This is the first editorial I wrote about The Alarm for the web.  I planned it for release on the 10th anniversary of the Spirit Of' 86 concert.   It was originally published on The Alarm Archive web site.

Spirit 'Of '86, A Fan Looks Back

by Steve Fulton (USA Alarm Archive President)

"I Was There"

That phrase seems to stick out in my mind, twist around, and implode every time I see it on the "Spirit Of '86" stickers that I have tucked away in one of my Alarm scrapbooks. Not just because, truth be told, I was there on April 12th, 1986, but also because of the bittersweet irony that it represents. I remember that day, 10 years ago, as vividly as any day in my entire life. It was a day, when the biggest rock 'n roll event in the world was centered around The Alarm: two Welshman and two transplanted Englishman who created the most unbelievably inspiring music I had ever heard. April 12th 1986 was the day I witnessed, what I believe, was the finest moment of The Alarm, but also the beginning of their end.

The Alarm had chosen UCLA for their "Spirit Of '86" concert because of the timezone, and it's close to proximity to both satellite resources, and the home office of IRS Records. As far as I was concerned though, it was sheer destiny that my favorite band of all-time would choose my hometown for such an incredible event. Just turned 16, and still in high school, I remember the buzz around school about The Alarm the week before the show. An advertisement had been taken out in the L.A. Times, inviting people to the free concert, and requesting they bring decks of playing cards (to throw out during "Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke"). Radio stations hyped the show all week, and it seemed like everyone in L.A. was planning to go.
My brother, a couple friends, and I arrived at UCLA at 8:00 am, a good 4 or 5 hours before the show was supposed to start. Already, throngs of people mulled about, many of which were crammed up against the stage, where they would remain for a good part of the day until the concert started. As the crowed swelled larger and larger, I was amazed at the cross section of people who had come to see The Alarm. There were punks and heavy metallers, hippies, mods, college kids, and tons of just average people. It seemed that The Alarm had struck a chord among among many different groups, all of whom had shown up for the free show to give their support.

 There were a lot of people who didn't really even know who The Alarm were, or what they were about, and I'm sure those were the people The Alarm was trying to reach the most that day. They had taken on the burden of a free show, where an estimated 20,000 people showed up, to thank the fans who had supported them, and to also attempt to win the rest of the crowd over to their side. In the notoriously fickle city of Los Angeles, that was no easy feat.
With overcast clouds threatening rain, and after a not-to-well-received set by the Long Ryders (who never-the-less played brilliantly I might add) it was time for The Alarm to take the stage. First Rodney Bingenheimer from KROQ came out and introduced the show, the Martha Quinn stepped out and introduced it again, and then came the introduction music, and then finally, The Alarm jumped on stage and started strumming the beginning chords of "Declaration". My brother and I were jumping up and down and yelling the whole time, and it seemed to take only a couple songs until most of the crowd was doing the same. The Alarm went about their business, winning over the crowd in the only honest way they could, with their music.
The set went on the include:

Declaration, Marching On, Howling wind, Knife Edge
Blaze Of Glory, Absolute Reality, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke?
Walk Forever By My Side, 68 Guns, Spirit Of '76, Strength, The Stand
Knocking On Heaven's Door, and We Are The Light

The band played the final song, "We Are The Light" for just the UCLA audience. When the final chord was struck, I instantly realized we had witnessed something very special: The Alarm at their peek.

Exhausted, sweating, and clutching stacks of "I Was There" stickers, my brother, my friends and I, marched off that UCLA field and went home. The feeling I came away with after that show was incredible. It was like the world had finally seen what I had seen all along in The Alarm. I had a feeling about what was going to happen next. I seriously believed that The Alarm would become one of the biggest bands of all-time. All they needed to do was follow up their "Strength" album with a like-minded rock and roll effort that would solidify their status as the best rock band in the world.

Destiny, of course, had another plan for The Alarm, and after 2 more years and much turmoil within the band, they released the "Eye Of The Hurricane" album, which to me, was a disappointment. In actuality, the record sold more copies than "Strength" (much to the success of both "Rain In The Summertime" and "Presence Of Love"), but I think their success could have been much greater. If the band had concentrated on writing more rock classics like as "Spirit Of '76", "Only The Thunder" and "Knife Edge", and had gone with a less-slick production, I think they would have done just that. 20-20 hindsight, yes, but who knows, it could have happened.

Now, in 1996, I truly believe the destiny of The Alarm, dating back to 1986, and from that year, back to the punk beginning of 1976, will be fulfilled. If I am right, then The age of Mike Peters will start when his album is released the summer, and with that, the torch of The Alarm's dream of a "Spirit Of '86" will be passed on, and the world will finally get a taste of what could have been.

Their were many souvenirs to purchase at the free show, but I think my personal favorite momento was not a souvenir at all, but the following coupon, that was attached to the free "Spirit Of '86" stickers given out to the crowd. I think it speaks for itself as look back at a by-gone era, that seems more like 25 years ago, than just 10.