Where are they now?

The Alarm, The Psychedelic Furs and The Fixx joined forces this past summer for the ROCKIN THE COLONIES TOUR, hitting selected cities throughout the US.

Nothing will stop The Alarm (http://www.thealarm.com/777/) frontman Mike Peters. Band break-ups, a less than successful solo career, cancer, leukemia-you name it, he has seen it all, in spades. After pursuing a solo career in the '90s, Mike regrouped The Alarm with a different lineup in 2004 and releaseed the single "45 RPM" under the band name The Poppy Fields. Unbeknown to the recording industry, radio programmers or the listeners, the lead singer of The Poppy Fields was none other than Mr. Peters, having recorded and released the song without his name associated to it (they even went so far as to pay another UK band to lip sync the video). After the single went top 30 in the UK, Mike let everyone in on the secret (The Poppy Fields was actually the name of The Alarm album being recorded at the time. After being diagnosed with leukemia in December of 2005 ( Mike had successfully fought lymph cancer in 1995), Mike took it easy in 2006 by taking chemo treatments, becoming a father again, founding the "Love Hope Strength" Foundation (dedicated to cancer research http://www.lovehopestrength.com/ ) and starting work on the groups latest effort, "Under Attack". Released in June of 2006, "Under Attack" featured the single "Supperchannel", which went to #23 on the UK singles chart. Earlier this year Mike, along with Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats), Cy Curnin and Jamie West (The Fixx), and Glen Tillbrook and Nick Harper (Squeeze) climbed to 18,000ft on Mount Everest to perform in Everest Rocks, the highest concert on land ever held. The concert was designed to raise funds and awareness for cancer research.

Mike Peters, 2006

Cy Curnin, on Mount Everest

Despite not having released any new material since 2003's "Want That Life" (save Cy Curnin's solo release "Mayfly" in 2005 http://www.cycurnin.com/index.html ) the Fixx (http://www.thefixx.com/news.shtml) have continued touring the US for much of the last two decades. Oddly enough, The Fixx were never much of a draw in their native Britain, experiencing much more success in the US and Canada. Despite talk of recording and a possible new album, no release dates have ever been announced. Cy Curnin is releasing another solo album this month entitled "The Returning Sun".

The world hasn't seen any new Psychedelic Furs ( http://www.burneddowndays.com/) music since 1991's "World Outside". When last we heard from Furs founders Richard and Tim Butler, they had broken away from the remaining group members to form Love Spit Love (http://www.lovespitlove.co.uk/) in the early 90's. In 2000 the brothers Butler reunited with former Furs mate John Ashton and "Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live" was released shortly thereafter. The greatest hits package included one new studio recording as well as three previously unreleased songs. In 2006 Richard Butler (http://www.myspace.com/richardbutlermusic) released a self titled solo album.

Volume 1

Wear'n Out...
Here's what I currently can't get enough of:

The Mice - "For Almost Ever Scooter" (Reissued on Scat Records): Seemingly lost power-pop/punk from the Cleveland brothers Bill and Tommy Fox. Scat reissued two Mice albums as one, the 1985 EP "For Almost Ever" along with the '86 LP "Scooter". Ragged edges with just enough pop to keep it interesting. Not to be missed. www.scatrecords.com/mice.htm

The Embarrassment - "Heyday 1979-1983" (Bar None):

The greatest band you've never heard? That's what they said about a lot of bands, and most of them blew. But for once, who ever said it got it right. Blowing off the plains of Kansas, The "Embo's", as their few but faithful followers called them, had it all. The DIY sound that punk offered, clever lyrics and song tempo's that ranged from two-minute burners to 5 minute epics. Once you start listening, you'll never stop. http://www.embarrassment.org/

The Gun Club - "Miami" (I.R.S. 1982) : The blues? In the 80's? I didn't know I liked the blues in 1982, yet here is the Gun Club layering minimalist early 80's punk with, yes, the blues...and a little country when you aren't looking. What every late 90's alt.country bad wished they were. http://www.thegunclub.net/

Who Knew...
It's a good time to be an old song. More and more record labels are coming to the realization that the CD is in fact dead and it's time to make recordings long since abandoned in underground vaults and storage rooms available on the web. Wow, what an idea. As mentioned with The Mice, long out of print recordings are making their way to emusic, itunes, audiolunchbox and the like. Lou Reed's (http://www.loureed.org/) 1978 classic and out-of-print jewel "Street Hassle" was recently made available online along with his '72 solo debut and "Sally Can't Dance" from 1974. Stay tuned.

The Ten ...
My periodic list of songs you can't live without. Call it my "desert island" list, but remember, when we're all stuck on that island, don't blame me if you don't have them (and no, I won't let you borrow my ipod).

1. 4,3,2,1 - The Adicts

2. Jo The Waiter - Gary Numan

3. That's When I Reach for My Revolver - Mission of Burma

4. Romantic Me - Polyrock

5. Strange Day, Stranger Nights - The Celibate Rifles

6. Give It Back - The Dickies

7. Cattle Prod - Guadalcanal Diary

8. In The City - The Jam

9. The Light Pours Out of Me - Magazine

10. We Can Get Together - Icehouse