15-Year-Old Guitarist Delivers Impressive AC/DC Cover While Barely Reacting to the School Crowd

A packed school auditorium is usually a tough place for a young performer to make an impression, especially when the audience seems more interested in sitting quietly than showing enthusiasm. But 15-year-old Ben Gleeson appeared unfazed as he took the stage with his guitar and tackled one of AC/DC’s most recognizable rock anthems: “Thunderstruck.”

The performance took place at a school talent show, where the students watching offered relatively little visible excitement. Although Gleeson received a decent round of applause at the end, the audience remained largely subdued throughout the song.

Online, however, the reaction was dramatically different. The video of his performance has attracted approximately 8.5 million views on YouTube, with viewers praising both his guitar skills and the confidence he displayed in front of an unresponsive crowd.

A Young Guitarist Takes on One of AC/DC’s Most Challenging Songs

Gleeson was quick to acknowledge that he was still developing his guitar-playing abilities when he shared the performance online.

“I know its not perfect, haven’t been playing guitar long and it’s kind of sloppy at parts, but I’m getting better! Hope you enjoy!” he wrote.

His modest assessment did little to dampen the enthusiasm of AC/DC fans, many of whom were impressed that someone so young had taken on such a demanding track.

One viewer expressed frustration at the audience’s lack of reaction, writing: “I WISH I WAS THERE SO I COULD SCREAM THUNDER! THIS WAS AMAZING!!! The crowd does NOT pass the vibe check”.

Another focused on the composure required to perform under those circumstances, commenting: “The amount of courage it takes to get up in front of a dead crowd like that and perform is amazing”.

Others particularly admired the way Gleeson seemed completely comfortable onstage, casually looking out toward the seated students while continuing to play.

Why “Thunderstruck” Is More Difficult Than It Sounds

Released in 1990 as the lead single from AC/DC’s album The Razors Edge, “Thunderstruck” remains one of the band’s signature songs.

It is also among the relatively small number of AC/DC tracks released after Back in Black in 1980 that have remained regular fixtures in the band’s live performances. The other two are “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” and “Rock and Roll Train.”

AC/DC are often associated with powerful, straightforward guitar riffs, leading some listeners to assume their songs are relatively easy to learn. “Thunderstruck,” however, is a different challenge.

Its instantly recognizable opening guitar part requires considerable precision and control, making it considerably more difficult to reproduce convincingly than its simple-sounding structure might suggest.

A separate guitar breakdown of the song highlights just how demanding the riff can be, helping explain why Gleeson’s attempt impressed so many viewers.

Was the School Audience Really That Unimpressed?

While many online viewers questioned why the students barely reacted, not everyone believed the audience deserved criticism.

One commenter, Little Goblin Junior, offered another perspective, suggesting that many of the students may simply have been unfamiliar with AC/DC and the song itself.

The commenter wrote:

“To all the people getting mad at the crowd, do try to remember that most of them have probably never even heard of AC/DC before, much less know this song. Yes, this kid did a fantastic job, and nailed a tricky song to play, and yes it sucks to hear no one yelling thunder, but that’s more of a result of the current popularity of different music types.”

It is a reasonable point: what might have been an electrifying performance for rock fans watching online may not have had the same impact on a school audience with different musical tastes.

Regardless of the students’ reaction, Gleeson had already demonstrated the confidence to take on a challenging rock classic in front of his peers.

Ben Gleeson Returns With a Metallica Cover After Four Years Away

Following the success of his “Thunderstruck” performance, Gleeson uploaded two more videos. Neither attracted the same enormous audience as his AC/DC cover.

One of those videos featured an attempt at Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” although the filming made it difficult to appreciate the performance. The footage offered a poor view of the three-piece band, with Gleeson barely visible on the far right of the screen.

But fans who wondered whether the young guitarist had continued pursuing rock music eventually received an encouraging update.

After a four-year absence from YouTube, Gleeson returned with a short video featuring a hard-rocking cover of Metallica’s “Master of Puppets.” By then, he had grown a beard, but his enthusiasm for heavy music clearly remained.

The return delighted viewers who remembered his earlier AC/DC performance. One commenter, gOblin, wrote: “Hell yea! I saw your thunderstruck vid and I’m so happy you still play! Rock on”.

For those who discovered Gleeson through his memorable school talent-show performance, his return was a welcome reminder that the teenager who once fearlessly took on “Thunderstruck” had not given up playing guitar.

His YouTube channel offers more opportunities to follow his musical journey and see what he takes on next.