Drumming up a career for himself in the world of rock music is schoolboy Sam Bowles.
At the age of just 12, Sam has astonished experts by picking up a distinction in his grade 5 exam - meaning that he scored at least 85 per cent in the equivalent of a drumming O-level.
And last week he played in his first public gig, alongside musicians more than three times his age!
He turned out with BBC-based band P45 at a party night at Wood Norton on Friday.
"They can play all sorts, from the old classics to Robbie Williams and The Stranglers," said proud mum Elaine, who works for the BBC. Sam, a pupil at Bredon Middle School, who only took up drumming three years ago, has been training under Chris Harvey at The Sheds studio in Ashton-under-Hill
The rock school Grade V exam was set by Trinity College, London.
He could yet be joined on stage by younger brother George, 10, who has started taking lessons in rock guitar.
"If he progresses as well in three years as Sam has done, they could both have a musical career in front of them," said Elaine.
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