Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Elderly rockers hit British charts

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

“I hope I die before I get old” … no way!

The elderly rockers known as The Zimmers have entered the British Top 40 chart at No. 26 with their guitar-smashing take on The Who’s “My Generation.”

The group – which takes its name from the Zimmer frame, the British term for a walker – was formed by Tim Samuels for a British Broadcasting Corp. documentary.

“Considering we weren’t on any playlists, because we were not being young and trendy enough, I think this is an absolute triumph,” said Will Daws, producer of the documentary.

The video of “My Generation” shows the 40-member group – the average age is 78 – performing the song. Lead singer Alf Carreta is 90. The oldest member, 100-year-old Buster Martin, is seen making an obscene gesture at the end of the song.

Samuels said the band was intended to combat the victim status of the elderly.

“If you can judge a society by how well it treats its old people, we’d be in trouble,” Samuels said.

“I wanted to do something to help them fight back, something with a little bit of attitude and chutzpah.”