "Hollywood '55" recalling Hopper being cast in "Rebel Without A Cause" and his introduction to actress Natalie Wood; "Live In The Moment, Baby" is a punk rock cut that finds Hopper recalling advice given to him by "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant" co-star James Dean; Hopper's fascination with photography is highlighted in the shimmering retro rocker "The Tourist" (the latter featuring backing vocals courtesy of Sugarfoot). Moving along Scott touches on the movie "Easy Rider" in the lush "Blues For Terry Southern" and lilting "Riding Down To Mardi Gras," the lovely instrumental "Daria," the stark "Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend" featuring affecting lead vocals and piano from Fiona Apple, Hopper's successful battle against addiction in the poignant "I Don't Know How I Made It," and spoken word-anchored rocker "Aftermath" reflecting on Hopper's life immediately after his passing. Each selection on Life, Death and Dennis Hopper propels and enhances the concept album. Information: sunrecords.com.

Artist: The Bablers

Title: Like The First Time (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Del Amitri, Fountains Of Wayne, Teenage Fanclub, The Beatles

Tell me more: It's hard to imagine anything easier than listening to the fantastic new collection from Finnish power pop veterans The Bablers. Big Stir Records has just reissued Like The First Time — long out of print and previously only available in Japan and Finland — a 14-track disc that plays like a greatest hits-filled album with one terrific original after another. Now newly re-sequenced and featuring new mixes and arrangements, the mid-career Bablers collection kicks off with the melodic opener "You Are The One For Me" (a track recently selected by Stevie Van Zandt as "The Coolest Song in the World This Week" on SiriusXM's Underground Garage); other early standouts include the jangly power pop gem "One Of Those Dreams," reflective "Sometimes," rousing Britpop-flavored rocker "Thinking Of You," and alluring "Holding Me Tight Tonight." The last half of Like The First Time continues to yield sonic gold for discerning listeners thanks to great songs like the exuberant "That Little Something," probing "In This World," carefree melodic sortie "Here I Come," Beatlesque title track and beautiful brand new cut "Where The Wind Blows Free." Information: bigstirrecords.com.

Artist: Johnny Rawls

Title: Make Them Dance (Catfood Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Huey Lewis and the News, John Németh

Tell me more: Acclaimed award-winning blues singer Johnny Rawls is back with the aptly-titled Make Them Dance. The 10-track disc is not only a great album of new recordings, it also stands as the final project completed by legendary Grammy-winning producer and studio engineer Jim Gaines (Huey Lewis and the News, Santana, Walter Trout, Steve Miller Band) at his Bessie Blue Studio in Stantonville, Tennessee. Make Them Dance has winning tracks that will definitely get music lovers' feet moving even while there are others that showcase Rawls' soulful vocals via blues ballads (just listen to "Dreams of You," "Give It To Me" and "Rip Off The Bandage"). Uptempo delights on the disc include the opener "So Cold," the sleek "Make Them Dance," R&B-mining "Costs Too Much" and "The Long Road." Information: catfoodrecords.com.

Artist: Nathan McEuen

Title: My One and Only (Mesa/Blue Moon Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Dan Fogelberg, Stephen Bishop

Tell me more: Singer-songwriter Nathan McEuen's new EP My One and Only features five songs that conjure up the magic of '70s soft rock heroes such including Dan Fogelberg and Stephen Bishop. The EP is anchored by the title track, a beautiful love song McEuen penned as a tribute to his wife Tracy; the track features McEuen's strong lead vocals positioned against his own guitar playing and piano provided by Chris Caswell. The bluesy "Sticks & Stones" is undeniably melodic and the soundscape is enhanced by the work of Jesse Siebenberg (who plays a number of instruments on the track including bass, drums and slide guitar). The lovely Caribbean-flavored "Beautiful Night" showcases the range of McEuen's range as a singer and songwriter, this original bolstered by an elevated chorus and tapestry of mandolin and a string section. Information: mesabluemoon.com.

