The horMones: Over-50s punk band aims to inspire and encourage

A new all-female punk band, with members aged from 50 to 77, hope their ethos will encourage others to pick up instruments and form bands.

The horMones, from Oxford, had not sung or played instruments before forming last year.

Bassist Deb Puleston told the BBC: "Older women tend to be unseen, unheard, a bit invisible. They're expected to behave at a certain age.

"But ignore that, get on, enjoy yourselves, make music, and dance."

The horMones' influences include The Clash, Bikini Kill, The Cramps, Joan Jett, The Sex Pistols, and the band that inspired their name, The Ramones.

Ms Puleston decided to form the band after hearing about the Unglamorous Music project, a Leicester-based initiative made up of "women who might be considered too old to start learning musical instruments, writing songs and forming bands".

She said: "I thought we need one of those in Oxford... one day over a few glasses of wine we thought we'd do it."

The rest of the line-up is Becks and Laura on guitars, Caroline and Suzette on both percussion and backing vocals, Eloise on saxophone, Jane on drums, Viv on washboard, and Lisa on lead vocals.

Their first gig was on a variety stage at a community festival and consisted of two songs.

But their most recent show was a sell out and raised hundreds for the YWMP charity, which provides a space for young women and non-binary people to make music.

"There are a couple of grannies in the band," Ms Puleston said.

"We have a range of women, some of us are working, some of us are retired, most of us have busy lives one way or the other.

"So we don't get to practice and rehearse as much as we'd like to, but when we do it's a huge amount of fun.

"What we really want to do is just to encourage everybody - not just older women - but anyone who wants to get out there, to form a band, make some noise, and have a lot of fun."

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