On a warm summer evening in Paris, the Place de la Contrescarpe became an open-air opera house as 30 musicians and singers joined forces for a once-in-a-lifetime flashmob tribute to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Organized by pianist Julien Cohen, the July 10 spectacle featured lead vocals from Britain’s Got Talent contestant Mickey Callisto and a breathtaking guitar solo from 11-year-old Wrexham prodigy Olly Pearson.
The ambitious performance transformed the cobblestone square into a full surround-sound experience, with singers echoing “Galileo” from windows above and crowds erupting as the iconic rock section exploded to life. But it was Pearson’s fiery rendition of Brian May’s legendary solo that had jaws dropping. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with seasoned musicians, the young guitarist played with poise and precision well beyond his years.
Videos of the flashmob, first shared by Cohen on Instagram and YouTube in early September, quickly went viral. Within 48 hours, the clip had raced past 70 million views and today sits close to 200 million views worldwide. Pearson himself revealed that he received over 10,000 messages of support from fans across the globe, all praising his fearless stage presence.
“This gave me chills,” one viewer wrote, while another added, “Bohemian Rhapsody is already powerful, but with 30 voices echoing through Paris it probably felt like a once-in-a-lifetime concert.”
For Pearson, the viral success is the latest milestone in a whirlwind year that has seen him go from Britain’s Got Talent hopeful to an international star-in-the-making.
Olly Pearson on Britain’s Got Talent
Known affectionately as “Guitar Olly,” the 11-year-old first won the nation’s heart with his electrifying audition, earning a Golden Buzzer after shredding through AC/DC and Queen classics. Weeks later, he made history by earning a second Golden Buzzer in the semi-final, the first contestant ever to do so in a single season.
By the time the final rolled around on May 31, Olly had already become a household name in Wrexham, where local readers flooded news outlets with nearly 400 good-luck messages. Many praised him as an “idol” for young children and a true inspiration for aspiring musicians.
In the grand final, Pearson closed the show with a blistering performance of Wings’ Live and Let Die and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. The judges leapt to their feet in ovation:
Bruno Tonioli called him “a little Brian May.”
Alesha Dixon said, “You’re such a little superstar; you are so talented, it’s ridiculous.”
Simon Cowell told him, “Forget about your age; you’re just a brilliant, brilliant musician, and you’re gutsy.”
Amanda Holden added, “That was super professional and massively entertaining… once again, you did yourself proud.”
Though the series crown ultimately went to magician Harry Moulding, Olly’s journey was nothing short of meteoric. From his first guitar lessons at age seven to commanding global attention before his teenage years, he has already proven that he is more than just a contestant—he is a rising star with the talent, drive, and charisma to shape the future of rock guitar.
As Simon Cowell put it best: “You already have your own distinct sound, which normally people take decades to find. You’re that good.”
