Synopsis

The Alarm perform "The Stand" in a stark studio setting, surrounded by large sheets of paper marked with hand-sprayed lyrics and a bold red poppy. The footage combines a direct-to-camera playback with interview material from the band's first US television appearance. Its stripped-down presentation captures the band's early, urgent image, while brief acoustic footage filmed elsewhere extends the performance beyond the studio and reflects the group's rapid introduction to American audiences.

Factoids & Trivia

• The footage originated with The Alarm's appearance on the US television program "The Cutting Edge" in 1983. IRS Records later repurposed the segment as the promotional video for "The Stand."

• The session was filmed at the former Charlie Chaplin film studios on the A&M Records lot near La Brea Avenue in Hollywood, while The Alarm were touring the United States as an opening act for U2.

• Mike Peters asked to decorate the set with large sheets of paper. He spray-painted the band's lyrics and a red poppy, using a poppy badge as a guide for the design.

• The Alarm performed the song only once for the cameras, treating the playback like a live concert performance.

• The same television segment included individual interviews with the band. Dave Sharp appeared first, which Peters later felt may have caused some early viewers to assume that Sharp was the band's main leader.

• Acoustic performances of "Blaze of Glory" and "Knocking On Heaven's Door" were filmed during the same American television appearance, with the former shot on a Los Angeles rooftop.

• A remastered version of the television appearance and video was issued in 2018 as part of the expanded edition of "Eponymous 1981-1983."