Flesh and Blood began after Mike Peters appearance at a benefit concert at the Blackwood Institute, Wales, in Autumn of 1998. Patrick Jones, the brother of Manic St.Preacher’s Nicky Wire had organised a benefit concert for Kosovo and had invited Mike to perform. (The Manics are Alarm fans and used to take the train to watch The Alarm play at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff). Patrick is a playwright and so, extracts of his play, were also being performed that night. Watching in the wings was a man called Phil Clarke, Artistic Director of the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff. Phil, a lifelong admirer of Mr. Peters’s works, approached Mike and asked him if he would be interested in writing some music for a new Welsh play, following on from Phil’s successful collaboration with Patrick’s play, “Everything Must Go” which first opened at the Sherman (with music written by the Manics). Mike said he would like to, and that was that. A few days later, a large bundle arrived on Mike’s doorstep. I was out shopping (James feared the worst!) and upon my return, Mike was sat, exhausted and elated at the kitchen table, having written 12 songs. He proceeded to perform the entire sequence of songs, one on one for me and I fell in love, there and then. I just couldn’t release the melodies from my head and to this day, fall asleep to the haunting lullaby of St. Davids Day – Jules Jones-Peters Blog 2000
Flesh and Blood’ – The play was written by Welsh playwright and actress Helen Griffin and featured original new music performed ‘live’ by Mike Peters. ‘Flesh and Blood’ was commissioned by Phil Clark Artistic Director of The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff and will open in Cardiff in the year 2000 on February 19th. The album ‘Flesh and Blood’ by Mike Peters was released on 21st Century to coincide with the opening of the play.
FLESH AND BLOOD was a play performed by the SHERMAN THEATRE COMPANY written by Helen Griffin With music by Mike Peters (The Alarm) in 2000. The play ran from 10-26 February 2000 at Sherman Theatre, rickets were £10
In the press release the play was described this way
“An outrageous new comedy with a sting in its tail! Helen Griffin’s hysterical new play is set around a family in South Wales and, ‘believe you me’, her comedy leaves no stone unturned. You’ll know this family. They live in your own town or street, or even in your house. Dad has an opinion on everything and should be ‘running the world’; daughter, Serena, is having an affair (but who with!) and Steve, the youngest, is into very dodgy dealings. And long suffering Mum is trying to keep the family together – after all, they are flesh and blood! On top of all that, it’s a love story on the edge of the century bound together with exciting new music from Wales’ Mike Peters.“
A short documentary feature about the play ran in early January, 2000.
“Flesh And Blood” Making Of On BBC Digital Choice
‘The Making of Flesh and Blood’ Tune in next week to BBC Digital Choice and pull up a seat to the making of Mike’s brand new solo record, ‘Flesh and Blood’. A soundtrack album was recorded and released by 21st Century records of the play soundtrack.
Video Link – Birthday Acoustic Gig 25/02/2000 on the set of the play
(Page Update 27/07/2021)