Screamin’ Demons were formed in Rhyl in 1980 after the end of Seventeen by Dave Sharp. This was going to be Dave’s band just before the Alarm. The plan was to be a sort of skiffle band with Nigel Twist on washboard, and Gareth Jones (aka Gaz Top) on bass. To enable this to occur, Dave “borrowed” Mike Peters’ acoustic guitar. Dave then “customised” the instrument with a pickup & stickers. This customised guitar would become the genesis of the sound that became the signature of the Alarm in 1981.

Two of the three known songs played by the band were Up For Murder and Across the Border which went on to become a staple of the early Alarm live gigs and Up for Murder the b-side of the debut single. The third known son was called My Baby is a Cadillac