A GROUP of ageing punks have pogoed into the limelight after one of their songs was picked for a hit movie — 45 years after it sold just 50 copies.
The Limps fizzled out in 1979 after a handful of gigs — some watched by just five people — and a couple of singles.
But their song Someone I Can Talk To has now found a younger audience after it was featured in coming-of-age comedy Snack Shack, by US director Adam Rehmeier.
Songwriter Andy Septic, better known as local councillor Andrew Semple, said: “When Adam got in touch last year to ask if he could use the song, we thought it was a joke. It only sold about 50 copies.
“It’s unbelievable. If it wasn’t for the internet, the song might have been lost altogether and certainly would not have been heard by a film director living in Nebraska.
“He said that as he was writing the movie during lockdown, he discovered Someone I Can Talk To on a playlist on a streaming platform.
“That is pretty remarkable in itself because not many people have ever heard it. The song stuck in his head and he realised it was the song he wanted to go out on during an emotional scene between a father and son.
“As American audiences are leaving movie theatres, they’re leaving to that song we wrote in our short spell as The Limps between 1978 and 1979. We’re just blown away.
“The news arrived just as I received my concessionary bus pass for senior citizens, so it was a welcome boost to say the least.”
Guitarist Andy formed the band with Derek Watson, Norman Jardine and Tom Davidson, all 66, in Annan in the Scottish Borders in 1978.
Drummer Derek was known as Dee Dee Tee, Norman was Chuck Abnormal on bass and lead singer Tom was Tam Limp.
The Limps moved 20 miles south to Carlisle in the hope of cracking the big time but fame never came.
Andy wrote Someone I Can Talk To in his bedroom. The married dad of two went on to work for the Job Centre in Cumbria and is a Labour councillor in Cockermouth.
Norman worked for the European Commission in Brussels, Tom owns an art gallery in the Scottish Borders and Derek is an NHS manager in Middlesbrough.
Andy said: “We’ve probably mellowed over the years but at heart we’re still those young punks.
“We all loved the band and still enjoy the music now.”
