This is an attempt at looking at the bands The Alarm and associated projects have opened for or been supported by, excluding festival line-ups.
The Buzzcocks: The Toilets supported them at Eric’s, Liverpool, England 18th November 1977 on the Coming Your Way tour, The Fall also supported
The Clash: The Toilets supported them at Eric’s, Liverpool, England 22nd October 1977 evening show on the Out of Control Tour, also on the bill Richard Hell & The Void-oids, The Lous and Penetration
Dexys Midnight Runner: Seventeen supported them at Huddersfield Polytechnic, England on 9th February 1980
The Fall: The Toilets were on the same bill as The Fall when they both supported The Buzzcocks on the Coming Your Way tour at Eric’s, Liverpool, England 18th November 1977
Salvation: Support for The Alarm. Salvation were the main support during the 1990 No Frontiers UK Tour. At the time they had just been signed to IRS records and released a single, Debris, to coincide with the tour from their forthcoming album of the times Sass. Salvation still play live but with a different line up to the one on the No Frontiers tour, but are once again fronted by Danny Mass.
Click images for a sample tracks.
Debris (Released 1990) / All And More (Released 1989)
Salvation supporting the Alarm 15th February 1990 pictures from the Salvation website
The Scene: Seventeen supported them at Coach House Club, Huddersfield , England on 10th February 1980
Shattered Doll: The Toilets supported them at Eric’s, Liverpool, England 22nd October 1977 lunchtime show
The Slits: The Toilets supported The Slits at The Stables, St Asaph, Wales 15th September 1977, as part of a “Punk Night at the Stables” event.
The Slits playing in North Wales is big news, but back in 1977 it barely made the papers. Supporting them was Rhyl’s very own pioneering punk band The Toilets. The gig was in the Stables bar at the side of the Talardy Hotel and the reason I remember the date so well is that the gig was a watershed moment for me in the way I perceived female performers, quite frankly, Ari Up terrified me!!! The band had amazing energy, none more so than Palmolive who was the driving force musically, but they refused to pander to sexual stereotypes in the way that the likes of The Runaways were doing. Spoke to Viv and Palmolive for quite a while at the bar – I seem to remember that Viv was wearing some kind of black leather jacket, and they were genuinely down to earth and approachable. Spoke to Tessa rather more after the gig, but there was no sign of Ari. Saw Don Letts in the Talardy itself before the gig but didn’t see him in the gig itself. Seem to remember it was booked by John Sox.’ – link2wales website
Click images for a sample tracks.
Typical Girls / Spend Spend Spend – Both tracks from the debut 1979 album
The Sound : The Alarm supported The Sound at the Zig Zag Club, Westbourne Park, London W9 on 11th June 1982.
Fronted by Adrian Borland, a band that has been described as taking over where Joy Division ended, but though had critical acclaim never made a breakthrough with their album sales.
Click image for a sample track
New Dark Age from the 1981 album From The Lion’s Mouth
‘Til Tuesday : Support for The Alarm at The Metro, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 30th June 1983.
This band included Aimee Mann on vocals and bass who Mike Peters would support in 1994 in the UK.
Wire Train : Supported The Alarm in Europe in 1986 and on the April / May 1987 Electric Folklore UK Tour. Following on from the friendship formed on tour, Dave Sharp went on to play guitar on their track Breakwater Days from the Ten Women album released in 1987
Click images for a sample tracks.
Breakwater Days (Released 1987) / Should She Cry (Released 1990)
(Page updated 05/10/2024)
Working structure from On this Day In History
10th November 1979 : Seventeen – The Town Hall, Rhyl, Wales – live gig
Three band bill with Squire and The Fixations
15th December 1979 : Seventeen – Pier Pavilion, Hastings, England – live gig
The 1st Mods Convention. Seventeen were 3rd on the bill with Secret Affair as headline act, Squire and The Same the other 2 bands
16th February 1980 : Seventeen – Pier Pavilion, Hastings, England – live gig
The 3rd Mods Convention. Seventeen were 2nd on the bill with the event opened by Relay and headlined by The Circles
19th April 1980 : Seventeen – Picketts Lock, London N9, England – live gig
The First National Eight-Hour Mod Festival 3pm to 11pm
The Festival line up was : Skatalites, The Mods, Squire, Gangster, Seventeen, The Step.
Mod, Ska, R&B + Disco DJ Andy (The Bear) Ruw.
13th December 1980 : Seventeen – Norbreck Hotel, Blackpool. England – live gig
Supporting The Stray Cats
7th December 1981 : The Alarm – The Venue, London SW1E, England – live gig
Supporting The Fall
20th December 1981 : The Alarm – Lyceum Ballroom, London WC2, England – live gig
Supporting U2 on the October tour. Jools Holland was also supporting
21st December 1981 : The Alarm – Lyceum Ballroom, London WC2, England – live gig
Supporting U2 on the October tour
28th January 1982 : The Alarm – Hammersmith Palais, Hammersmith, London W6, England – live gig
Supporting Stiff Little Fingers also with Flying Padovanis on The £3.50 or less tour
24th February 1982 : The Alarm – Polytechnic of Central London, London W1B, England – live gig
Supporting The Jam
27th March 1982 : The Alarm – Deeside Leisure Centre, Queensferry, Deeside, Wales – live gig
Supporting The Jam