Robert Kinsler

Reed Turchi releases hypnotic new single "Walk With Me"; artist coming to Prescott, AZ this weekend

Check out modern day bluesman Reed Turchi's new music video for his bewitching blues track "Walk With Me." The acclaimed artist is set to perform several dates in Prescott, AZ this weekend including at the Raven Cafe from 7-10 p.m. tonight...Robert Kinsler

Reed Turchi Releases New Single “Walk With Me”

From Forthcoming Album World On Fire out on May 30

West Coast Tour Dates This Spring in Prescott, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Bay Area

Album Release Show at Barbes in Brooklyn, NY on May 30

Photo credit: Jacob Blickenstaff

April 25, 2025: Today, Reed Turchi, the Brooklyn-based musician, producer, and poet shared a new single “Walk With Me,” the latest track to be released from his forthcoming album World On Fire, out on May 30. He’s also shared a live video of him and his band performing the new track recorded at Wild Coyote Recordings in Guttenberg, NJ. American Blues Scene featured the track saying, “Built around a lulling rhythm and a gently hypnotic pulse, ‘Walk With Me’ carries an air of vulnerability and invitation—a plea for companionship… The song’s layered structure offers a sense of time passing, of moments unspooling. It’s a prayer, a lullaby that asks the listener to ‘walk with’ the artist through the shared human experience.”

Turchi has a number of tour dates in support of the album, including a hometown album release show at Barbes in Brooklyn, NY on May 30. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit his website. Preorder World On Fire via Bandcamp.

Listen to “Walk With Me” / Watch “Walk With Me” Live Video

“Art, for me, is always about communication,” explains Turchi. “So much of life is loneliness, and so to create is to reach out, to try and touch. Maybe it’s an etching on a cave wall, maybe it’s a symphonic score crescendoing emotion. ‘Walk With Me,’ as a song, is based in exactly that — a call for companionship. It starts with a rhythm, built on a circling of snare-brush, upright-bass riff, and acoustic-guitar melody that spins itself in a meditative spiral as the melody-line of slide guitar and voice can float over.”

“This song, more than any other, defines World On Fire as an album. It establishes the mood, the place, the meaning. It announces its intentions. Here we are, in the darkness, with our simple song. Where are you, and will you walk with me to light the way?”

“Walk With Me” follows previous singles “Get Back Train” and “Lay My Burden Down.” Glide Magazine lauded “Get Back Train” saying, “Backing him is a tight band that infuses the song with a healthy amount of folk, bluegrass, and blues to give it a smooth Americana sound,” while “Lay My Burden Down” earned praise from Magnet Magazine, NYS Music, and The Alternate Root, who named it one of their Weekly Top Ten. 

Hailed by the likes of Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, and Oxford American who called Turchi an artist “beyond genre constraints,” Turchi has built his solo career with a series of critically acclaimed albums and relentless touring around the US and Europe. After the pandemic ground things to a halt in 2020, Turchi returned to the road in the fall of 2021, only to be derailed again, this time by a mysterious medical condition. It took over 2 years before doctors finally diagnosed Turchi with a rare form of Crohn’s Disease, they prescribed a mind-bending steroid regimen to help heal the open wounds and ulcers that had wrought havoc on his intestines. “When you lie awake from pain that many nights in a row, you start to ask yourself what really matters,” he reflects. “You start to get down to the core of the human experience and what it is you want to communicate.”

That sense of clarity is striking on World On Fire, a collection of vintage blues and spiritual tunes Turchi picked up along the way on his circuitous route through the music industry. Some of the songs are traditional with no documented authors, others performed by so many artists with so many variations over the years that it’s impossible to pin down any definitive version, but Turchi makes each his own with striking honesty and intimacy. It’s a direct, plainspoken reflection on loneliness and isolation, on the search for comfort and connection in a world that feels colder and more uncaring by the day.

“In a lot of ways, this record feels like the culmination of everything I’ve done so far,” Turchi reflects, “but it also feels like a new beginning. I can hear myself turning a corner and, for the first time, knowing who I am and where I’m headed.”

Reed Turchi is also an accomplished poet and graduate of the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers. He's had work published in The American Poetry Review, Story South, and Narrative Magazine among others, and he’s recently had three poems accepted by Poetry Magazine that will run in a forthcoming issue. His many projects include House of Unending, a collaborative album with poet Reginald Dwayne Betts, and the trio album Southallstars. 

