Michael Leslie Peters Rest In Peace. The news broke today, and it was news I didn’t want to read.
I’ve seen hundreds of bands, but there is only one I’ve seen hundreds of times, literally hundreds, and that’s The Alarm and Mike Peters (people think I’m weird when I say I’ve seen his sing 68 Guns about 250 times maybe more but I don’t find it weird in the slightest). It’s been a well-documented battle with the big C, and he fought it until his dying breath. Sadly, the 30-year battle is over, following his diagnosis of lymphoma in 1995, and later having chronic lymphocytic leukaemia twice. Peters passed away on April 28th 2025.
I’ve been lucky enough to have met him on many occasions and laughed more times than I can remember at his shows, and considering his precarious health, he never let it get in his way or slow him down, trading his condition blow for blow. There were times after treatment when his voice was shot, but he played on delivering incredible, memorable performances I’m proud to have attended. At the young age of 66, he leaves behind his Wife, Jules, who has always been at his side and his two sons, Dylan and Evan. His story is not finished; he will always live on through his music and fans, who are amongst the most dedicated I’ve ever come across.
Rest easy, my friend and his family should be proud of his life and all the changes for good he’s had on so many people through his charitable work and his music, bringing love, hope and strength to so many. As he sang, the 68 Guns will never die. They’ll go marching on and on, no doubt about it.
Peters fought long and hard and shouldn’t be defined by his illness but by his talent and unwavering love of the life he had. he always seemed so positive, even when it was obvious times were tough on him and those in his family, but he fought long and hard. My head’s a bit in the shed at the moment, and I’m conscious of rambling on, but his impact has been immense, and it needed to be marked, and to say I’m gutted would be an understatement. My wife and I never missed a Gathering and travelled far and wide for shows and as the lyrics say, I bought the books, the records and the politics. Releasing some of the best music, Peters leaves an immense legacy and an incredible charity that deserves every bit of credit it gets far and wide. A real Rock n Roll hero whose race is sadly run now rest easy, Michael Leslie Peters, until we meet again, Love, Hope and Strength to you all. Dioch.
My thoughts are with his immediate family, who now have to carry on and find strength in each other and find some sort of comfort in the fact he was loved by many people around the globe and whose lives he touched with his art and campaigning. Don’t be sad for his passing but be happy that we’ve all had the pleasure of his company and music and will continue to carry those memories forward.
Love, Hope And Strength Charity
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