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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 19 September 2008

Firestarter at 91 – not bad for an old punk!

HIS wispy hair, what’s left of it, is dyed red; he’s wearing dark eye-liner and his face is set in a defiant scowl. If you met him on a dark night you’d run a mile.
This is Archway crooner Alfie Carettea, lead singer with pensioner band the Zimmers, glammed up for his latest offering, the punk song Firestarter.
At 91, Alfie has given meaning to the term ageing disgracefully. Friends may be considering sheltered accommodation but Alfie’s concerns are whether to have an earring in the nose or chin.
Yesterday (Thursday) the Zimmers flew to Berlin to receive a Blue Heart award for good causes – in their case for giving the elderly a new, albeit slightly out of tune voice. Their first new 14 track album, Lust for Life, is being released by a small independent label in Germany this weekend and in Britain next month.
Alfie’s cover of Firestarter, the controversial 1990s dance anthem by Prodigy, is to be the band’s new single.
When Alfie was told last year he’d be singing Firestarter he had never heard of the song. The Tribune took a copy round to his flat in Wedmore Street. He said this week: “I thought it was a load of rubbish when I first heard it. I’m still not sure what it is about. But who cares, we’re having a bit of fun.”
How did he feel about the words to the song? They include phrases like “I’m the bitch you hated, filth infatuated,” and “yeah I’m the pain you tasted, well intoxicated”.
Alfie said the singer was obviously angry about something.
The Zimmers were assembled for a BBC documentary in May 2007 about ageing. Their cover song, My Generation reached No 26 in the charts with all proceeds going to charity Help the Aged.
They are still raising thousands for the charity but plans are afoot to put the group on a commercial footing. It could mean they would take a share in the proceeds.
“I don’t think we’ll become millionaires,” said Alfie. “But I’m a hard up pensioner and it would be nice to make a few quid.”

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