Thousands of people watched a St Bees guitarist take to the stage with rap-rock superstars Hollywood Undead in Manchester.

Ben Stephenson, 19, who has been playing guitar since he was eight, was pulled out of the crowd by security guards at Manchester Academy to play two tracks with one of his favourite bands.

The LA-based group, which have sold over three million records, noticed the budding musician’s red cap, which he was waving in the air.

Because of his red cap, the band nicknamed him “Ben Durst” after the frontman of rap metal pioneers Limp Bizkit, Fred Durst.

After muddling his way through a Limp Bizkit song, the band then asked Ben what his favourite Hollywood Undead was.

“I said Comin’ In Hot and they started playing it,” said the young rock and metal fan. I had only learnt it the day before but it went well. I can’t remember much of it now, it’s a bit of a blur because of the adrenaline.

“There were about 3,000 people in the crowd but it wasn’t that nerve-racking – I’d be more nervous playing to a pub of 20 people in St Bees.

"I had heard that they liked to pull people out of the audience to play guitar, but I never thought it would happen to me.”

Ben first saw the band at last year’s Download Festival and has been a big fan ever since – when he saw that they were touring the UK this year he immediately bought VIP tickets to meet the band before the Manchester gig.