When this grandma opened the front door, my first impression was made rather quickly: this woman seemed sweet-natured, was probably very fashionable, and had lived a quiet, happy life up to that point. None of these assumptions were wrong, per se, but there’s far more to Viva Hamnell than meets the eye. She is well into her 80s and is now being celebrated as Britain’s oldest punk rocker. And boy, does she have stories to tell!
This documentary film, Viva, is pretty short, but it packs a powerful punch. It follows the journey of this larger-than-life diva as she went from stay-at-home mom to crossing guard to professional singer. She performed in the band the Bricks in the 1970s along with her son, Simon Hamnell, who played guitar.
We really love hearing about spirited grandmas around here! It reminds me of that time a woman bowled a strike on her first try, much to the shock of her entire family. Or the grandma who totally stole the spotlight from a pair of street performers. They’re so amazing, and it just goes to show you can be a mover and a shaker at any age!
“Punk had a great freedom with no rules,” Viva said of her experiences out on the stage, proving that exact point. “I couldn't sing, but I got up there and sung — and it didn't matter! You had to have the spirit and the energy."
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Viva. Punk, Rebel. 82 from Danny Cooke on Vimeo.
