“This is like an intro to something Metallica wrote in the 1980s”: 11-year-old guitar hero breaks the internet with his original metal riffs – performed in front of his fellow fifth-graders

Cole Parsons playing a Jackson electric guitar at his school.

Cole Parsons, an 11-year-old guitarist from West Virginia, has become an internet sensation after a performance of his original song, played at a school talent show, went viral.

It all started when his mother, Nici, posted a video of his school performance online, racking up millions of views – and words of encouragement from some notable musicians – across TikTok and Instagram.