Frontman of popular ’80s new wave band dies from cancer at 66
Mike Peters, frontman of Welsh band The Alarm, has died from blood cancer, The Standard reported . He was 66.
A spokeswoman for the charity Peters co-founded with his wife announced the singer's death, according to The Standard.
The Alarm also posted a tribute video to Peters, containing the song "Totally Free," on its website and social media , indicating that he died Tuesday, April 29.
The video was flooded with thousands of comments from grieving fans on Facebook.
"Gutted. RIP Mike and love to family and all who knew him," one comment reads.
"Heart breaking news. Rest Easy Mike Peters....True Warrior, another comment reads. "You fought so hard and gave so much."
Peters formed The Alarm in Rhyl, Wales in 1981 after starting out in a local punk band called the Toilets. By shifting genres, Peters helped The Alarm become one of the most notable new wave pop acts of the 1980s.
The band released its debut album "Declaration" in 1984, which reached the top 10 of the U.K. Albums Chart and cracked the top 50 of the Billboard 200 chart. It contained The Alarm's highest-charting single, "Sixty Eight Guns," which peaked at No. 17 for seven weeks.
In addition to "Declaration," The Alarm released four more BPI silver-certified albums: 1985's "Strength," 1987's "Eye of the Hurricane," 1989's "Change" and 1990's "Standards."
The Alarm racked up a total of eight top 40 singles, including "Rain in the Summertime," "Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke?," "Absolute Reality" and "Superchannel."
Outside his work with The Alarm, Peters supported U2 and Status Quo on tour and played with Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. The singer also co-founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation , which works to support families affected by cancer.
Peters, who was diagnosed with lymphoma at age 36 in 1995, lived with blood cancer for 30 years, the BBC reported . Peters was forced to cancel a U.S. tour last year after being diagnosed with fast-growing lymphoma, The Standard reported.
While getting treatment at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, the singer announced that he had completed the second part of his three-part autobiography. The volume follows Peters' life from 1991 to 2005.
"Volume 2 Hope 1991 - 2005 comes with all the scope and detail as can be witnessed in Volume One," a Facebook post from Friday, April 25 reads. "This time in a new all white colour scheme and a clam shell box set containing the 120,000 plus word manuscript enhanced with masses of previously unseen photos, contracts and details from Mike Peters' personal and extensive archive."
"HOPE (1991-2005)" is available for purchase in luxe and superluxe editions.
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Read the original article on MassLive .
