“My mom got right in their faces and said, ‘This is my son. He plays guitar and he wants to join a band.’ I was totally embarrassed”: How Return to Dust found their teen guitar phenom and put a fresh face on ’90s grunge

Black-and-white action shots of Return to Dust guitarists Matty Bielawski [left, with a Gibson SG] and Sebastian Gonzalez [playing a PRS].

A few years ago, a then 15-year-old Sebastian Gonzalez was taking a walk around his Inglewood, Los Angeles neighborhood one evening with his mom. Turning a corner, they heard the muffled sound of an alternative metal band practicing from behind a closed garage door.

Since Gonzalez was an accomplished guitar player, his mom told him to knock on the door and introduce himself, and that maybe he could join them.“No, way!” the teen blurted. “They’re busy practicing. I’m sure they’ve got a full band and don’t need some kid.”