If the was ever a song or an album that helped me survive this crazy life, this would be it. In my most difficult days I would put this on and gather strength from Mike Peters words and passion for life. Sometimes you need help, this was mine.
In “Strength” (1985), Alarm lead vocalist Mike Peters is looking for someone to give him love, hope, strength, and someone to live for. He stated : “It’s really about depending on someone else to help you be alive, be happy, find love. We can’t find all those things as individuals, we have to find them in pairs or through togetherness or community.” In 2020, Peters explained how the tune came together : “‘Strength’ arrived to me in the middle of the night. It was a bit of a dream song. I woke up in a hotel room after we played a gig in Newcastle, and I had the melody of the chorus and the words in my head. I was rooming with a friend who now works with Bob Dylan [John “Redeye” Edwards]. I woke him up in the middle of the night and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get my guitar out of the band van and bring it up here, because I’ve got a song.’ The song was formed in my imagination and I just had to find the chords on my guitar. That was the only thing that was lacking - I didn’t know what the chords were. We played it at soundcheck the next day and it was all there.” After Mike Peters was diagnosed with leukemia in the mid-‘90s, “Strength” took on new meaning for him, especially the line, “Who will be the life blood coursing through my veins?” 💚🩸💙
This song was a gateway for me to whole new music experience. I had been into metal in my early teen years, but I wasn't really liking the glam direction it seemed to be going in. I saw this video on MTV and it was like a kick in the ass. Pretty soon I was selling my metal cassettes and using the money to buy cassettes by The Alarm, REM, The Replacements, Husker Du, The Cure, etc. Coming up on 40 years later and I'm still listening to those same bands.
When I was in my mid teens they were just as popular among my group of friends. I remember when they opened for Dylan it seemed like half my highschool went. The only other shows I remember that many of us going to were U2 and The Cure.
They were really popular in the late 70's, early 80's, right in line with my HS days, as was U2. Same kind of music. I think the difference between U2 and The Alarm was music selection once they got "older" more mature. The Alarm stood firm to the original and U2 kind of diverged from their roots. This is why today U2 is more well known and The Alarm not so much. Still love The Alarm and early U2 best of all.
Memories come flooding back! .. ............ Oh how I wish the original line up had stayed together (no disrespect intended to current/past members). The energy & passion created by The Alarm live throughout the 80's all the way through to Brixton 91 are some of the greatest memories I have. I love watching these videos and reliving it all over again. Much love & best wishes to all members of the The Alarm (past & present) and especially to Mr Peters MBE for keeping the dream alive :)
I went through a very acrimonious divorce about 11 years ago as a man in my late 40's. I played this song 20x a day for a few years until God finally gave me the strength to move on. Btw, the 1st time I saw The Alarm was June, 1983 when they opened for U2 at The Pier (next to The Intrepid) in NYC. Those were days. Yes they were.
Happy 62nd Birthday Michael Leslie Peters 25/02/59 Prestatyn, Wales Your folksy / raspy voice is one of a kind. And so is The Alarm. Born same day as George Harrison too..
I was in my teens in the 90's but as a guitar player listened to a lot of 80's rock. mostly VH. This is exactly the kind of stuff I look for for my current cover band.. A little Billy Idol, The cult. Cool shit.
Extra props for Nigel Twist standing as a drummer with a gong drum and Eddie MacDonald playing acoustic bass guitar. That's a very unique rhythm section sound!
Ive been a fan of the alarm since I was a kid there's something about this band that has inspired, encouraged, and given me hope to be the best I could be
Someone write me a letter I need to know that I'm still alive Someone give me a telephone call I need to hear a human sound Someone open up a door And let me out of this place I've been caged up for oh so long I don't know if I'm living or dying
Got to hang out backstage with these blokes on the Strength tour when they came through Denver in 1986..These guys were not only amazing live they were gracious and real as human beings as well. I saw them at least 6 times as a kid in the 80's and early 90's..great times! Great Band!
Yeah man. Saw The Alarm 3x in the '80's. The 1st time when they opened for U2 at The Pier in NYC in June, 1983. I've seen U2 43x since 1981. The 80's definitely had the best music.
Are you kidding , please go and wash your mouth out. Surely this should be the other way around. More like U2 (music for the simpletons) sound slightly like the Alarm?! Bono couldn't hold a candle to Mikey Boy.
@@malcolmyoung5230 theres an old saying that applies to you: sometimes it's better to shut your mouth & let everyone think you're a moron than open your mouth & confirm it. Mike Peters couldn't hold Bono's tea.
Why so underrated? I relate a lot to their songs, even if I'm not "a man of emotions" I start to feel so powerful and attached to life when I listen to The Alarm. Usually I listen more to synthpop, punk and experimental and I'm very selective with artists, but this really ROCKS. I love them because they arrive to your heart!! Thank you :)))
One of my all-time favorite bands from the 80’s … think they should have been even bigger than U2 if they hadn’t broken up. I like all the “new” Alarm stuff, but nothing beats the original lineup.
The last verse of this song is amazing, especially when Peters belts out, "someone open up the door and let me out of this place." They have a U2 vibe, but I think they are better.
Agreed, they are much better. I like some of U2's music but The Alarm are so much better in my view. I have been listening to them for over forty years.
I was luck enough to see The Alarm and U2 play in a small center in San Francisco early 80's. I thought The Alarm was better. I still listen to them. U2 not so much. I still have the album Declaration ..
Was expecting the 5m35s version of this. [Still fantastic for this, I presume, 4m08s radio edit]. Full length version has this bridge verse that has slight variations on an earlier verse: "I walk alone across the outskirts of town I can't control what I'm going through now Will you light the fire that I need to survive? Will you donate the life blood coursing through my veins? Will you open up the door and let me out of this place" Full length can be found on the bands YT channel, missing part starts around 3m 26s mark.
All hail the Professor of Rock!!! The single best thing to come out of Covid-19. Rediscovering my passion for GREAT music. Three chords and the truth, my friend.
![The Alarm - Strength (Official Music Video) [2019 Remaster]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
