A Cumbrian band’s song has featured in a hit American indie movie – nearly 50 years after they first wrote it.
The Limps were part of Carlisle’s punk scene for a short period of time in the 70s before life saw them go their separate ways.
But now, nearly 50 years on, their song ‘Someone I Can Talk To has featured on the soundtrack of Snack Shack, a new hit American indie movie directed by Adam Rehmeier.
Andrew Semple, of Cockermouth, is the man behind the song, but is best known in Cumbria as the former mayor of Cockermouth and a councillor for Cumberland Council.
In 1979, Andrew was known as Andy Septic and played guitar in the band. He wrote the song in his bedroom with the rest of the group – Derek, Norman and Tam, who were known as Dee Dee Tee, on drums, Chuck Abnormal, on bass, and Tam Limp on vocals.
Andy said: “It was last year the director got in touch with my band mate Chuck and at first we thought it might be a joke, we’ve never even sold one record.
“But he sent us a note on WhatsApp telling us about the film and that he was from Nebraska and he said he was working on a ‘super-curated’ soundtrack, with the likes of EMF on it.
“We thought it wouldn’t really happen, but the film has now been released and it was The New York Times’ critics pick of the week last week.
“It’s just been unbelievable, I’m still really quite shocked about it, I think I might get the director’s note framed.”
Director Adam Rehmeier found the song on a music streaming platform and said in his message to the group that it would ‘mean the world to him’ to use it in the film.
He added that whilst he was writing the film in the depths of COVID it became the only song to create the kind of emotion he wanted audience’s to feel when leaving the theatre.
Andrew added: “We formed on a council estate in Annan but the punk scene back then was in Carlisle. I was the only one who could play anything when we first formed and we didn’t half get some discouraging reviews at the time.
“But if it wasn’t for the internet it might have been lost altogether and a director in his 40s living in Nebraska definitely would not have found it.
“What I’m now planning to do is get hold of the film somehow to show it in a local independent cinema and then have a little thrash and maybe get The Limps reformed for a day.
“I’ve carried on playing guitar all my life but I haven’t played that song live since then, so I want to try and do something about that.”
The Limps reunited for the first time in 20 years in January to celebrate the song’s sudden success – which Andy said made them feel like they were all 21 again.
Set in the early 90s in Nebraska City, Snack Shack revolves around two teenage best friends running a concession stand at a local swimming pool.
The film is based on Rehmeier’s childhood and has so far proved a hit with critics.
