VIDEO: Young Sidmouth guitarist ready to rock after support from US bands

A 14-year-old Sidmouth rock musician has been inspired by messages of support from two American rock bands.

Tom Ryder, 14, has recently received endorsements from American prog-rock band Polyphia and American 'metalcore' band Wage War.

Tom got in touch with both bands after recording covers of some of their biggest songs.

Polyphia guitarist Scott Lepage, whose song G.O.A.T has had more than eight million plays on Spotify, and Wage War guitarist Seth Blake both responded to Tom on social media with messages of praise after Tom sent them videos of his music.

Tom, a Year 10 student at Sidmouth College, is a huge fan of heavy metal music and listens to a lot of Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold and Muse.

Sidmouth Nub News editor Joe Bulmer met with Tom and his father Paul today (January 6) to find out where Tom's passion for music comes from and what these endorsements mean to him.

"Dad loves music so I grew up surrounded by it and there have always been guitars around the house to play with," said Tom.

"It's quite cool because I like both bands a lot. Getting a response from them is motivating and really exciting too.

"Their encouragement makes me want to learn more. Whenever I pick up a guitar I want to learn something and get better before I put it down again. When I'm older I'd like to be in a metal band."

The Sidmouth rocker was also in the news last year after he started a campaign following Sidmouth College's decision to stop offering a dedicated music GCSE. As a result of Tom's campaign the college now offers an after school BTEC music course.

He played his first live gig in Sidmouth last year at the Dogtastic Day with his band Ocean Atlas.

Tom's father, Paul Ryder, 58, supports his son's musical ambitions, he told Nub News: "I'm very proud of him. We're going to see both Polyphia and Wage War over the next month. I started guitar lessons with Tom's teacher but I'm struggling.

"I went into a career in something I was passionate about, it's far more worthwhile for someone to do something they love.

"Music is his passion and I don't think enough people pursue their passions."

Tom, who will be doing his mock GCSE exams later this year, busks in Exeter and Sidmouth, he finds he gets a much better response to his music in Exeter than in Sidmouth, he said: "Sidmouth is great for folk music but for my kind of music it can be difficult.

"If I busk in Sidmouth I get a lot of comments, some good some bad."

Despite a mixed reception in Tom's home town his busking in Exeter has allowed him to save up enough money to buy three guitars.

Paul recalls one occasion when Tom was busking in Exeter and he was stood across the road watching. Another man who was watching Tom play turned to Paul, not knowing he was Tom's father, and said: "That kid's not playing that, he's miming."

Paul took the man over to Tom and asked his son to turn off the backing track and play what he had just played. The man was bowled over by Tom's skills and apologised for doubting him.

What Tom wants now is a band to play with who are as committed to music as he is.

"I want to be in a band with musicians who are dedicated to their instruments and spend a lot of time practising. I want to play to a high standard and be in a band that challenges me to become better."

If you are interested in playing with Tom and perhaps starting a new band, click the red button below to go direct to his Facebook page.