What Kind Of Hell was originally going to called “Promised Land”. That was the title penciled above the original draft lyric handwritten by myself onto the bottom of an old Seventeen poster. I modeled this new version on a demo made at Britanna Row, Studios, London in early 1982. We recorded three tracks under the guidance of our manager Ian Wilson, (all of which surfaced on a bootleg single incorrectly accredited to Seventeen). This song in particular, was a real live classic at the time and the version that came out with the “hiding” single was disappointment to many fans who had been anticipating this particular release. I feel “Hell” would have been a staple in the live set had it made it on to the “Declaration” album and gained a wider audience – Mike Peters, Second Generation Album Notes, 1995
What Kind Of Hell was first released on the b-side of the 12″ of Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? released on 3rd January 1984
1983 Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? Single recording
Running length 2:42
Written by Macdonald/Peters
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals
Dave Sharp – Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Recorded at Abbey Road Penthouse Studio, London, England on 26th November 1983
Produced by Alan Shacklock and The Alarm
Engineered by Chris Porter
Alternative studio recordings : Demo ~ Re-recording ~ Remastered
1982 Illegal Records demo recording
Running length: 2:39
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar
Dave Sharp – Electric Guitar
Eddie Macdonald – Electric Guitar
Nigel Twist – Drums
Recorded at IRS Basement Studios, London, England July/August 1982
(v) 1995 – Elevator Studios, Liverpool, England recording
Running length 3:40
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic, Electric and Bass Guitar
Owen Thomas – Drums
Recorded and mixed at Elevator Studios, Liverpool, England, 16th to 18th September 1995
Produced by Michael Peters
Engineered and mixed by Mark Phythian
Album Appearances and discography for studio versions
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
(v) 1995 : Mike Peters – Second Generation Volume 1 – Rare Songs Of The Alarm Revisited
Released on CD by The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C002
1995 Elevator Studios recording
2000 – The Alarm – Eponymous (1981-1983)
Released on CD by The Twenty First Century Recording Company catalogue number 21C010
(Part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C018 and then later as an individual disc)
1982 Illegal Records demo version
2000 – The Alarm – Declaration (1984-1985)
Released on CD by The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C011
(Part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C018 and then later as an individual disc)
1983 recording remastered
2014 – The Alarm – The Peace Train
Released on CD by The Twenty First Century Recording Company,catalogue number 21C066
2014 recording
Single Appearances and discography
3rd January 1984 : 12″ Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke?
Track listing 12″: Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? / (b-side) Pavilion Steps, What Kind Of Hell
Released on 12″ vinyl single by IRS Records catalogue number IRSX 101
Original 1983 recording
Officially released session recording
16th May 1983 BBC Radio 1 Session
Broadcast on the Janice Long show on BBC Radio 1, UK
Running time 2:38
Released on CD as The Alarm – Radio Sessions 1983-1991
Officially released live recordings – Audio
4th July 1984. Recorded live at Ruisrock Festival, Ruissalo, Turku, Finland
Running length 3:12
Performed by The Alarm : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist
Released on CD in 2003 as The Alarm The Sound & The Fury Live 1981 to 1991 (UK, Export)
Released on CD in 2014 as The Alarm When The Storm Broke (UK)
24th August 2003. Recorded at Alarmstock, William Aston Hall, NEWI (North East Wales Institute), Wrexham, North Wales
Running time 4:41
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released on CD in 2003 Alarmstock Volume 6- A Road Less Traveled
6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England.
Running Length 3:51. Mike Peters Solo acoustic.
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III vol 1 – London
Lyrics ~ 1983 Recording
Here I stand with the book in my right hand
Every word I say is the truth
Here I am with my hand on my heart
Trying to represent me and you
Piled high in front of my eyes
The evidence you cannot ignore
Sick and tired of wasting my life
Sick and tired of wasting my time
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
Let the judge come into the room
I want him to hear every word said
Let the trial begin with the accusations
I lay at your feet
Your defence is crumbling slowly
You cannot get a witness to stand
What’s it like when millions of voices
Stand up and call you a cheat
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
Judgement is coming
Make no mistake
In time, in time, in time
You’ll be judged as you did judge yourself, yourself
I’ve seen the world from twelve misty mountains
Travelled down the roads in the east (what kind of hell)
I’ve seen the sun set red in the distance
Rise up to the light of the day (what kind of hell)
I see the truth in the eyes of the children
Walking in the sight of a gun (what kind of hell)
I’ve had the world in the palm of my hand
For you I’d cast it all in the fire
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
Alternative Lyrics ~ Second Generation Vol 1 recording
Here I stand with the book in my right hand
Every word I say is the truth
Here I am with my hand on my heart
Trying to represent me and you
Piled high in front of my eyes
The evidence you cannot ignore
Sick and tired of wasting my life
Sick and tired of wasting my time
Let the judge come into the room
I want him to hear every word said
Let the trial begin with the accusations
I lay at your feet
Your defence is a crumbling slowly
You cannot get a witness to stand (oh oh oh)
What’s it like when millions of voices
Stand up and call you a cheat
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
I’ve seen the world from twelve misty mountains
Traveled down the roads in the east
I’ve seen the sun set red in the distance
Rise up to the light of the day
Well all we need is a black and white dream
The promise land we never seen
One third, one third of the world
is dying in the sun and the heat
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
Judgement is coming (oh oh)
Make no mistake (oh oh)
In time, in time, in time
You’ll be judged as you have judged yourself
How much time before the people
Can not walk the streets at night
What kind of hell
How much time before my windows must be locked
Because we turned out the light
What kind of hell
How much time before we all kneel
To the sight of a man with a gun
How much time before we all do say
Our prayers for the last time
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
What kind of hell
What kind of hell am I living in
Only time will tell
Audio & Visual Sources
(Page updated 29/03/2024)