Articles – The Alarm

Interview: The Alarm in Zig Zag Magazine by Mick Mercer

Amidst the general hubbub of the cozy North London pub the video screen suddenly dominated proceedings for mine eyes (only), twisting unexpectedly from the Birmingham Crossroads Motel to its London counterpart, The Bat Cave. The volume was fortunately never louder than the chink of glasses and dosser conversation but as I sat at the back quietly sipping my cocoa I began to feel quite bilious at the silent film before [read more]

Interview: The Alarm in Zig Zag Magazine by Mick Mercer:ZIGZAG 1982

THE ALARM, they hail from North Wales. The Alarm, they dwell in Battersea. The Alarm, they rehearse in a T-Shirt Factory. The Alarm, they are here. In fact the four of them are sitting in the steamy confines of Mike’s Cafe. Mike Peters (Acoustic Guitar and Bass), Dave Sharp (Acoustic Number Two), Nigel Twist (Drums) and Eddie MacDonald (Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Mouth-organs, Paraphernalia). All loudly enthusing over the matters [read more]

Article: LIFE ON THE DOLE LOOKS UP MOMENTARILY

As reported a fortnight ago in Thrills, Rhyl-based band Seventeen have been subjected to a lengthy investigation by the Department of Health and Social Security over the question of their drawing unemployment benefit whilst gigging for charity and for free. Last week, after five months of investigation, band members Eddie MacDonald, Nigel Buckle and Mike Peters were summoned to their local office and told that there were now no charges [read more]

Article: WHEN I WAS SEVENTEEN: Bureaucratic Double-Think Bamboozles Band

Catch 22 : You can’t play in a rock band for nothing and draw the dole at the same time, because if you do you’re not available for a job you might be offered. But there are no jobs available. Catch 22′ : DHSS investigators never tell you they are investigating you because the majority of those they investigate are ‘bad types’ who ‘run and cover their tracks’. So how [read more]