Flesh and Blood (Mike Peters album)

Track listing

All songs were written by Peters, with exception of "A New Wales" which was co-written by Peters and Eddie MacDonald.

1. "House Of Commons" 1:43
2. "Life Can Be Beautiful (Sometimes)" 1:37
3. "Flesh & Blood" 2:35
4. "Steve's Theme" 0:42
5. "Staring Into Thin Air" 1:51
6. "If I Ruled The World" 1:43
7. "Those Were The Days (Bastard Days)" 2:28
8. "Lucky Numbers" 2:21
9. "Semi-Circles" 1:14
10. "(She's Got) To Think Of Now" 1:00
11. "St. David's Day" 2:14
12. "Working Class Heroine" 1:59
13. "A New Wales" 5:36

Album background

The album was recorded live on Friday December 3 and Saturday December 4, 1999 at BBC Wales Studio One, Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales.

Two types of ticket were available:

1. Saturday Evening December 4 concert ticket Mike Peters, Eddie Macdonald and the Morriston Orpheus Choir in concert 7.00 pm - 11.00 pm Ticket £15.00

2: Access All Areas Laminate (50 Laminates only) Ticket £40.00

The Access All Areas laminate enabled people to attend the recording sessions from 2pm on Friday 3 December, right through to the grand finale concert on the Saturday evening.

The AAA laminate provided the opportunity to witness the recording of the album from conception to completion, from the laying down of the backing tracks to the final sessions with the string section and choir, right through to the Saturday night concert. They had access to the control room and direct contact with Peters and MacDonald as they recorded the album.

The BBC studios have been chosen because they held a special place in the history of Mike Peters and The Alarm. Studio One was the location for the recording of 'A New South Wales', which originally took place on 26 June 1989. 10 years on, and Mike Peters enrolled the help of The Morriston Orpheus Choir, who sang on the original to take part in a special re-recording of 'A New South Wales', which featured new lyrics by Peters as performed exclusively at the opening of The Welsh Assembly 'Voices Of A Nation' concert

It was the first time that Peters and former Alarm bassist Eddie MacDonald has played together since The Alarm split in 1991. MacDonaled played acoustic guitar, as well as contributing towards the string arrangements.

The 'Flesh and Blood' recording began at approximately 14:00 on the Friday and continued through to Saturday evening, when Peters and MacDonald hosted a grand finale concert, joined by The Morriston Orpheus Choir.

Play and Tour

"Flesh and Blood" the play was written by Welsh playwright and actress Helen Griffin and featured original new music performed 'live' by Mike Peters. 'Flesh and Blood' was commissioned by Phil Clark Artistic Director of The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff and opened in Cardiff in the year 2000 on February 19, before embarking on a tour of Wales in preparation for a one-month stand in London at the Hampstead Theatre.