The Alarm star Mike Peters' tragic final message just two days before his death revealed
Peters, born in Prestatyn, north Wales, was first diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) when he was just 36 and said he had 'lived with the disease' ever since.
But last year, just five days before he was set to embark on a 50-date US tour, the rock star noticed a lump on his neck which he thought 'would pass'.
Doctors quickly realised the Welshman had developed Richter's syndrome, a more aggressive form of CLL.
He was sent to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester to receive specialist treatment, and had regularly updated fans about his battles with cancer.
Unfortunately, a spokeswoman for the charity he and his wife co-founded announced today that Mike Peters has died.
Less than two days before his death, Peters released a tragic 'personal message' to fans on social media announcing the release of his latest autobiography, Volume 2 HOPE - 1991-2005.
The message read: 'I'm writing personally to thank you for the love and understanding shown to me and my family during my trails at The Christie Hospital, Manchester, throughout these challenging last few months.
'Andrew Richardson (my publisher) has kept me fully abreast of all the wonderful feedback you have sent me him regarding the book content, story telling and attention to detail that I poured into the writing of Love 1959 - 1991.
'Luckily for me, I was able to stay alive long enough through 2024 to complete Volume 2 HOPE - 1991 - 2005 and we are all now ready and excited to share news and detail of its publication so I'm going to hand this part over to Andrew.'
Peters first gained success in the early 1980s and went onto support world-renowned names such as U2 and Bruce Springsteen.
After battling with cancer for more than 25 years, in 2019 he was awarded an MBE for services to cancer charities after he and his wife, Jules, founded Love Hope Strength, which aimed to encourage action around stem cell donation.
Jules herself had been diagnosed with breast cancer while filming a TV show about their jet-set family in 2016.
Instead of quitting the show, the mother of the couple's two sons made the brave decision to continue allowing a camera crew to follow her and her family as they faced the journey through her diagnosis, surgery and treatment.
Jules had been by her husband's side throughout his battle with cancer which began all the way back in 1995.
In an interview with the BBC earlier this year, she recalled how she felt when her rock star partner was diagnosed again last year.
'When Mike was diagnosed in April, I honestly felt like it was game over,' she said.
'I struggled very, very hard to pull myself together. For the first time in my life, I was going to have to fake it.
'And I faked it for a couple of weeks and thought, we can't waste any days worrying and feeling sorry for myself, that won't get my anywhere.'
The Alarm's Instagram page today released a haunting song titled 'Totally Free', in which Peters sings 'I'm free, I'm really free, I'm totally free'.
In the comments section, hundreds of supporters paid tribute to the 'inspirational' singer.
One wrote: 'I'm devastated. Mike was a wonderful man - because of his music I didn't feel alone as a teenager. His music has continued to be the soundtrack to my life.
'He was a light in this world. Sending all my love to Jules and the boys can't imagine what they're going through right now.'
Another commented: 'Fly Free Mike. So sorry to read this, your battle was so long and hard and fought like a true hero.'
'My first gig was The Alarm,' another fan remembered.
'Showed me what live music was all about. A true legend and the hardest working guy. Gutted to lose you. Sleep well Mike, no more suffering.'
Peters leaves behind Jules and their two sons, Dylan, 20, and Evan, 18.
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