Zimmer generation on UK Top 40 chart
AP, Jun 4, 2007 9:05 am PDT"I hope I die before I get old" ... no way! The elderly rockers known as The Zimmers entered the British Top 40 chart Monday 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."
___
On the Net:
BBC:
More Artist News
Age is not an issue when it comes to rock 'n' roll
Sep 22, 2008 7:00 pm PDT
If anyone thought the Rolling Stones were beginning to get on in years, another British band are proving age is not an issue when it comes to rock 'n' roll. The Zimmers, whose lead singer is 91, has just celebrated the launch of i...
British geriatrics take to the rock star life
May 30, 2007 4:59 pm PDT
They may have an average age of 78, but these rockers can tear up the stage with the best of them and are determined to take the music charts by storm. The Zimmers, a rock band made up of 40 old-age pensioners, including one who's 99...
