Fifteen-year-old guitar prodigy Evan Bullough left two of the biggest names in rock stunned when he showed off his skills in Tynemouth.
Armed with nothing but confidence and his guitar, Evan wowed AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson and Dire Straits legend Mark Knopfler by nailing the iconic riffs from Thunderstruck and Sultans of Swing right in front of them.
The once-in-a-lifetime encounter took place outside the Cumberland Arms, where Evan had patiently waited for three hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of his heroes. What he got instead was the chance to play for them, chat with them, and even walk away with autographs on his guitar.
“I’ve loved their music since I first picked up the guitar,” Evan shared. “At Yamaha Music School, AC/DC songs were some of the first I learned. To actually play for Brian and Mark, and to have them be so kind, was unbelievable.”
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Already playing at Grade 7 level, the Yamaha student is quickly making a name for himself. His father, Scott, explained how the magical moment came about: Johnson and Knopfler were filming an interview for a Sky Arts show when word spread that they’d be at the pub. Security initially tried to keep things low-key, but they allowed Evan to wait nearby.
When the rock icons finally emerged, Johnson immediately called him over: “Howay man, fire it up and let’s hear what you’ve got.”
Evan, who had only just perfected the Sultans of Swing intro, rose to the challenge—and nailed it. Both legends cheered him on, signed his guitar, and even handed him a Dire Straits pick as a memento.
Scott admitted the only downside is that Evan now refuses to play the signed guitar for fear of smudging the autographs. But more than anything, the encounter lit an even bigger spark in the teenager.
“They made him feel so special,” Scott said. “It’s given him a huge boost to keep going with his music.”
