The Zimmers

This article is about the British band. For the Canadian comedy band, see Zimmers Hole. For other topics, see Zimmer (disambiguation).

The Zimmers
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresRock
Years active2007–2010s
Labelsunsigned
MembersSee Members
WebsiteOfficial website

The Zimmers are an English band formed in 2007 and are thought to have the oldest members of any group in the world.[1] The oldest member, Buster Martin, claimed to have been born in 1906, although some sources indicate he was born in 1913. Martin died in 2011. Former lead singer Alf Carretta died on 29 June 2010, aged 93.[2] The group takes its name from the Zimmer frame, the UK term for a mobility aid known in other countries as a walker.

The band was created as a feature in a BBC Television documentary called Power to the People - The Great Granny Chart Invasion,[3][4] which aired on 28 May 2007.[5] The feature of forming the band and recording a single was intended to give a voice to the feelings of isolation suffered by the elderly. The Zimmers' logo is a parody of The Beatles' logo, as is the image of them walking across Abbey Road.

In 2010, the group were invited to Los Angeles to perform in front of 3,500 people in organisations dealing with older people in America. They also appeared in a documentary in South Korea to encourage more of their older population to be more active. During part of this time the group were led by the main singer, John Langridge.

On 7 April 2012, the band performed the Beastie Boys' "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" on Britain's Got Talent. The band toured in 2013, performing in Warrington on 25 May that year. They also appeared at the Roundhouse Theatre.

The band were the oldest group, by average age, to chart a Top 40 single in the UK until the Rolling Stones entered the chart with "Angry" in September 2023, giving them an average combined age of 78.67 to the Zimmers' reported age of 78.[6]

  1. ^ "Power to the People: The Great Granny Chart Invasion". BBC News. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
  2. ^ Baker, Luke (30 May 2007). "British geriatrics take to the rock star life". Reuters.
  3. ^ "Schedule - BBC Programme Index". Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Power to the People : The Great Granny Chart Invasion". Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 28 May 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Rock elders aim for chart success". BBC News. 13 April 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
  6. ^ "Charts analysis: Doja Cat secures second week at singles summit | Analysis". Musicweek.com. Retrieved 23 October 2023.