Dave Sharp was recently asked by one of his favourite venues, Rockers in Glasgow, if he'd like to perform some Alarm songs for an upcoming evening concert. Surprisingly Dave agreed to the event.
We asked Dave for a few words about the show and he replied asking us to publish his comments below .....
"I've always felt that it would be spiritually challenging for me to play the Alarm's music without the four of us being together and so, until now, I've turned down hundreds of offers to do so.
Late last year I had an opportunity to spend a little time with Mike when we met for the voice-overs for the Spirit of 86 re-release DVD. I think both of us were pleasantly surprised to find how well we got along whilst re-visiting The Alarm's UCLA gig and the times surrounding it. We were able to talk through so many things we'd not had an opportunity to discuss after the accrimonious split of the band in 1991, and watching the performance together with Mike was a very healing, cathartic and positive experience for me.
I was appoached by "H" and the folks at Rockers recently, who have been a very supportive venue to both my solo careeer and my work with the Alarm. They have often asked if I would like to perform some Alarm songs in concert for them and when they approached me this time, following the Spirit of 86 DVD release, I was surprised to find myself warming to the idea and even more surprised to find myself agreeing to consider it...The Alarm and The Tartan has always been a magic mix!!!
Mike and I recently had a very positive discussion about my playing Alarm songs again after all this time. I voiced my concerns that folks should not see this upcoming concert as an intrusion into all the great work Mike has been doing in keeping the name and spirit of the original band alive. Mike was very supportive, positive and encouraging so I'd like to take this opportunity to emphasize that this project is in no way intended to be a replacement for the original band and to say also that I truly hope it will be something that will add positivly to all the good work Mike is doing so effectively with The Alarm MMVIII.
I contacted an old friend, drummer Simon Smith, and asked him to help me to put together a band of intuitive musicians who are able to express themselves through the chemistry and spirituality of the music. He introduced me to Wayne Parry (lead vocalist with '19th Century'), Dave Black (bass player with Omkara & The Sons) and Tom Szakaly (keyboard player with Noddy's Puncture and occasionally Keith Emerson). I decided to chose the name "AOR" for the project, an acronym for "Alarm Oriented Rock" which I thought would be appropriate. The focus of the show will be a selection of The Alarm's album songs.
I'm most definitely excited and looking forward to playing electric guitar on The Alarm's music again. I do hope all who choose to attend the show will share a wonderful and joyous evening of music and that it will reflect the harmony and friendship I feel towards Mike, Ed and Nige. Above all I hope the evening will do justice to the memory of the wonderful times we all shared with the best rock & roll band in the world... "The Alarm."
God Bless us all.
Dave"
More details on the
Tour Dates Page
