Mike Peters, the passionate voice behind Welsh rock band The Alarm and a tireless cancer advocate, has died at the age of 66 after a courageous 30-year fight with blood cancer. His death on April 29 was confirmed by his family and bandmates, who honored his passing with a tribute video shared on social media, captioned simply: “Totally free.”
Peters’ long journey with illness began in 1995 with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A decade later, he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which he bravely kept in remission until 2015. That year, his health took a more serious turn with the onset of Richter’s Syndrome—a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma.
Despite the physical toll, Peters remained deeply committed to music. He co-founded The Alarm in 1981, helping shape the sound of ‘80s alternative and college rock with anthems like “Sixty-Eight Guns,” “Strength,” and “Rain in the Summertime.” Known for their energetic live shows and socially conscious lyrics, the band earned a loyal following across the UK and U.S.
After The Alarm initially disbanded in 1991, Peters continued to create, recording solo albums and eventually reviving the band under the moniker The Alarm MM++. Their most recent release, Forwards (2023), was written in the midst of his cancer treatments. Speaking to Classic Rock magazine last year, Peters recalled how songwriting gave him strength: “I didn’t take the guitar in to be creative… but after a while, a bit of a melody would just arrive.”
Beyond his music, Peters made a lasting impact through activism. He co-founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation, a charity that raises awareness and funding for cancer research and bone marrow donation. The foundation’s “Get On the List” campaign has helped register thousands of potential donors globally.
Mike Peters is remembered not only for his voice and lyrics, but also for his unwavering spirit. He faced each stage of his illness with openness, resilience, and an enduring sense of purpose—a legacy that lives on in his music and the lives he touched through advocacy.
He is survived by his wife, children, bandmates, and a devoted global fanbase.
