Watch out Slash! South London’s finest Phoenix has been unleashed
By Sarah Tetteh
Wait till you see this 10-year-old guitarist from Wandsworth play – he’ll literally just blows your mind.
As will Phoenix’s extraordinary story. He first picked up the guitar during lockdown in 2021, just before his 8th Birthday.
That’s when he began weekly guitar lessons online with Conrad Vingoe, and he learnt to play his favourite classic rock songs on guitar, and did this by ear. He has never learnt to play in the conventional method of grading.
Phoenix’s guitar playing is inspired by Slash of Guns n Roses, Jimi Hendrix and Mark Tremonti from the American rock band Alterbridge.
Phoenix played Sweet Child O Mine at The Legends of Football charity event in aid of Nordoff and Robbins at the Grosvenor Hotel London in 2022, in front of 900 A list football players and Celebs where Phoenix received a standing ovation.
Later that year, American rock band Monster Truck were invited for a jamming session with Phoenix and featured online via YouTube and Classic Rock online magazine. Gibson Guitar UK gifted Phoenix a brand new Epiphone signature Slash Les Paul electric guitar, and in March 2023, Gibson invited Phoenix to their Gibson showroom.
A cameo performance with Guns n Roses Tribute band Guns 2 Roses at The O2 Academy Islington, London, followed.
Phoenix, who now rocks out at gigs with music therapist and pianist extraordinaire Kwaku Tieku, bagged his own headlining show at London’s iconic music venue The Half Moon Putney.
Phoenix, who is managed my his superstar mother Fior, said: “I dream of playing on large world stages one day just like my inspiration ‘Slash’. I would love to play at Wembley, Tokyo Dome, and the Royal Albert Hall.”
For now, the sky’s the limit for Phoenix. Rock on!
Check out @phoenixrocksguitar on Instagram and TikTok
Pictured top: Phoenix with his music therapist and pianist extraordinaire Kwaku Tieku, before his own headlining show at London’s iconic music venue The Half Moon Putney (Picture: Kwaku Tieku)
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