The Alarm took to the road in January and February 1990. For most of the tour the support band were Salvation except for Hull (singer Danny Mass had lost his voice). The Newport and Cardiff dates saw Jess as the support. The members of Jess would later become members of The Poets in 1994.

19th January 1990 : The Music Hall, Aberdeen, Scotland
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues,,Strength, Hardland, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, A New South Wales, Love Don’t Come Easy, Absolute Reality, Blaze of Glory, The Stand, One Step Closer To Home, Marching On, Rivers To Cross, Sixty Eight Guns, Spirit of 76, Rescue Me, Sold Me Down The River. Rain In The Summertime, Rocking In The Free World.

Review
Salvation started the tour off with a set of a lot of newer material, only one song, All and More being available on record, however they will be releasing Debris on Monday. The Alarm fans seemed to enjoy Salvation, pity the Penguins didn’t seem to feel the same way about The Alarm. After playing for 45 minutes there was a very efficient set change to allow The Alarm to start at just after 9:00 and what a start. Launching straight into Change II “It’s been a long time coming and it’s good to be back”. You’re telling me Mike and Dave. Eddie and Dave have swapped sides which will catch a lot of people out. The Alarm stormed through the longest set I’ve ever seen them do, quite a few oldies, The Stand, Marching on, Blaze, Absolute, 68 Guns (the short version still), Spirit of ’76, with Mike really giving it some on the audience participation “I think you’ve passed your audition”. The speech finally dropped, allowed Rescue Me to work again. The new songs are coming over just as powerfully as the old ones, but A New South Wales doesn’t work in Scotland as well as the country it’s written about. Still no Newtown but we’ve still got 21 nights left. Dave took the mic for “The millionth time I’ve sung this song”, One Step, and as I said it should, Rivers To Cross found the harp at last! Sold Me finished the main show with Eddie and Dave giving it all on joint lead, then Rain finally had to show as the encore, pity. Rounding off a brilliant show was Neil Young’s Rocking In The Free World, for the first time in this kingdom but they’ve been doing it in America – Andi Badgeman, part of No Frontiers Tour Diary

20th January 1990 : Barrowlands, Glasgow, Scotland
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Hardland, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, Absolute Reality, No Frontiers, Love Don’t Come Easy, Rivers To Cross, Sold Me Down The River,  Rain In The Summertime, Rescue Me, One Step Closer To Home, The Stand, New South Wales, Marching On, Spirit of 76, Rocking in the Free World   


22nd January 1990 : The Network, Edinburgh, Scotland
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Hardland, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer To Home, No Frontiers, New South Wales, Love Don’t Come Easy, The Stand,  Blaze of Glory, Rain In The Summertime, Sold Me Down The River, Spirit of 76, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns, Rescue Me

23rd January 1990 : City Hall, Newcastle, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Hardland, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, Sixty Eight Guns,  Blaze of Glory, Knife Edge, No Frontiers, Love Don’t Come Easy, Rivers To Cross, Sold Me Down The River, Rain In The Summertime, Rescue Me, One Step Closer To Home, The Stand, New South Wales, Marching On, Spirit of 76, Rocking In The Free World
Review
Went for a swift pint then Salvation were on. We all stood in the gangway at the back dancing and the Alarm fans were either elsewhere or sitting down being boring. Down into the bar after Salvation then back to our seats for The Alarm. Change started again, and Mike sounded a bit out of key, then Devolution and the cock-up of the evening, Mike tried to hit the high note of “Blues” at the end and missed. Dave and he pissed themselves laughing. Tonight we had Knife Edge for the first time this tour although it was the version that they played at Cardiff and the Shaw Theatre. Rain half way through so, as always, I walked out again, standing watching bored road crew throwing paper aircraft around the foyer. Back in for 68 then yelling for Reason 41 and Third Light during the intro to One Step and shouting “Let Eddie sing something”. No Absolute tonight, pity! Rivers To Cross: Dave introduced this asking if we wanted to hear it in English or in Welsh, we all screamed Welsh so Croesi’r Afon we got until half way through Mike went back into English. Strength, Free World and Blaze to finish with then it was outside to wait for the band – Andi Badgeman, part of No Frontiers Tour Diary

24th January 1990 : City Hall, Sheffield, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Hardland, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, Sixty Eight Guns,  Blaze of Glory, Absolute Reality, No Frontiers, Love Don’t Come Easy, Rivers To Cross, Sold Me Down The River, Rain In The Summertime, Rescue Me, One Step Closer To Home, The Stand, New South Wales, Marching On, Spirit of 76, Rocking In The Free World

