note: I was asked to write my recollections of The Long Ryders' tour with the Alarm in April-May 1986 for Alarm 2000, a new official Alarm history website coming soon. Here's what I just slammed together - TS, 2/19/00
Sometime in early 1986, The Long Ryders were asked to go on tour with The Alarm. Those
guys were already pub pals from the year previous, when we were calling London our second
home. Plenty of pints and laughs at the Hotel Columbia bar.
The tour was supposed to start in Stockton, CA. I remember seeing a sign the Alarm guys
had posted for us on our backstage door: "finally, a GREAT opening band!" and
also being backstage when the word came that the entire show was cancelled. Mike was very
ill. Immediately I flashed on the UCLA show in three days: MAJOR event, MTV and
everything.
My fears were dashed when we did our first successful show of the tour at The Fillmore in
San Francisco a mere two days later. If Mike's throat was shot before, it didn't show
here. I recall the Fillmore's Gestapo-like ushers and Alarm fans in the crowd with
simpatico hairspray. Then, the 5-1/2 hour Interstate-5 zoom back to our L.A. homes.
Next day was Saturday. My parents were in L.A. visiting from Elkhart, Indiana, and I heard
that, for months later, Dad couldn't stop talking to his friends about the huge crowd he
saw his son play for.
Usually, in indoor venues, stage lights prevent the performer from gauging the size of the
crowd beyond the first few rows. Here the fullness of the masses was in plain view. It was
dizzying. MTV did not broadcast The Long Ryders' set, though it was played through the
media distribution system set up at UCLA so my parents could watch in the comfort of a
nearby hospitality room. But, it was clearly the Alarm's day. For us, the crowd showed
respect and even a bit of enthusiasm. For The Alarm, they went absolutely bonkers.
The rest of the tour was great fun. In our band, Greg Sowders and I were the party hounds,
Stephen and Sid the reserved ones. The Alarm had a similar situation with Dave and Twist
the party guys. The four of us often embarked on some wild adventures.
The Alarm's kindness was constant. They let us ride in their tour bus during the long haul
from Corpus Christi back to San Francisco. Their crew (no doubt helped by our bribes of
fifths of whiskey and cartons of cigarettes) gave us full lights and sound. This is fairly
unheard of in a world were headliners often do their damndest to sabotage opening acts.
They were absolutely genuine guys riding the charts and loving every minute of it with
quiet intensity.
On the last show of the tour, at Irvine Meadows near L.A., we had an onstage shaving cream
battle and got on stage with them to play a Maggie Mae/Stand Down Margaret medley
during the encore. My sister-in-law was caught up in the vibe (and a few drinks) and
begged me to introduce her to Mike Peters, which I did. I still tease her about that.
Ending the tour was nearly tearful. These were four guys and a crew that were real people,
who loved our band, and gave us some great opportunities. Wherever you are now, guys,
thanks for everything.