The Zimmers, a cover band with a combined age of more than 3,000 years, have launched their bid for chart glory this year with a cover of The Who's "My Generation".

Led by 90-year-old lead singer Alf Carretta, the 40-strong band was put together by BBC filmmaker Tim Samuels and plans to make a mark for elderly OAP's, and prove those in the later years of their life still have plenty to offer society.

"This is about old people sticking it back to the society that has cast them aside," Samuels told the BBC. "We wanted to take them on a rock 'n' roll journey that would challenge all our preconceptions of OAPs and give them a great time."

Londoner Alf Carretta adds. "I can't believe this is happening. For me to have recorded a song in the same studio as the Beatles is just so exciting."

"I feel like the whole experience has brought me back to life. I was stuck in a rut and now I feel alive again."

Starting out as a hugely-popular viral video on YouTube, the track has propelled the band into the limelight, with even an appearance on Jay Leno show in the US alongside George Clooney planned.

The principle bandmembers are:

. Winifred Warburton (99)
. Eric Whitty (69)
. Tim O'Donovan (81)
. Joan Bennett
. Barry Foy (69) (Drums)
. Alf Carretta (90 Leadsinger)
. Gillian (Deddie) Davies (69)
. "Geriatric 1927", Peter Oakley (79)
. Buster Martin (100)
. John and Bubbles Tree
. Grace Cook (83)
. Charlotte Cox (84)
. Irene Samain
. Joanna Judge
. Jessie Thomason (85)
. Vera Welch (80)
. Ann Sherwin (79)

written by on 29/05/2007 00:00:00