World On Fire Tracklist:

1. Walk With Me

2. When You’ve Got A Good Friend

3. Get Back Train

4. Lay My Burden Down

5. Don’t Leave Me Baby

6. Backdoor Man

7. 51 Highway

8. Someday Baby

9. Reprise

Tour Dates:

April 25 – Prescott, AZ – Raven Cafe

April 26 – Prescott, AZ – The Fairweather Social Club

April 27 – Prescott, AZ – The Fairweather Social Club

April 30 – Hollywood, CA – The Hotel Cafe

May 1 – Rio Nido, CA – Rio Nido Roadhouse

May 2 – Bolinas, CA – Smiley's Saloon

May 3 – Petaluma, CA – Ernie's Tin Bar

May 30 – Brooklyn, NY – Barbes

Follow Reed Turchi:

Website - Instagram - Facebook - Spotify

Coachella 2025 Weekend 2 Recap

Coachella at night is magical. Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Weekend 2 of the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was one of discovery to be sure. I not only enjoyed catching a number of artists for the first-time ever, I was more able to fully appreciate a few returning favorites (Lady Gaga, Japanese Breakfast, The Marias) and saw the Go-Go's for the first time in more than 30 years! Here I showcase my favorite artists seen as Coachella last weekend (April 18-20).

Glixen performing at Coachella on April 18.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Glixen — The first artist I caught on day one (April 18) was Glixen, a strong shoe gaze-styled quartet whose sound came off as a cross between Mazzy Star and Dinosaur Jr. The band made the most of its 30-minute set inside the Sonora tent and pleased the enthusiastic crowd on hand with a powerful set of heavy originals. 

TOPS — Canadian quartet TOPS blended melodic rock, ear candy-styled songcraft, new wave, occasional jazzy flourishes and winning vocal harmonies across their 40-minute set in the Sonora tent. 

Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's at Coachella.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

The Go-Go's — Although the Go-Go's were not as tight as many of the other bands that appeared at Coachella over the weekend, there is no denying the unbridled enthusiasm of the groundbreaking all-female Los Angeles outfit elevated their performance on the Outdoor Theatre stage on Friday afternoon. With a setlist filled with catchy and memorable material, the band thrilled the faithful with tracks including "Vacation," "Lust to Love," "Head over Heels," "Our Lips Are Sealed" and set-ending "We Got the Beat." However, I thought the single best selection of their set was "This Town," a song that showcased the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' formidable strengths.

Benson Boone performing his new advance track "American Heart" at Coachella.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Benson Boone — The biggest surprise of Weekend 1 was when rising 22-year-old singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Benson Boone covered Queen's timeless hit "Bohemian Rhapsody" and brought out that band's Brian May to play his timeless lead guitar work on that 1975 classic. Although May didn't show up for Boone's Weekend 2 set on the Coachella Stage, Boone had no trouble impressing the audience with his signature style of modern pop-rock. Opening with "Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else," other uptempo cuts included "Cry" and "Mystical Magical." He proved equally skilled when sitting on the piano and performing more intimate material as evidenced by the early sections of "Slow It Down," "There She Goes" and the piano-anchored power ballad "Forever and a Day." Late set standouts included the title track from his forthcoming album ("American Heart"), a stunning take on Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (the latter complete with a large vocal choir) and rousing version of his 2024 hit "Beautiful Things."

Maria Zardoya of The Marias.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

The Marias — Los Angeles' the Marias attracted such a large and enthusiastic crowd to the Outdoor Theatre it's clear the quartet could have performed on the larger Coachella stage. Lead singer Maria Zardoya is a particularly charismatic singer and she connected strongly with Coachellagoers on Friday; the stylish talents of drummer Josh Conway, guitarist Jesse Perlman and keyboardist Edward James enhance the Marias' remarkable style. Highlights included a shimmering take on "Real Life," the fanciful "Only in My Dreams" (the latter a track fully utilizing the striking set design), intense "Hush" and bewitching "Paranoia." The Marias closed with the Spanish language gem Cariño," with Zardoya venturing out into the crowd to greet excited fans. 

