When he was just nine years old, Olly Pearson stunned the streets of Chester with a fiery busking performance of the Rolling Stones’ classic Paint It Black. On a cold afternoon, the young guitarist drew a huge crowd, leaving passersby staring in disbelief at his talent.
“The crowd loved Olly playing Paint It Black in Chester,” one fan wrote online. “It was so great to see busking back after two years of pandemic hades. You, little dude, are terrific.”
Older fans reminisced as they stopped to listen, with one sharing: “I love the way all the older ladies stop in their tracks to listen! They remember this song and it brings back the best memories.”
From Vietnam veterans recalling hearing the song in the late ’60s to younger fans praising his “crazy talent,” Olly’s street performances quickly made him a local star. His supporters knew then: this kid was on his way to the top.
The Huge School Surprise
Fast forward two years, and Olly’s classmates and teachers had something special waiting for him after his Paris appearance. Returning to school, the 11-year-old was met with a huge surprise — decorations, cheers, and a warm celebration in honor of his viral guitar hero moment.
“All my friends, teachers, and even the headmaster were amazing,” Olly said. “They decorated the school when I came back, and it made me feel like a real rockstar.”
While juggling maths and spelling tests might not sound as thrilling as shredding guitar solos, Olly admits the support at school keeps him grounded. “I even get recognized when I go to the supermarket,” he laughed. “Never too busy for a selfie though — always stop and say hi!”
Viral Paris Flash Mob
Olly’s rise reached new heights in Paris, where he joined a sensational flash mob performing Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Shared on Instagram by pianist Julien Cohen, the video shows Olly stepping into the spotlight for the iconic guitar solo as singers and musicians filled the square.
The clip exploded online, racking up nearly a million likes in days. “Working with such amazing musicians was a privilege,” Olly wrote after the performance. “Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody. Paris. Enough said.”
With two Golden Buzzers from Britain’s Got Talent already under his belt and fans worldwide cheering him on, Olly is now dreaming bigger than ever: touring the world, headlining Wembley, and maybe even getting the King to rock out.
For now, though, he’s the schoolboy from Wrexham who shut down Chester, lit up Paris, and proved to everyone that rock and roll is alive in the hands of the next generation.