A Cumbrian Councillor’s punk past has been revived as it features in New York Times Critic’s Pick, Snack Shack.

A song wrote back in the 1970s has been used for new release Snack Shack by Adam Rehmeier.

Cumberland Councils representative for Cockermouth South, Labour’s Andrew Semple started a band back in 1978 with four friends from Annan.

The 20 year olds embraced the cultural undertones, went punk and The Limps was born.

As with all punk bands a name change was in order and Andrew, Derek, Norman and Tam became Andy Septic, Dee Dee Tee, Chuck Abnormal and Tam Limp.

Reminiscing Andrew said: “We chose the band name as Chuck had a job tattie picking and walked accordingly as a result.

“There was only one obstacle in that apart from me no one could play anything. Chuck picked up the bass once I told him third fret top string then fifth (repeat); he was a quick learner.

“Tam was the arty one, a student at Carlisle Art College, so his vocals and stage presence were a given.

“Dee Dee neither owned a set of drums or had ever been near one. He bought some Drumsticks from Dias in Carlisle and so began his literally blistering punk journey.”

Their first gig took place in Mick’s Club, Carlisle and went less than ideal they however decided to make a record.

In collaboration with Carlisle friends and their band No Support the groups headed to Hull.

“I cant remember exactly how much we paid to get it done at Fairview Studios in Hull. Could have been a hundred quid and it’s safe to say we never recovered our loss as sales turned out to be in the same vein as our first review: discouraging.” Adds Andrew.

As with all bands you need a label and The Limps/No Support EP (Opposite Sides) was released on their own, Match Box Classics.

It took until their second EP that things moved began to move slightly as Andrew says: “A copy was sent to John Peel at Radio One. And he never played it. We made another EP again at Fairview in Hull, sent John Peel a copy.

“This time he played it. I have the recording from my radio cassette.”

“Last year I got an EP featuring the Limps and No Support, who straddle the Scottish/English border I cant rememberwhich side which lives on but that’s the way I understand it anyway. Now they’ve got a second one out on the Matchbox Classics label. And from it these are The Limps and Someone I can Talk To”- John Peel, BBC Radio 1 autumn 1978.

One more EP followed, 8 from 80, in 1978 alongside No Support and other Carlisle bands The Toolbox Murderers, Kirsty and the Husbands and Veldt.

Then the four went their separate ways, to Cardiff, Kendal, Middlesborough and Earlston the music a distant memory until 2023.

Bringing the story to the present Andrew explained the surreal conversation he had: “Chuck rang me saying ‘An American film director wants permission to use a Limps song in his new film. He says the song is ‘an unambiguous plea for companionship’

“I checked IMDb and found that, yes, Adam Rehmeier was an award winning director from Nebraska.”

Part of the Whatsapp message said: “My name is Adam Rehmeier, writer/director of the upcoming film SNACK SHACK, the soundtrackis super important and super hand-curated for optimal flow and emotion.

“In full transparency, I did not hear Someone I Can Talk To until five or six years ago, but during the writing portion of the film – deep in the depths of Covid – it became an absolute daily play.

“As I shaped the ending of the film, I found it to be the only track that could instantly evoke the type of emotion I wanted the audience to feel as they walk out of the theatre.”

The answer was a resounding yes with Andrew sending: “Adam what a joy it is that you have a place in your heart for a piece of music that four young Scottish school friends put together, with no grand plan that on another continent someone decades later would put in a film.”

The film was then picked up on release as the New York Times Critic’s Pick with the headline: “Snack Shack Review: The Kids Are Alright. Performances from the two main characters elevate this boisterous teen comedy to the level of raunchy art.”

The member of The Limps met up earlier in the year to celebrate their new found musical fame.