Adrian Abraham: the 9-year-old British-Indian guitarist chasing a world record
At nine, Adrian Abraham is weeks from attempting the Trinity Grade 8 electric guitar exam — a pass would make him among the youngest ever, and the family has applied to Guinness for a world record. The British-Indian metalhead from Greater Manchester on Iron Maiden, A.R. Rahman, and the amplifier that makes his nerves disappear.
Adrian Abraham is nine years old, lives in Middleton, in Greater Manchester, and is weeks away from sitting the Trinity College London Grade 8 Rock & Pop electric guitar exam — the top rung of a rigorous international ladder, which most players reach, if ever, as adults. He plans to take it in October, before he turns ten in November. A pass at nine would make him one of the youngest electric guitarists ever to clear Grade 8, and his family has applied to Guinness World Records to have it recognised.
It is, for now, an attempt rather than a trophy — the Guinness submission follows only once he has passed. But the talent is real enough that Marshall Amplifiers and Solar Guitars have both come calling, and his playing has already featured on WION, the Manchester Evening News and the Times of India.
We put a set of questions to Adrian and to his father, Joseph. Their answers, lightly edited for length and clarity, are below.
First, the basics — when do you sit Grade 8, and where does the Guinness record stand?
The family: The exam is in October; we're waiting on availability around school, tuition and work, but it will be before November, when he turns ten. The record is something we're still working on. We've emailed Guinness explaining what the attempt is and how it will be made, and filled in a form for a new category. Once Adrian passes the exam and the category is created, we'll submit the documents.
Adrian — when did you first pick up a guitar, and what made you fall in love with it? Do you remember the first song you taught yourself?
Adrian: It all started when I saw my dad, Joseph, playing his guitar at home. I loved hearing him play, so I decided I wanted to try it myself. I only got my first acoustic guitar a few months ago. I played it so much that I eventually upgraded to an electric — which I almost completely busted because I was playing it so hard! Some of the very first tracks I fell in love with and learned to master were Iron Maiden anthems like "Wasted Years" and "The Trooper."
What does a normal week of practice look like around school — and what's the hardest part of Grade 8?
Adrian: Even with school, I make sure I practise for at least an hour every single day. The hardest part of prepping for the Trinity Grade 8 exam isn't just memorising the incredibly fast solos — it's mastering the extreme technical precision, the complex music theory and the advanced riff techniques that usually take adults many years to get hold of.
You play heavy rock and metal, but also Indian music. What drew you to it?
Adrian: I just love heavy metal and rock — I got that from Dad. I think the 80s and 90s rock and metal were the best. I never expected Bollywood music to have this fusion, until the time Dad played it for me and asked if I wanted to pick it up as a challenge. When I played it, I loved it — I played the metal version of "Saiyaara," and now I keep looking for the metal in every song.
Who are your guitar heroes — the players you most want to be like?
Adrian: I'm massively inspired by the classic legends of rock and heavy metal. The twin-guitar attack of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden is a huge inspiration for me. Also Slash — no solo on earth will ever be complete without him. I've also mastered "Sweet Child o' Mine."
How do you feel about the world-record attempt — nervous, excited, or just focused on the music?
Adrian: I'm incredibly excited! Knowing that the current record for the youngest person to pass a Grade 8 electric guitar exam is 11 years and seven months makes me want to push myself even harder to do it at nine. But honestly, when the amplifier turns on and I'm holding my guitar, the nerves disappear. I just stay completely focused on the music, having fun — and hopefully inspiring other kids my age to pick up an instrument and rock out.
Joseph — when did you first realise Adrian had something special, and how do you keep music, school and being nine in balance?
Joseph: He used to watch me play, then come and sit next to me and sing. So one day I asked him if he'd like to hold the guitar. He simply took it, held the chord correctly, and asked me, "Is this correct, Dad?" — and instantly I knew he has a gift. Because we're attempting a world record, music is the priority right now; otherwise his mum wouldn't let me part a syllable from his education!
Marshall and Solar are legendary names in the guitar world. How did those partnerships come about?
Joseph: Adrian presented a song, and we were approached for a sponsorship collaboration by their artist-relations manager. Because of his age, and the UK rules concerning minors, no contract can be signed to make him an on-paper artist for any company. They asked what equipment Adrian would like, and we chose what fits best — Marshall for the pure sound clarity, and Solar for the speed.
Finally — as a British-Indian family, how important is it that Adrian keeps his Indian musical roots alongside Western rock? And whatever happens with the record, what do you most hope this journey gives him?
The family: In a British-Indian household, music often serves as a living bridge between generations, history and geography. By keeping his Indian musical roots alive, Adrian doesn't have to choose between different parts of himself. Instead, he can channel the complex, beautiful reality of growing up bicultural into his art, giving his music a depth and authenticity that pure imitation never could.
Whatever happens with the record, we hope the journey gives him four things: a grounded sense of self, and of where he comes from, that isn't shaken by the ups and downs of the music industry; the creative freedom to break boundaries without being boxed into a single genre; the resilience and discipline that mastering two musical traditions demands; and the joy and connection of a lifelong passion that keeps him close to his family, his heritage, and the people who hear their own story in his music.
Interview conducted in writing with Adrian Abraham and his father, Joseph; answers lightly edited for length and clarity. Photographs are courtesy the Abraham family, published with permission. Adrian performs as @adrian_jaams, and this article will be updated with the result of his Grade 8 attempt. More young diaspora talent reaching the world's stages: the Indian-origin names up for the 2026 Grammys.
