Mike Peters, the frontman of the Welsh rock band, The Alarm, revealed today (April 29, 2024) that he has high grade lymphoma, a form of cancer that begins in cells of the immune system and grows and spreads quickly. Peters, who turned 65 on February 5, had originally been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2005 but had been in remission. On April 21, he awoke with a large swollen gland on the left side of his neck. The results of a biopsy and CT scan at the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre revealed that his new diagnosis requires immediate and specialized cancer treatment. The cancer survivor describes his upcoming fight, noting, “I’m going to make it through what I know will be the most challenging time of my life.”
The Alarm were about to start a U.S. tour, “Live Today, Love Tomorrow,” on May 1st through to July 7 with support from Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel and Belouis Some. It has been postponed.
Peters formed The Alarm in 1981 and released five studio albums on I.R.S. Records between 1984 and 1991, each of which was certified Silver in the U.K. They were an in-demand opening act for such acts as U2 and Bob Dylan.
He writes, “I have no doubt that the following news will come as a complete shock to you in the same way that it has also come as a bolt out of the blue to me and my family.”
Peters, who had previously survived a battle with lymph cancer in the mid-’90s, will have both a PET and Heart Scan and further consultations with the medical experts before confirming the exact specifics of his new treatment regime.
Once the exact specifics of the biopsy and the treatment plans have been determined, he will share his plan for recovery with his fans “and how I’m going to make it through what I know will be the most challenging time of my life.
“I am still reeling from the consequences of this new and completely unforeseen diagnosis and doing my best to process what is happening. I’m grateful for the love and understanding of everyone affected by the tour postponement and hoping and praying with all that I have, that this is just a pause in the story of my life, and that normal service will be able to resume soon.
“Cancer has been chasing me for 29 years now, and in all that time, I have managed to outrun the disease and stay alive. My focus and resolve remain the same, and I’m determined to keep running even harder to stay one step ahead and resume my life as a husband, father, and musician as soon as possible.
Thanks for all your understanding, and I will endeavour to keep you updated as soon as I know what the doctors have in store for me and the life steps I will have to take to get back on the front foot.
Love Hope and Strength,
Mike Peters
Watch them perform their biggest U.K. hit, “Sixty Eight Guns,” on Top of the Pops
Peters’ initial cancer diagnosis in 1995 spurred him to create the Love Hope Strength Foundation with his wife and breast cancer survivor, Jules Peters, to help build awareness and fight against cancer through advocacy and bone marrow drives. Love Hope Strength has registered 250,000 people onto International Stem Cell Registries and identified over 4,500 potentially lifesaving matches, giving hope to blood cancer patients who would otherwise be denied a chance of life.