25th January 1990 : St George’s Hall, Bradford, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer To Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, The Stand, Rivers To Cross, Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, A New South Wales, Hardland, Sold Me Down The River, Spirit of 76, Rescue Me, Rain In The Summertime, Rocking In The Free World

27th January 1990 : Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues,  Permanence In Change, Strength, Hardland, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, Sixty Eight Guns,  Blaze of Glory, Absolute Reality, No Frontiers, Love Don’t Come Easy, Rivers To Cross, Sold Me Down The River, Rain In The Summertime, Rescue Me, One Step Closer To Home, The Stand, New South Wales, Marching On, Knife Edge, Spirit of 76, Rocking In The Free World  
Review
I got to Liverpool and walked to Royal Court, to get my ticket. Only seats left in the balcony. The upper part of the venue is totally separate from downstairs so I was stuck in the balcony. Went for a drink before Salvation, then sat through their set, I wish they’d alter it somehow, it’s the same every night. After Salvation I got to the front of the balcony so I could see everything. Not much really to tell of for tonight’s gig although it was one of the best so far. During Strength the security told us to go back to our seats. Spirit went down really well tonight. Mike’s parents were here as well. No Frontiers was dedicated to Susie and the nurses looking after her. Knife Edge started the encore, then Rain and I was talking to Sumie and not thinking caught myself singing along. Free World to finish then back out into the snow and rain and wait for the band. Dave went straight away, then Eddie appeared, then Nigel. Mike came out and I got to say hello for the first time since Edinburgh. When they’d gone I spoke to Mike’s parents then it was time to go. We waited in the snow for taxis then Warren went in the car with a few others and we waited till he came back for another load then we got two taxis to take us all back to Sue’s. When we got there we all ate pizza and chips and drank tea then we gossiped and watched Alarm videos till early hours – Andi Badgeman, part of No Frontiers Tour Diary

28th January 1990 : Apollo Theatre, Manchester, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer To Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, The Stand, Rivers To Cross, Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, A New South Wales, Hardland, Sold Me Down The River, Spirit of 76, Rescue Me, Knife Edge, Rain In The Summertime, Rocking In The Free World


29th January 1990 : City Hall, Hull, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Looking For Adam
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer To Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, Rain In The Summertime, The Stand, Rivers to Cross, Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns,  Blaze of Glory, ANew South Wales, Hardland, old Me Down The River, Spirit of 76, Knife Edge, Rocking In The Free World, Rescue Me

Review
Salvation are not playing tonight, pity. Danny’s lost his voice. The support were a local band, Looking For Adam, and they were OK but not as good as Salvation, the drummer was sound though. Starting with Change as always, then same set as Liverpool and Manchester until Rain early in the set so back to the bar. Then The Stand, I was dancing with Barney, Nigel and Marianne. Croesi’r Afon as usual, Marching On so back down the front, then Absolute so in the middle of the mosh. Hardland very late. The main show finished with Spirit Of ’76 then Knife Edge and Freeworld. Just about to go and they go into Rescue Me and caught me out. It’s good to be back in a standing venue, the show was the first ever in Hull and was only three quarters sold. Altogether a good night – Andi Badgeman, part of No Frontiers Tour Diary

31st January 1990 : Aston Villa Leisure Centre, Birmingham, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set List : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence in Change, Strength, Where a Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer to Home, Rivers to Cross, The Stand, Declaration/Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, Hardland, Sold Me Down the River, Spirit of ’76, Knife Edge, Rocking in the Free World, Rescue Me

1st February 1990 : De Montfort Hall, Leicester, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation


3rd February 1990 : Newport Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Jess
Set List : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence in Change, Strength, Where a Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer to Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, Rain in the Summertime, Rivers to Cross, The Stand, Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, A New South Wales,  Hardland, Sold Me Down the River, Spirit of 76, The Bells of Rhymney, Knife Edge, Rocking In The Free World, Rescue Me  

Review
While we were waiting a film crew arrived and started interviewing fans, so we all sang stupid songs and old classics. Then we got in and went straight to the front fence in front of Mike. The support were brilliant, a Welsh band called Jess, we had a right old natter with the lead singer while he was on stage. We covered the place in poppy’s during Strength, again the cards during Absolute. Much the same as previous nights but we had an extra song and two encores, Bells Of Rhymney and Knife Edge, then Free world and Rescue to finish. However the atmosphere was great, as it usually is at Welsh gigs. It was very crushy down the front and I found myself wanting the gig to be over so that I could get out. During Rain Mike knelt down in front of us and sang “Do you wanna feel the rain?” After the gig we went backstage and Mike and Dave came out and talked for ages about all sorts of things. Mike came up with the idea of doing a gig of B sides – Andi Badgeman, part of No Frontiers Tour Diary

