Middleton Boy, 9, Aims to Smash Guitar World Record and Put Britain Back on Top

A nine-year-old from Middleton, Rochdale, is on a mission to prove that British grit and musical tradition are alive and well. Adrian Abraham, a self-taught guitarist with a passion for classic rock, is racing against the clock to become the youngest person in the world to pass the Grade 8 electric guitar exam.

Adrian, who has already impressed audiences with a Britain's Got Talent audition, is not your average schoolboy. While his peers are mastering their times tables, he is perfecting the intricate solos of Iron Maiden, citing 'Wasted Years' and 'The Trooper' as his favourite pieces to play. His ambition is as clear as it is admirable: to beat the current world record holder, Alexander Hargraves of Colne, Lancashire, who achieved the feat at 11 years and 7 months.

A Race Against Time and a Test of Discipline

The Grade 8 exam, administered by boards such as ABRSM and Trinity College London, is a formidable challenge. It demands years of study in music theory, performance, and technical proficiency, typically requiring a musician to progress through eight grades of increasing difficulty. For Adrian, the stakes are even higher. He must pass the exam before his tenth birthday on November 18 to have any chance of claiming the record.