THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

394-The Alarm-Sixty Eight Guns.

1983-Number 17 single.

Best Bit-At 4.50. Before they changed their name to The Alarm, they were called ‘The Toilets.’ It was a good idea to change the name.

The earliest incarnation of what would eventually become ‘The Alarm’ containing Mike Peters, (alias Eddie Bop) were formed in Rhyl, Wales, United Kingdom, in 1977, calling themselves ‘The Toilets,’ and playing ‘Punk Rock’ music. In 1978, after band member changes they renamed themselves ‘Quasimodo,’ playing covers of ‘The Who’s’ songs, and being joined by guitarist Dave Sharp. Soon after there was another name change, this time to ‘Seventeen,’ where they were joined by this songs co-writer Eddie MacDonald. As ‘Seventeen’ they released one single in 1979 called ‘Don’t Let Go,’ on the ‘Vendetta’ label. In 1981 they once again changed the band name, this time to ‘Alarm Alarm,’ named after one of their earlier songs, but after the legendary Radio 1 DJ John Peel (1939-2004) (see also best songs 728-659-435-409 and 336) commented that with Duran Duran, Talk Talk, and now Alarm Alarm, perhaps he should call himself John Peel John Peel, so the name was shortened to ‘The Alarm.’ In June 1983, the group embarked on their first tour of the United States supporting U2 on their ‘War Tour,’ they would also go on to open for Bob Dylan, and The Police. The Alarm remained together until founding member Mike Peters left to pursue a solo career in 1991. Since 2000 Peters has resurrected the name, sometimes touring and recording as ‘The Alarm MM++’ with differing musicians.

The discography of The Alarm includes 19 studio Albums released between 1984-2021, and 35 singles released between 1981-2021, there are also eight extended plays, (EP’s) five box sets, two soundtrack Albums, eight official compilation Albums, and 29 live Albums available. In the UK, The Alarm have had nine top 40 hit singles, with ‘Sixty Eight Guns’ peaking the highest at Number 17 in 1983, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, their highest chart placing is ‘Rain in the Summertime,’ which made Number 71 in 1987, while ‘Sixty Eight Guns’ stalled at Number 106. They have charted on 11 occasions on the American Billboard ‘Mainstream Rock’ chart, with ‘Sold Me Down the River,’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 1989.

‘Sixty Eight Guns,’ or ’68 Guns’ as it is written interchangeably on the various releases was the third of four singles released from ‘Declaration,’ the debut studio Album by The Alarm, from February 1984, the song was co-written by Mike Peters, and Eddie MacDonald, with the production being by Alan Shacklock. The four band members who played on the track, and the Album were Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie MacDonald, and drummer Nigel ‘Twist’ Buckle, who had joined the band when they were known as ‘Seventeen.’ Alan Albert Shacklock, who also played piano on the Album, was born on June 20th, 1950, in Kingsbury, North London, England, he was a founding member of the influential English Rock band Babe Ruth in 1970, whose song ‘The Mexican,’ which he wrote and produced, is considered influential in the early development of ‘Break Dancing,’ and ‘Hip-Hop’ culture.

The lyrics to ‘Sixty Eight Guns’ were written by Mike Peters after reading a book called ‘A Glasgow Gang Observed,’ by the Scottish author Patrick James, first published in 1973, but written in 1968, which is why there are 68 guns in the songs title. The book tells the story of the observations made by a warden of a borstal, he went out on to the streets undercover with an inmate who was let out at weekends, and he was seeing first hand the dangers in gang culture, and the changes in society in 1968. Mike Peters has said, ‘It was about young people at that difficult age where you’re too cool for school, but not wise enough for adult life. So it’s about people like that, like I was once. We hung around on street corners, we started bands, we bought clothes, we identified with each other, and we credit these very bonded groups of individuals. And that’s how the Alarm grew. Sixty Eight Guns is really the description of the feeling that you could make change for yourself, and make your life a better place to be in.’

‘And now they are trying to take my life away, forever young I cannot stay, hey! On every corner I can see them there, they don’t know my name, they don’t know my kind.’