Blues-rock band The Hamsters are celebrating their 21st anniversary with a special show,paying tribute to music icons Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top. SIBA MATTI speaks to Barry Martin, aka lead singer/guitarist Slim, to find out more

PUNK is probably not a word you would normally associate with a trio of 50-something blokes in a blues-rock band, but it couldn't be more appropriate for The Hamsters.

Having taken their name from the Sex Pistols, who once used it as a pseudonym to outwit hostile councils, the trio delight in the irony of being an aggressive band with a somewhat cuddly moniker.

As Snail's-Pace Slim explains, it's all about attitude: "Strictly speaking, our music reflects the pre-punk era during the 1960s and 70s, but we have always handled our own affairs and done everything our way, without selling out to corporations.

"These days, so many musicians are mere puppets manufactured by record companies just to make money - the industry is so fickle - and they are dropped the minute they express an interest in writing their own material.

"We formed 21 years ago and have now played 4,000 gigs, all off our own steam. It's hard work, but we enjoy it and people often think we're in our forties, so the music definitely helps us stay young!"

Despite the distinct lack of major label muscle, The Hamsters have proved their mettle, most notably by performing with Eric Clapton at the Fairport Convention in 1995, in front of 20,000 festival-goers.

Slim says: "That was definitely one of The Hamsters' high points - we are all massive Eric Clapton fans and grew up loving his music, so to play with him was an incredible experience. He is very down to earth with no airs and graces and he actually said he liked our music, which was a huge compliment.

"Another career highlight was a series of open-air shows as special guests for Status Quo."

Although the group primarily perform their own material, they are also regarded as the leading interpreters of the music of Jimi Hendrix and, more recently, ZZ Top.

Slim was voted one of the greatest guitarists of all time in a radio poll on radio station LBC, and writes for

Guitarist magazine in his spare time. His co-Hamsters rejoice in the sobriquets Rev Otis Elevator (drums) and Ms Zsa Zsa Poltergeist (bass).

"The show at The Beck will be the first we have done there for seven years, and we are all really looking forward to it," Slim says. "It's like coming home for us; we are always given such a fantastic reception."

But despite still going strong after more than two decades, The Hamsters have no intention of releasing a new album - their last offering, Open All Hours, was released in 2004.

Slim explains: "With so many people now downloading music for free or buying it abroad, we can't afford to put so much time and effort into producing a record. Some people like to own the finished article but most people have no choice but to prioritise their finances, especially with the credit crunch.

"Of course, the internet has been useful in terms of promoting the band, particularly social networking sites like MySpace, where we have more than 20,000 people on our mailing list.

"Sadly, however, making a new album now seems to yield very few rewards for most artists.

"We have just released a new double DVD, Curse of the Killer

Hamster, inspired by our love of Hammer Horror films, and we have no plans other than to just keep gigging, as long as the fans will have us!"

The Hamsters play Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top is at the Beck Theatre tomorrow (Thursday) and starts at 8pm. Tickets cost £15 from The Beck's box office on 020 8561 8371 or via www.becktheatre.org.uk .

To find out more about The Hamsters, see www.thehamsters.co.uk .