U2 pay surprise tribute to The Alarm’s Mike Peters at concert last night

The Irish rockers surprised the singer with a special message during the performance with BBC National Orchestra Of Wales.

Irish superstars U2 were the surprise guests as Mike Peters recorded a special concert for BBC Radio Wales at Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff last night.

Alarm frontman Peters joined forces with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Acquire Choir from Rhuddlan in North Wales for a performance to be broadcast on BBC Radio Wales Music Day.

The concert also marked 30 years since The Alarm’s debut album Declaration was released and Swansea-based conductor John Quirk worked with Mike Peters to orchestrate the celebrated Welsh band’s back catalogue for the first time.

And it was Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayon who were keen to join in the celebration – recording a video message from their studio in Dublin for a musician who they admire greatly – ending their heartfelt message with an impromptu rendition of Declaration fan favourite, Blaze Of Glory.

In the video, Bono starts off by saying: "Congratulations, 30 years..."

Both bands have history and have built up a firm friendship forged through playing and touring together in the early ‘80s, when both groups were starting out their illustrious careers in rock ‘n’ roll.

Running through a set list that including many of the rousing anthems from The Alarm’s debut album that included 68 Guns, The Deceiver and Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke reworked to a stunning effect by BBC NOW, there were also a selection of the band’s classic songs such as A New South Wales, Rain In The Summertime and Spirit Of 76 which similarly pulled at the heartstrings on a night of great emotion for everyone in the Hall.

You can hear the concert in full on BBC Radio Wales on Friday, April 25 at 9pm.

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