Glad to hear your great news. When you coming back to Scotland? Carling Academy was amazing!!
Scott g, Falkirk


Hi Scott, The Alarm MMVI will be in Edinburgh Liquid Rooms on the last Saturday of November. See you there. Mike

Hi Mike,
Glad to see your great news.
Are there chance for me to see The Alarm (Under Attack Tour) live in Belgium ?
The last time was at the "Spirit of 66" (Verviers 15 February 2004) and for me it is a great memory specially to talk with you ! Thanks Mike for all these years of music happiness !


Hi Robert, Thanks for your kind words. To be honest, I'm not sure about when I will be able to make it to Belgium. Since being diagnosed with CLL in December and my subsequent remission I'm not sure what kind of touring schedule I can undertake in the future, my priority has to be to protect my remission for as long as possible. My illness has not been cured, it is only in obeiance. I'd hate to go full on into a touring scenario to find that I have to have chemo again in months rather than years. I have to admit that the recent trip to New York was exhausting and made me realise that after the battering my body has taken in the last six months, I have to ease myself back in to the reality of touring etc. For the time being, it suits me to play shows one at a time rather than full on touring (I am committed to a DMW tour in October, but this is a lot less pressure for me than a full Alarm tour). Having said all that, the potential still exists to play in mainland Europe and who knows it would be great to play in Belgium again especially as the show you mention was special because we found out the chart position for 45 RPM during the soundcheck. Mike

Mike- I would like to hear your thoughts on why Alarm fans are so dedicated to the band ? It my opinion a big reason for it is that the band treats it’s fans with respect and like real people. Like the other day at The Virgin Megastore appearance before the set started I got to go over and say to you “Congratulations on the Great News” about your health it’s not like I was speaking to a rock star from a distant band I have only seen in concert I was talking to my friend Mike no different than I do at any of there gigs I go to.
Bill King-- Elizabeth NJ USA



Hi Bill, Great to see you at the Virgin Megastore. To answer your question, I think the relationship has changed from the traditional 'fan' type relationship that existed in the eighties to the more human based community that we all enjoy through the positive communication aspects established through the open phone lines of the MPO coupled with the endless possiblities that the internet offers. The Gathering has also played it's part in taking relationships to another level. Mike


My favourite song of the Alarm is 'Walk Forever By My Side', can I ask what or who inspired you to the write the song? Dougie W


I wrote 'Walk Forever' one Sunday morning while I was living at 13 Emu Road, Battersea, London. There is a tip of the hat melodically to 'Atmosphere' by Joy Division in the opening line and from then on it was my attempt to create a 'hymn' like song that could be sung by an individual or by a community but still held on to the one meaning. I'm still amazed at how many people have had this song played at their weddings and I've got a feeling this one song will live longer than all of us who are familiar with it today. Mike


HI Mike, Would you consider taking Mr Sharp on a full tour with you,even as a support act?
I am sure most of the fans would like to see Dave and yourself together on stage again round the country
cheers, David F


Hi David and Webbyperth who asked a similar question. To be honest, I'm not sure about this one. It's great to see Dave as the friends we are today, but to work together is another question altogether. It was obvious to me during Bands Reunited that the differences that drove us apart in 1991 were still there just below the surface, if we hit the road for any length of time, I don't think it would take much for these problems to resurface. I think it best we leave things as they are and enjoy the times we do get together for what they are. I'm sure if you asked Dave the same question he would also give you pretty much the same answer. Mike


Mike, How is the DMW album going? What sort of process was involved in the writing, did you each bring individual tunes along you then all worked on, or was it wholly a collabarotive effort. cheers Andy G


Hi Andy, I can confirm that we have started making a DMW album and it is shaping up quite nicely. I think it's best not to say too much until the album becomes a reality. Hopefully in the not too distant future. Mike


Mike, Great to here your recent good news. With the DMW tour just anounced I was wondering do you have a say in where you play gigs or is it up to the management team to organise all that. I live in Kendal, Cumbria and we have a great venue called "The Brewery Arts Centre".There is always a good turn out and I think the DMW would go down a storm - Midge Ure and The Christian have both played there recently. Cheers, Jim Fothergill


