A.O.R. – Alarm Orientated Rock was a short-lived project put together by Dave Sharp to play the music of The Alarm live with a full band in 2008. A.O.R. was formed to provide a platform for guitarist, Dave Sharp, to revisit the music of the Alarm. In 2007, Dave was invited to take part in a voice-over for the re-release of the Alarm’s Spirit of ’86 concert held at UCLA, California, USA. This provided an opportunity for Dave and Mike Peters, to renew their friendship and to re-evaluate the band’s 10-year career. During the meeting, they both felt strongly that the music of the Alarm continues to be relevant today, and although the two weren’t able to find a way to regroup and join forces, Dave felt positive enough to move forward and begin performing the band’s music once again
(Picture provided by John O’Donnell)
Dave approached long-time friend and drummer, Simon Smith, who had toured with him on most of his solo projects and asked him to bring together a group of musicians able to relate intuitively and perform together instinctively. Smith introduced Sharp to singer Wayne Parry, Hammond player Tom Szakaly, and bassist Dave Black, all of whom have shared a strong and solid background in British classic rock music
Dave was quoted at the time “I’m looking forward very much to performing with the A.O.R. and playing electric guitar in a way that I haven’t done for a very long time. I hope the A.O.R. can bring the pioneering spirit of the Alarm into focus once again”
On the rehearsals Dave for the debut gig said this “Well, Folks, here we all are then. The A.O.R. and myself did our final rehearsal last night and we’re firing on all five cylinders. It has been a magical experience breathing new life into the music of The Alarm. It’s been a wondrous journey for me, and many a tear has been shed along the way as the music re-awakens all the wonderful memories and emotions experienced with Mike, Ed and Nige” – Source http://www.davesharp.org
The first live show was at Rockers, Glasgow, Scotland on 18th April 2008
The band line up was
Dave Sharp – Guitar, Wayne Parry – Vocals, Dave Black – Bass, Si Smith – Drums, Tom Szakaly – Piano and Hammond Organ
The set at the first show included the following songs
Hardland – click for video
The Road – click for video
Permanence In Change – click for video
Black Sun – click for video
Rockin’ In The Free World – click for video
Strength – click for video
Rescue Me – click for video
Prison Without Prison Bars – click for video
Rain In The Summertime – click for video
Sold Me Down The River – click for video
Devolution Workin’ Man Blues – click for video
Knife Edge – click for video
Presence Of Love – click for video
Sixty Eight Guns an impromptu adagio version with guest Davey Cowans – click for video
Original videos recorded by Eric Levell
(Original pictures by Doug Watson)
Heywood Civic Centre, Lancashire, England 26th November 2008 
The second Make A Noise memorial concert will be held on the 26th November at Heywood Civic Centre, Lancashire at 7.30, ending with a minute of Noise at 12 midnight. This concert will feature legendary punk band, The Damned, Manchester Punks Gold Blade, A.O.R. (Spirit of the Alarm), including original members of Alarm and Sophie’s friends bands Ded Mole Crickit and Eustacia Vye.
A.O.R. were due to play Ipswich Regent Theatre 1st December 2008 supporting Mick Ralph’s Bad Company and Ten Years After Now, the Bad Company winter tour got called off due to the reunion with Paul Rodgers
Talking Heads, Southampton, England 7th December 2008
Set list : Hardland, Permanence In Change, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Dawn Chorus, Knife Edge, Sold Me Down The River, Black Sun, Rescue Me, The Road, Strength
Review by Dave Chinery originally published in Babble And Beat Magazine in 2008
Having being an Alarm fan for over 23 years and hearing their songs sang many many times by the legendary original singer Mike Peters, I was a little apprehensive with this new venture by original guitarist Dave Sharp. Dave has put a band together to celebrate the music of The Alarm. Tonight, is only the band’s third live gig together, kicking off with Hardland from the Change album Dave’s Classic guitar sound was immediately recognizable and great to hear in its original form. Lead singer Wayne Parry did a pretty good job on vocals, doing his best as a front man to whip up the crowd.
The band is made up of 5 members with Wayne Parry (Lead Vocals), Dave Black (Bass), Si Smith (Drums), Tom Szakaly (Hammond Organ, piano) and of course Dave Sharp (Lead Guitar/Vocals). It was slightly disappointing not to hear some of Dave’s classic tracks such as One Step Closer to Home and Change, which hopefully we will get to hear as the band gain more confidence. Despite seeming a little nervous the band put in a commendable performance with excellent versions of rarely played songs such a The Road and Black Sun
The set was cut short due to the Sunday night curfew, the short set ended with the classic track “Strength” with Dave really letting with go with a brilliant guitar solo, a version that was true to the original from the album of the same name, with many audience members singing it out at the tops of their voices. An interesting variation from the “Alarm family” which just seems to just grow and grow, Mike has “The Alarm”, Eddie has “Westworld”, Dave Has “A.O.R.” what next maybe a band from Nigel Twist ??
Permanence in Change – click image for video Knife Edge – click image for video Black Sun – click image for video
12th December 2008 Dave Sharp appears on Radio Wales Evening Show to premiere A.O.R.’s new single With A Little Help From My Friends
The show was broadcast at 7pm and Dave will also do an acoustic performance of Ain’t Got No Home
Why did you decide to put out the Lennon and McCartney track, With a Little Help From My Friends’ as the new A.O.R. single instead of one of The Alarm’s classic tracks?
Dave – I really wanted to make a point with A.O.R.’s 1st single ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’. Recently I feel that there has been a giant disconnect in popular culture. I think it all stems from a kind of corporate overload to the point where all I’m hearing is “Mac Music.” It reminds me of when folks were saying that the ideals of Woodstock and Punk Rock could never connect. I reckon that ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ is an ideal track to demonstrate how some sort of reconnect can happen. The version that we recorded is certainly not in line with the original Lennon and McCartney track, however, some of you may recognize the track when you hear it – Originally from an Interview in Babble & Beat Fanzine 2009
12th December 2008 – The Globe, Cardiff, Wales
(Page Updated 15/03/2022)