Next appears on the Forwards album released on CD and Vinyl on 16th June 2023. It is a song by The Alarm that was premiered live at The Gathering 30 on Saturday 28th January 2023, prior to this there had been short excerpts teased on thelarm.com website and social media. The song was officially released on 13th February 2023 available as a download track. This song was the first one to be released from the forthcoming album Forwards
While the single may signal that he’s newly energised from a healthy prognosis and ready to return to what he loves best – recording and performing – the fact is that Peters never stopped doing either of those things. Writing new music and performing it live to hospital staff while undergoing medical procedures to keep his cancer in check, Peters wrote “Next” with his trusty acoustic guitar and an IV stuck in his arm
“The lyrics of the song were conceived while I was being treated for a leukemia relapse and a lung that had filled with blood,” Peters explains. “The outcome was uncertain, but the medical and nursing staff did all they could to keep me going and, in fact, were probably the first people to hear what I was working up musically while they did their life saving work. It wasn’t planned, but once the realization hit me that I was going to be in hospital for a long time, I knew I needed my guitar to break the monotony of the isolation. Being able to play music to myself kept me going and I’m convinced that it helped me make the transition back to life.”As a reminder of what he went through and what he leaves behind, Peters filmed the new video in hospital corridors, a familiar sight in the last year especially. “I wanted to film something that captured the elation of knowing you are going home, moving on, going forwards ready for what lies ahead, for what’s next,” he says. “At night and in between IV sessions, I would walk the very same empty hospital corridors of the North Wales Cancer Centre trying to preserve whatever human strength I could hang on to.” – Mike Peters February 2023
Click image for the Next video from official The Alarm YouTube channel
Forwards album recording details
Running length 3:08
Written by Mike Peters
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic and Baritone Guitars
James Stevenson – Acoustic, Baritone Guitars, Backing Vocals
Steve ‘Smiley’ Barnard – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Jules Jones-Peters – Piano, Organ, Strings, Backing Vocals
George Williams – Additional Instrumentation
Recorded at Rock Hard Studio and Alycat Studio, Blackpool, England, Sunshine Corner Studios, England, Crusader Studios, Wales
Produced and Mixed by George Williams
Album appearance and discography of studio recordings
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
(All Images right click to open larger in new window)
16th June 2023 : The Alarm – Forwards
Released on CD, Vinyl and Digital Download by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C131CD (CD), 21C131LP (White Vinyl) 21C131LPG (Green Vinyl)
2023 Forwards album recording
Single Appearance
13th February 2023 : Digital Download/Stream – Forwards
2023 Forwards album recording
Click Image to stream on Spotify
Lyrics : Forwards Single/Album Version
All the clocks are set to zero
Now’s the time to run
I hear the crack of the starting gun
And I’m ready for what’s next
All is possible
All is understood
Whatever’s trying to kill me
Makes me feel alive
I I I feel alright (alright alright)
When I’m with you
I I I feel fine
Are you ready now
Are you ready for whats next?
This is the go ahead
All the green lights have been started
All systems go
This is the kick start we all dreamed of
All is forgiven
All is understood
Whenever you need me
I’ll always be there
I I I feel alright
When I’m with you
I I I feel fine
Are you ready now
Are you ready for whats next?
I I I feel alright
When I’m with you
Yeah
Bring it on
I I I feel fine
When I’m with you
I I I feel alright (alright alright)
Are you ready now
Are you ready for whats next?
Are you ready
Are you ready for whats next?
Are you ready for whats next?
Are you ready for whats next?
(Transcription verified 22/08/2023)
Audio & Visual Sources – 1 x video
Click image for the Forwards video from official The Alarm YouTube channel
(Page updated 22/08/2023)