Grant’s Rock Warehaus – The Alarm: A Career Retrospective – The IRS Years

On YouTube right now, Grant’s Rock Warehaus had me on as a guest and we talked the I.R.S. Years for the band The Alarm. I love the I.R.S. Years of the band and they were one of my favorite bands of the 80’s. I mean who’s talking about The Alarm!! We are so join Grant and myself as we spread the love of this band.

The Alarm, hailing from Wales, burst onto the scene in the early ’80s with a powerful blend of punk rock energy and anthemic, socially conscious lyrics. Fronted by Mike Peters, the band quickly gained attention with their passionate performances and songs like “68 Guns” and “Strength.” Their music, often characterized by ringing guitars and a distinctive mix of punk, rock, and folk influences, resonated with fans looking for both substance and style. Over the years, The Alarm has remained a beloved band, known for their resilience and Peters’ commitment to using music as a force for change.

The Alarm – “Sixty-Eight Guns” (45 Single)

In my quest of the finding cool things on vinyl, occasionally I pick up 7″ singles or 45’s of bands I like and while in Florida, I found this 45 Single from the band The Alarm.  Mike Peters and crew released their debut album, ‘Declaration’, in February 1984 and the single for “Sixty Eight Guns” well before the albums release in August of 1983. Due to the success, they put it on their debut album.  Now, the single I have is not that particular single. My single is a re-issue of the single done on February 14, 1984 for the official release of the album.  Where the original single had alternate version of “Sixty Eight Guns”, mine has a previously unreleased track called “Pavilion Steps”.

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The Alarm were a new wave, alternative rock band that liked to take on the “Establishment” and were not afraid to write politically charged songs.  Something other bands at the time were not doing.  “Sixty Eight Guns” was inspired by a book called A Glasgow Gang Observed by the Scottish author Patrick James that Mike Peters was reading about gangs in Glasgow around 1968 (thus the title).  The song is a battle cry for that gang mentality that you were invincible and ready to take on the world. Continue reading “The Alarm – “Sixty-Eight Guns” (45 Single)”