Child rocker from Cold Ash gets endorsement

Mini Band member is offered deal with guitar company that sponsors Avril Lavigne and Dolly Parton

A YOUNG wannabe rock star from Cold Ash has been offered an endorsement sponsorship deal with an American guitar company that currently sponsors the likes of Avril Lavigne, The Bangles and even Dolly Parton.

Eight-year-old Zoe Thomson (pictured), of Ashmore Green Road, recently hit the headlines as lead guitarist of Cold Ash band - The Mini Band.

The group, made up of eight and 10-year-olds, became an internet sensation after video footage of them playing Enter Sandman by Metallica was placed on the internet video site YouTube.

Following on from the success of their rendition of the Metallica song, a company called Daisy Rock Guitars, which make guitars especially for females, contacted Zoe's mother, Collette Thomson.

She said that in an interview with Sky News that her daughter Zoe had just happened to mention the fact that her guitar was quite big and heavy and said that this could have prompted interest by the guitar company.

Even male guitarists from bands such as Blondie and The Cure have been known to use guitars produced by the company.

Mrs Thomson said that when Zoe started to learn the guitar she struggled because she was only small with little hands, but her new guitar, a Stardust Elite Venus, is more suited to her.

She said: "Zoe is really excited; she is overjoyed.

"For someone of her age to get an endorsement is a massive achievement.

"I think you have to have something special to be endorsed.

"It's really nice that someone has recognised her talent."

As part of her new contract, which lasts for two years, Zoe will have to now be seen to be publicly playing her new guitar a certain amount of times a year.

Mrs Thomson added that she thought that Zoe got a lot of attention because she was the only girl in the band and because she played the main parts in the songs and a lot of the solos.

She said: "It's just wowed everybody."