An 11-year-old Launceston boy is hoping his rock star dream comes true when the Foo Fighters play in his hometown this weekend.
Gus Ford has been a devoted fan of the band since he was one-year-old, when his dad first introduced him to their music.
Now, after five years of drumming lessons and countless hours of practice, he’s hoping for a chance to play on stage with his heroes.
“They’re my favourite band. I’ve always wanted to see them play live,” Gus told Pulse.
The Scotch Oakburn College student has mastered six Foo Fighters songs, with The Pretender being his favourite.
He’s hoping to play that very song if he gets called up on stage.
“My heart would be pounding. I’d be nervous as hell,” he said.
Gus’s mum Bianca said his passion for drumming started unexpectedly when he came home from school one day asking for lessons.
After three years of lessons on electric drums at school, the family bought him a drum kit for his birthday.
“We were shocked. We were like, this kid’s been able to play these drums that good the whole time and we didn’t even know,” she said.
Now, Gus practises constantly – tapping on benches, his knees, and the back of car seats. The family basement has become his practice space.
“I feel sorry for the neighbours, we’re kind of used to it now,” his mum said.
She says the idea of Gus getting on-stage with the Foo Fighters started as a joke but has now gained serious momentum through coverage on local radio and TV.
“It’s gone from a small ‘maybe this could happen’ to actually this could be a possibility,” she said.
Gus has a simple message for the band if they’re listening: “Please bring me up.”
The young drummer plans to pack his drumsticks in his back pocket, just in case.
