Bank Holiday Weekend is a song recorded as Seventeen, which first appeared on the 7″ single released on Vendetta Records of London. The single was first releases 17th November 1979 the weeks after the bands Rhyl Town Hall Show in November 1979. There was a secondary release on 30th March 1980. The original single was recorded and pressed in 1979, initially being used by the bands manager Peter Buckle for promotional use during that year and for sale locally and at gigs. This song was originally due to appear on an album called The Best of British which was never released. This single version would later appear on the 2002 album release A Flashing Blur of Stripped Down Excitement.
This version of the song was also released on the reissue of the 7″ single of Don’t Let Go / Bank Holiday Weekend in 2002
1979 Village Way recording details
Running length 3:06
Written by Macdonald / Peters
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar
Eddie Macdonald – Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Dave Sharp – Guitar
Nigel Buckle – Drums
Recorded at Village Way, Rayners Lane, Harrow. London HA5, England
Produced by Neil Richmond
Executive producer Jack Roberts
If you want the chords to play this song, the original 1979 recorded version can be found on this website
Bank Holiday Weekend – Chords
Click on the image above fro the audio of the Bank Holiday Weekend original 1979 single recording
Other studio versions of the song
2003 Edward Henry Street new recording
2003 Recording as part of the Edward Henry Street Album release as part of In The Poppy Fields Bond : Four
Running length 0:29
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic, Electric Guitars
James Stevenson – Electric Guitar
Craig Adams – Bass Guitar
Steve Grantley – Drums, Percussion
Recorded at Mountain and Sea Studios, Dyserth, Wales and Apple Tree, Oxford, England
Produced by Mike Peters and Martin Wilding
Mixed by Martin Wilding
Mastered by Gary Butler at RTS, Liverpool, England
Click image above for the audio of this track hosted by The Alarm official youtube channel
Album appearances and discography of studio recordings
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
2002 : Seventeen – A Flashing Blur of Stripped Down Excitement
Released on CD and Vinyl by Vinyl Japan, catalogue numbers ASKCD135 (CD) ASKLP135 (vinyl)
1979 Village Way recording
2003 : The Alarm – In The Poppy Fields Bond #4 – Edward Henry Street
Released on CD on The Twenty First Recording Company, catalogue number 21C028
2003 Edward Henry Street recording
Japanese Release :
2008 : Seventeen – A Flashing Blur of Stripped Down Excitement
Released on CD in japan only on Vinyl Japan, catalogue number JASKCD135P, re-release with paper sleeve
1979 Village Way recording
Bank Holiday Weekend appears as a track on these following various artist compilation albums, the recording is the 1979 Village Way recording
Powerpearls Vol. 3
Released on vinyl in 1998 by Not on Label, catalogue number Pearl 3
Shake Some Action Vol. 3 – UK & Ireland (A Collection Of Powerpop, Mod & New Wave Rarities 1975-1986)
Released on CD in 2002 by Shake Some Action, catalogue number SSA-003
Best Of British: Vendetta Records The Missing Hits 1979
Released in Japan on CD in 2006 by 1977 Records, catalogue number 1977-A012CD
Vinyl Japan Calling Again – The Official Method Of Klub Dancing Vol.2
Released in Japan on CD in 2008 by Vinyl Japan, catalogue number JASKCD 214
Millions Like Us (The Story Of The Mod Revival 1977-1989)
Released as a 4 CD box set in 2014 by Cherry Red, catalogue number CRCDBOX16
Single appearances and discography
UK Releases :
17th November 1979 : Seventeen – 7″ Vinyl single – Don’t Let Go
Track listing : Don’t Let Go / Bank Holiday Weekend
Vendetta Records, catalogue number VD001
1979 Village Way recording
15th April 2002 : Seventeen – 7″ Vinyl single – Don’t Let Go
Track listing : Don’t Let Go / Bank Holiday Weekend
Vinyl Japan, catalogue number PAD78
1979 Village Way recording
Unofficial bootleg release 
Date unknown : Seventeen/The Alarm – 7″ Vinyl single – The Alarm
Track listing : Side 1 The Alarm performing as 17 – Let’s Go / Bank Holiday (studio) Side 2 – Marching On / Howling Wind (extended) claims to be live from California 1981 but is from a later USA show
Released on red and black vinyl versions
Don’t Let Go is the 1979 Village Way recording
Officially released recordings ~ Live
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
24th January 2003. Recorded at The Gathering 11, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Running length 2:54
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released on CD in 2012 on – The Alarm – In The Poppy Fields Collected Works, catalogue number 21C060 
23rd August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running length 2:38
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released on CD in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 1 – The Start Of The Beginning And The Point Of No Return
29th August 2004. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running length 2:24
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released on CD in 2004 on Alarmstock 2 Volume 5 – Yesterday As If It Was Today
20th August 2005. Recorded at Capitol Records Studio A, Los Angeles, California, USA
Running length 2:29
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic.
Released on CD in 2005 on Alarmstock III Los Angeles Set 1 – The Sound Of Generations Collide
Officially released live recordings ~ DVD
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
24th January 2003. Recorded at The Gathering 11, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Running length 2:54
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released on DVD in 2005 – The Alarm – The Gathering History Catalogue number 21CDVD003
Lyrics ~ Village Way recording
Waiting for the summer
Waiting for the crowds
Waiting for the holidays
Gone is the winter, here comes the summer
It’s a bank holiday weekend
From May 27 to May 28
The waiting ain’t as long as it seems
Cause here come the people
Here come the crowds
It’s a bank holiday weekend
But you know it’s got to end
It’s a bank holiday weekend
Nothing ever seems to go on
A peaceful holiday weekend
A bank holiday weekend
There’s fights on the beaches
Fights in the pubs
Kids everywhere to be seen
The summer is starting
They turn back the clocks
It’s time for ice cream and rock
But you know it’s got to end
It’s a bank holiday weekend
Nothing ever seems to go on
A peaceful holiday weekend
A bank holiday weekend
But where do they come from
I don’t know (I don’t know)
And where do they go to
I don’t know (I don’t know)
But you know it’s all got to end
It’s a bank holiday weekend
Nothing ever seems to go on
A peaceful holiday weekend
A bank holiday weekend
Too many people
Too many lads
Too many trying to get in
They’re looking for action
Looking for fun
It’s a bank holiday weekend
But you know it’s got to end
It’s a bank holiday weekend
Nothing ever seems to go on
A peaceful holiday weekend
A bank holiday weekend
Where do they come from
I don’t know (I don’t know)
And where do they go to
I don’t know (I don’t know)
But you know it’s all got to end
It’s a bank holiday weekend
Nothing ever seems to go on
A peaceful holiday weekend
A bank holiday weekend
Alternative lyrics ~ In The Poppy Fields Bond recording
It’s a bank holiday weekend
Nothing ever seems to go on
A peaceful holiday weekend
A bank holiday weekend
(Page Updated 06/02/2026)