A 15-year-old Matravers School student has beaten five other musicians to become the semi-professional drummer for an Iron Maiden heavy metal tribute band.

Alex Tilley gained the seat behind the drums for Bristol-based group Ed Force One after successfully passing two auditions and is already attracting praise from music industry professionals.

He stepped in to help out the band at short notice on Saturday, June 8 at their gig at The Station music venue in Cannock, Staffordshire.

Alex, of Bitham Mill, Westbury, said: "I was absolutely amazed when they chose me. I have never actually played with a group before.

"To be able to play with a group of professional musicians is amazing and I'm really looking forward to the gigs."

The tribute band is currently made up of guitarists Gareth Beattie and Paul Jones, with Suman Goutam on vocals and Max Willis on bass guitar.

Alex is the older brother of Josselin Tilley, 13, who has severe autism, profoundly deaf and registered blind.

His father, Lee Tilley, said: "I am over the moon. I taught Alex the basics of how to play the drums when he was about seven years old.

"By the time he was ten, he was taking lessons from Alex Kemp and Neil Harris at All Instruments in Westbury.

"Ed Force One said his technical ability on the drums shone through and they have now appointed him as their drummer."

Last November, Alex went to the London Drum Show at Olympia and got noticed by Rhythm magazine, which put him on the front cover, saying he had taken the show by storm.

Alex will now be in Ed Force One full time as of July 20 when Matravers School breaks up for the summer holidays.

The band have around ten gigs booked for the remainder of the year and next year including a private party in Bristol on July 20, The Waiting Room in Swindon on July 27, The Fleece in Bristol on August 9, and Electric Banana in Weston-super-Mare on October 12.

Alex, who is not yet able to grow his hair any longer because of school regulations, has also recently become an endorsed artist with Soultone cymbals of California.

He will be attending Freddie Gee’s drum academy in the school holidays at Winchester College to receive tuition from top drummers such as Steven White (Paul Weller/The Jam), Ash Soan (Robbie Williams/The Voice) and Ian Mathews (Kasabian) among others.

He has also been invited to look around the British Institute Of Modern Music in Bristol with a view to going there when he leaves Matravers School next year.