John Luzzader, bass and guitar; Dave Webster, saxophone; Frank DeLapp, guitar, bass; Jim Buncak, drums. The late Howard Hedges also played trombone for Elders on Fire. Ranging in age from the early 50s to early 60s, all of them are eligible for membership in AARP hence the name. Spence said when Hedges was alive they counted up the years all of them had been playing music and came up with a cumulative number of 250.

How long together

As Elders on Fire, the band has been playing since January 2007. Spence, Webster, Buncak and Hedges had played together earlier as Too Fat To Fly with Craig Stempniak and Mike Patch.

Kind of music

Elders on Fires covers rock 'n' roll oldies. "We're basically a cover band for the elders. Anybody with gray in their hair will know it," Spence said. "We used to joke, if it was written after 1975, we don't know it."

"It's a crackup when we're playing and we look out at the audience and half the audience is lip syncing the words," Luzzader said.

Their musical background

Spence said he's been singing "from early as I can remember, probably kindergarten." One of his first instruments was the accordion. He also played in Seattle bars and in an a cappella, retro doo-wop group called Dave and the Enchantments.

DeLapp also played in a Seattle band, Adam Wind, which made the top-10 in Seattle. A big Jimi Hendrix fan, DeLapp was invited by Hendrix's family to play a Hendrix medley at a Hendrix memorial concert.

In Homer, Luzzader has been in Kachemak All Stars, Aftershock and Rockweiler. His best friend growing up in California was Larry Hanson, lead guitarist for Alabama.

"We learned to play guitar together," Luzzader said. "He lists me on his Web site as one of the most influential musicians in his life."

Years later, Spence and Luzzader figured out they'd gone to the same elementary school together in Levittown, N.Y.

What they do in their day jobs

Spence is a reporter for the Peninsula Clarion. Luzzader owns Eagle Eye Photo. DeLapp runs a B & B. Buncak and Webster are builders, and Buncak also is an artist.

Why they play

"The guys I play with are wonderful caring people. We really get along. We're like a family," Spence said.

"This has been probably the most popular local band I've played in," Luzzader said. "We have some diehard fans. It's those old songs."

"(Elders on Fire) is the most fun I've ever been in a good bunch of guys. Everybody pulls their weight," DeLapp said. "There's a real camaraderie between us. were like brothers."

Where you can hear them

Elders on Fire played Duggan's Waterfront Pub last week and plays at 9:30 p.m. Friday at Alice's Champagne Palace.

complied by Michael Armstrong