4th February 1990 : St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Wales
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from tbc
Set List : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence in Change, Strength, Where a Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer to Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, Rain in the Summertime, Rivers to Cross, The Stand, Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, A New South Wales,  Hardland, Sold Me Down the River, Spirit of 76, The Bells of Rhymney, Knife Edge, Rocking In The Free World, Rescue Me

5th February 1990 : Colston Hall, Bristol, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set List : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence in Change, Strength, Where a Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, The Deceiver, One Step Closer to Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, Rain in the Summertime, Rivers to Cross, The Stand, Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, A New South Wales, Hardland, Sold Me Down the River, Spirit of 76, Knife Edge, Rescue Me

6th February 1990 : Exeter University, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set List : Change II, Devolution Working Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer To Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, Rain In The Summertime, Rivers To Cross, The Stand, Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, A New South Wales, Hardland, Sold Me Down The River, Spirit of 76, Keep On Rocking In The Free World, Rescue Me       

Review
Due to a late soundcheck Salvation were on later than usual and I danced with the Salvation fans for half the set, then I went and sat on a flightcase at the back as I was knackered. Wandered about during the early part of the Alarm show. The band looked to be enjoying themselves tonight, playing the usual set. I went to get some water during Love, also during 68 as it was so hot. Star of tonight’s gig was the intro to Spirit, UNSAFE BUILDING, Dave seeming unsure of the notes and asking Mike. About fifteen people in the whole venue seemed to know the song! It was only the first verse as it was on the ’87 tour but it was brilliant. No Knife Edge tonight, the show never started till 9:15 so I guess they wanted to go home – Andi Badgeman, part of No Frontiers Tour Diary

8th February 1990 : Derby Assembly Rooms, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set List : Change II, Devolution Working Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer To Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, Rain In The Summertime, Rivers To Cross, The Stand including a verse of Reason 41, Declaration / Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, A New South Wales, Hardland, Sold Me Down The River, Spirit of 76, Knocking On Heavens Door, Keep On Rocking In The Free World, Rescue Me    


9th February 1990 : Hereford Leisure Centre, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Jess
Set list: Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer To Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, Rain In The Summertime, Rivers To Cross, The Stand, Declaration / Marching On, Knife Edge, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, A New South Wales, Hardland, Sold Me Down The River, Spirit of 76, KnKeep On Rocking In The Free World, Absolute Reality, Rescue Me    

Review
We had a position just to left of centre, facing stage. Jess were the support again tonight and we really enjoyed them again. They actually did one song in English tonight! The Alarm at last and the usual set although I enjoyed it, they did Knife Edge mid set and left Absolute till the encore. It was very rough down the front with a lot of pushing, mostly coming from Eddie’s side. We gradually got pushed in front of Dave. The security were giving out little paper cups of water all the time and we needed them. They played Declaration again, it’s now a regular thing. Dave, Mike and Eddie with acoustics held high, it’s almost like old days in parts – Andi Badgeman, part of No Frontiers Tour Diary

10th February 1990 : Corn Exchange, Cambridge, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Hardland, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, Sixty Eight Guns, Absolute Reality, No Frontiers, Love Don’t Come Easy, Rivers To Cross, Sold Me Down The River, Rain In The Summertime, Rescue Me, One Step Closer To Home, The Stand, A New South Wales,  Declaration/Marching On, Spirit of 76, Rocking In The Free World        

12th February 1990 : Guildhall, Portsmouth, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set list : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence In Change, Strength, Where A Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer To Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, Rain In The Summertime, Croesi’r Afon, The Stand / Reason 41, Declaration/Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns      

13th February 1990 : Reading, The Hexagon, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation


14th February 1990 : University of East Anglia, Norwich, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation


15th February 1990 : Brixton Academy, London, England
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist, Mark Taylor
With support from Salvation
Set List : Change II, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Permanence in Change, Strength, Where a Town Once Stood, Prison Without Prison Bars, One Step Closer to Home, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, Rain in the Summertime, Rivers to Cross, The Stand, Declaration/Marching On, Absolute Reality, Sixty Eight Guns, Blaze of Glory, A New South Wales, Hardland, Sold Me Down the River, Rescue Me, Rocking in the Free World, Spirit of ’76 

Photos used on this page are provided by Pauline Redman, Peris Hatton, Nicki Ramsay, Ben Salvation, Yoshi Fujita, Iain Laws, Pete Cole, Craig Hine, Stuart Ling

(Page updated 04/02/2022)