On Father’s Day 2024, 10-year-old Olly Pearson picked up his guitar and sat beside his grandad Lee for a fun duet of the Shadows’ Apache.
The video, full of laughter, missed notes, and cheeky smiles, captured more than a family jam — it showed the spark of something extraordinary. Within days, the clip had nearly 2 million views, with fans charmed by the magical bond between grandson and grandad.
That living room silliness soon turned into viral stardom. Just months later, Olly was in Paris, standing in front of 30 musicians and thousands of bystanders, ripping through Bohemian Rhapsody in a flash mob seen by millions around the world.
From BGT to Paris Streets
Pearson first rose to fame on Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year, becoming the first contestant in show history to receive two Golden Buzzers in a single season. His blistering performances of AC/DC’s Highway to Hell, Van Halen’s Jump, and Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now stunned audiences and judges alike.
Amanda Holden was visibly emotional, exclaiming: “Oh my God, Olly. Literally, a star is born. I have never, ever seen anything like that in my life.”
Simon Cowell added: “You already have your own distinct sound, which normally takes people decades. You’re that good!”
Though he ultimately finished fourth in the BGT finals, Pearson’s career trajectory has skyrocketed far beyond the show.
A Viral Moment in Paris
On September 8, pianist Julien Cohen organized an epic flash mob in Paris to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. With more than 30 singers and musicians, the performance felt like a once-in-a-lifetime street concert.
At the heart of it was Pearson, whose electrifying solo nearly stole the entire show. One Reddit user wrote: “Bohemian Rhapsody is already powerful, but with 30 voices echoing through Paris — and that kid shredding — it was unreal.”
The Grandfather Who Sparked It All
Behind Olly Pearson’s rapid rise is a deeply touching bond with his grandfather, Lee. Long before viral fame, Lee was the one who first encouraged Olly’s passion for the guitar.
Lee recalled: “Olly saw a guy playing in the street and said, ‘I want to do that.’ I hadn’t really played seriously since I was a teenager, but I picked up the guitar again. We started with simple ’60s stuff — songs I knew well. I didn’t so much teach him as I just opened the door, and out it came. But within two years, he was passing me. Light years ahead.”
The pair spent countless evenings strumming together in the living room, with Lee showing Olly a chord or two before the youngster ran off with it. “His dedication was unbelievable,” Lee said. “Even at nine, he practiced relentlessly, and I could see that spark of something extraordinary.”
Olly’s entry into rock soon followed. With his mom’s blessing, he began tackling AC/DC riffs, Van Halen licks, and eventually Brian May’s solos — all before turning twelve.
Today, his mom’s dining room has transformed into a full guitar emporium, housing more than 20 instruments. From his first hesitant strum to his explosive Paris solo, Olly has grown into a prodigy whose talent stretches far beyond the family living room.
