A NEWSPAPER article and photo showing a very fresh faced Mike Peters along with his band mates has been discovered.
The article was written for the Journal by either former reporter Diane Ashton or her husband Ken. This was when Mike, who attended Rhyl High School, was just a teenager and part of band Seventeen.
The band evolved into Alarm Alarm and finally, The Alarm. The line-up comprised of Mike alongside guitarist Dave Sharp, bass player Eddie Macdonald and drummer Nigel Twist.
The group played their debut gig at the Victoria hotel, Prestatyn, on June 6 1981.
Diane, former Journal deputy editor, sadly died on Saturday, November 23, 2024. She joined the Journal as a reporter in 1986, quickly becoming chief reporter and later deputy editor.
Ken also worked as a journalist on the Journal.
Daughter Rachael Wheatley, who lives in Meliden, said: "We lost mum last November and I found the article and photo a few days ago when I was clearing out of some of mum's work things. It is from the Journal, pre-Alarm days.
"It was tucked away among a pile of work letters and memos.
"I know mum wrote many stories about Mike over the years and they would talk whenever they saw each other."
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"They always had a soft spot for Mike after that."
The article is headlined: "Last lines on 17."
The report says: "Fans of Rhyl band Seventeen were no doubt thrilled to see them sharing the stage with former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock out in the wilds of Holywell Assembly Hall earlier this month.
"Seventeen, a clean-cut teen combo of wholesome Welsh lads, shared the bill with Matlock's new band Spectres and performed quite well, according to several fans who turned out to see them.
"Also very pleased were Holywell Police, not great punk rock fans themselves who reportedly had nothing to do with this time as there was little or no trouble during or after the gig.
"Seventeen's manager, Peter Buckle, should please note that if he continues to bombard me with promotional material about the band it will be to no avail."
Mike, who was born in Prestatyn and lived in Dyserth, died in the early hours of April 29 from blood cancer.
The husband to Jules and father to sons Dylan and Evan, who supported U2 and Status Quo on tour and played with Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, was first diagnosed with the blood cancer chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) more than 30 years ago, aged 36.
Jules took to Facebook on May 6 to say: "We never saw the end coming so fast."
Funeral details will be shared over the next coming days.
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