Parcels — One of the best sets of Weekend 2 belonged to Parcels, a five-member Berlin, Germany-based group that masterfully blended synth pop, disco, funk and alternative dance styles together on the Outdoor Theatre stage. Opening with the intoxicating dance track "Overnight," the group proceeded to keep the dance-minded party going with winning tracks including the harmonies-adorned "Lightenup," "Tieduprightnow" and the new single "Safeandsound," the latter featuring an explosive finale.

Fans watch Lady Gaga perform on one of the massive Coachella Stage screens.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Lady Gaga — No matter any Coachellagoer's specific taste in music — be it rock, jazz, dance, rap, hip-hop or you name it — there is a better than good chance they were blown away by Lady Gaga's 20-song performance spread over five specific acts on the Coachella Stage to cap the opening day of Weekend 2. The large audience was immersed in the artist's so-called "Mayhem Ball" (named after her mega-successful new album Mayhem), and were treated to a fast-moving concept concert featuring Lady Gaga singing and dancing up a storm. Following her acclaimed Coachella Weekend 2 performance, it was announced that Lady Gaga will bring her "Mayhem Ball" tour across the nation beginning in Las Vegas on July 16.

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast on April 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Japanese Breakfast — As wonderful as indie art rock troupe Japanese Breakfast was at Weekend 1, the Michelle Zauner-led band was even more impressive Weekend 2. Over the course of 45 magical minutes the band ( which also features guitarist Peter Bradley, bassist Deven Craige and drummer-keyboardist Craig Hendrix) brought a mix of literate, musically diverse and fun material to the Outdoor Theatre stage. Zauner played guitar at times, danced at others and sang with palpable emotion throughout. A wide range of material connected with the crowd including alt rock ("Honey Water"), uptempo dance-minded cuts ("The Woman That Loves You," "Paprika," "Be Sweet"), breezy pop ("Road Head," "Picture Window") and semi-acoustic sorties ("Winter in LA," "Kokomo, IN"). 

Beth Gibbons at Coachella.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

Beth Gibbons — Best known as the singer and lyricist for groundbreaking English band Portishead, Beth Gibbons delivered one of the most ambitious and memorable sets of Weekend 2. Like Radiohead, Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, Gibbons brings an intensity, depth and immersive soundscape to her sonic world. Backed by a seven-member band of virtuoso players, Gibbons made the most of every moment of her 45-minute set in the Gobi tent. Her set featured a number of amazing originals from her acclaimed 2024 album Lives Outgrown including her set opening "Burden of Life," the lush "Floating on a Moment," the edgy "Rewind" with its creative use of strings and a horn, and "Lost Changes" — the latter with its probing and potent exploration of mortality and love. Additionally, she thrilled music lovers with a powerful take on the Portishead favorite "Glory Box."

The Beaches turned in an impressive set at Coachella.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

The Beaches — Canadian indie rock heroes the Beaches were one of my top discoveries of Coachella 2025. The all-female band blended New Wave, post punk and alt rock sonics throughout their fiery audience-pleasing appearance on Sunday. It's rare for a modern rock band to have undeniable chemistry across their complete lineup but Jordan Miller (lead vocals, bass guitar), Kylie Miller (guitar, backing vocals), Leandra Earl (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals) and Eliza Enman-McDaniel (drums) showcased that in spades. Standouts of the Beaches' set included the catchy opener "Cigarette," '80s-flavored "Takes One To Know One," sweeping "Jocelyn," confessional rocker "Edge of the Earth" and explosive closer "Blame Brett."

Kraftwerk — Pioneering German electronic band Kraftwerk conjured up the beginnings of electronic music with a set of the quartet's distinctive material constructed via generally sparse arrangements, mechanical vocals, drum machine-driven rhythms, synthesizers and snappy melodies. Led by co-founder Ralf Hütter, highlights included the driving opener "Numbers / Computer World / Computer World 2," unsettling "Autobahn," pulsating "Radioactivity" and engaging "The Robots." 

Regarding the widely reported antisemitic, jew-hatred performance by the Irish rap group Kneecap, I encourage everyone to read the "Setting the Stage for Hate: Kneecap and Coachella's Collapse of Conscience" Opinion piece in the Hollywood Reporter HERE. Although this writer did not see any of that performance, I was contacted by many who knew I was at Coachella and concerned to see a performer spewing these hate-filled views at the festival. There is no place for this type of hate at Coachella.

Robert Kinsler