When British alt-rockers the Alarm released their chart-topping single “68 Guns” in 1983, we bet they had no idea that it would resonate with an eerie political relevancy 33 years later.
Initially formed as a punk outfit, lead singer Mike Peters steered the sound toward a more rock purist sound which landed them gigs opening for U2 and Bob Dylan. In 2005, the Alarm made a brief comeback before Peters’ rare cancer diagnosis. Flash forward to 2017 where a cancer-free Peters has founded the Love Hope Strength charity (one of the world’s leading rock ’n’ roll cancer foundations) and is now heading a new lineup. Rock ’n’ roll never dies.
The Alarm performs at the Magic Bag on Saturday, Aug. 26. Doors open at 8 p.m; 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-544-1991; themagicbag.com; Tickets are $25.
This article appears in Aug 16-22, 2017.