Hi Jim, DMW shows are booked by through a central Promoter and if the club want a show form the band then it's possible. It would have to fall in with the rest of the schedule / itinerary. We are playing in the Lake District at Whitehaven on the next tour and it might be deemed unrealistic to play two shows so close to each other in the same vicinity. Mike


Mike, What influence did Joe Strummer have on your Music and can you remember where you were when you heard he had died? Moonchester


Joe Strummer played a big part in my life. To me The Clash are still and always will be my favourite band of all time. I did meet Joe Strummer on a number of occasions but only spoke to him once at the Marquee Club in London in 1980 whilst watching the Stray Cats. He was everything you could want your hero to be. Spookily, I was actually driving on the Westway in London when I heard he had died via the car radio. The first person I called was Pete Wylie because I knew how much Joe meant to him. Mike


when are the next uk dates gonna be? Brummy


Hi Brummy, Apart from The Wickerman Festival this weekend, the next UK dates for July and August are up on the website although we should be announcing the next three Saturday Gigs to be held as usual on the last Saturday of the month at Liverpool Academy (September), Sheffield The Plug (October) and Edinburgh Liquid Rooms (November). Mike


....And will you come and play at the StrummerCamp Festival next May in Manchester? Please!! love
Michelle xx


Hi Michelle, Thanks, I would love to play at Strummercamp schedule permitting..... Heard it was good this year!!!! Mike


what were your favourite punk gigs/bands you saw first time round and what made them so memorable? Mikey Ramsay


Hi Mickey, I saw the Sex Pistols in Chester in 1976 and that was the most amazing gig I've ever seen. Next up was The Clash at the Electric Circus in Manchester in 1977. The thrill was that you felt that the world was changing while you were watching the bands and in reality it was. The world has never been the same since. See tonights Alarmcast for more. Mike


Mike, Seeing the band live is an awesome experience for Old Alarm Fans and hopefully the newer ones too. When touring do you have any input on stage design? What will be different this tour songlist wise? Will you play more of the newer material or keep more of the older material? David V


To carry on from David V's question about the set design onstage, Can you tell us about the matriarch of all Alarm symbols that adorn tattoed bodies around the globe, how the original Poppy was originated as the representative image synonymous with the band? Also, there have been some very powerful images in the past year, the megaphone, the safety net, The brilliant Union Jack/American flags on the original Saturday gigs poster, the new poppy etc. Is it you who comes up with the designs/concepts? Thanks, Lily


Hi david and Lily, Thanks for the question and yes I do get involved in set design, I got hold of the red, grey and white camo nets for the current tour as I thought they went well with the Under Attack album design / loud hailer look which I also designed along with all the single artwork and t-shirt designs. As far as the set list goes, it's great to be able to play a lot of songs from Under Attack as it keeps the older songs fresh. The original Poppy was designed by Robert Olsen who came to see the band in 1982 to design for the Marching On single, he was struck by all the 'military images in the songs at that time and came up with the poppy that has been with us ever since. Cheers Mike


Hi Mike, Do you own a Harley Davidson? It would be taking your bike ride in Back Into The System to a new level. If so, you are welcome, would you ride with the Wolverine Harley Owers Chapter in Clinto Township Michigan. We are the second largest chapter in the world, and many have bought Under Attack :-) Take care,
Terry


Hi Terry, actually I don't own a Harley Davidson but would love a ride with the chapter some time. Mike




Way back in the early 80's The Alarm played a radio 1 session for Bruno Brookes, who was a huge Alarm fan. Any chance of putting this and other sessions on the website? I have a BBC transcription disc of a London gig...Think you were just about to release Strength, again this would make great listening to Alarm fans the world over. Take care Ell


Hi Ell, I am working on securing the release of all the BBC archive of Alarm Radio sessions. I have master tapes of all the sessions and hopefully a release will be sometime soon, Mike


Will you ever do an acoustic tour next year ? and consider doing a coloursound project? s.broom


Hi Steve, I'm sure an acoustic tour will happen sometime in the not too distant future as for Coloursound who knows???? Mike

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Steve Fulton,