At the Painshill Festival, fans of the RPJ Band, led by Rick Parfitt Jr., were in for a surprise when a young, unexpected guest stole the show. Jake Collisson, a 10-year-old schoolboy, amazed the crowd by joining the band on stage and delivering a stunning rendition of one of rock’s greatest hits.
Jake Collisson was in the audience watching the RPJ band – starring Rick Parfitt Junior, the son of late Status Quo star Rick – at the Painshill festival in Cobham, Surrey.
Jake had been enjoying the festival with his parents and brought along a homemade sign that read, “Let me play guitar with you.” Rick Parfitt Jr. noticed the sign, read it loudly before telling the audience: “That’s a bit of a risk.”
As the crowd erupted in cheers, urging the band to let him take the stage, the lead singer called 10-year-old Jake up front and handed him an electric guitar. With a playful challenge, he asked, “Can you seriously play though?” Rick, visibly apprehensive about the situation, joked with the audience, “This could either be incredible or……..incredible obviously.”
Seconds later, as the band launched into Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” the guitar solo kicked in and everyone knew Jake was very serious.
There is no shame in his performance. Playing the guitar with skill and precision, he demonstrated a level of expertise that belied his age. His mastery of the instrument shone through every note, he looked like a professional.
On the following day, Rick wrote on social media, “Uber-talented 10 year old Jake took to the stage with Rick Parfitt Jnr and the RPJ Band and, well, just WOW!
“What a superstar and what an incredible opportunity for Jake to play alongside such an amazing band.”