UK oldies give new twist to the Who’s classic

The British Zimmers band – 40 strong with a combined age over 3000 – has proved that you don’t have to be Roger Daltrey and The Who to successfully sing the lines “I hope I die before I get old’.

Brought together by the BBC for a special documentary, the Zimmers’ pop classic video got 1.5 million hits on YouTube in two weeks and has band members wanted for interviews around the world, including Jay Leno’s top-rating US TV show.

Documentary maker Tim Samuels thought his program on older people would be depressing but he found that music brought his subjects to life, “tapped into their souls, and magically rolled the years away”. He put the Zimmers together for the program, organised the recording of The Who’s classic with his ageing band, and was then amazed at its public success.

Alf Caretta, 90, one of 3.5 million elderly people who live alone in Britain, said that “making this record has really brought me back to life. It’s quite funny that I ended up singing – I was only in the program because the bingo hall I’ve been going to for 30 years is being closed down.