8th-grade guitarist goes viral for shredding heavy metal performance during Pa. talent show

MOHNTON, Pa. (WPVI) -- An 8th-grade guitarist in Berks County became a viral sensation during a student-led talent show.

Daniel Coleman played a rock medley at his middle school, nailing each note.

While the young crowd didn't seem too impressed by the songs he was playing, the internet certainly was.

"When the views started going up in the millions, it was, like, crazy for me, because I really did not expect it to do this well," said 14-year-old Daniel.

Daniel was rocking at his middle school's mini-thon talent show, which they do for THON every year.

He played a medley of three songs: Eruption by Van Halen, Becoming by Pantera, and Creeping Death by Metallica, nailing each note in each solo.

He admits the songs are not quite popular among his peers, hence the spaced out looks by the kids sitting behind him.

But it struck a chord on the internet, racking up more than 3.5 million views.

"I did petition for something in the top 40, but he said, 'No, I know my set list,'" said his mother, Terri Gentile.

"I think we don't always know exactly what we're looking at when we see it for the first time," Terri continued, "So I'm just inspired that Daniel had the confidence to go out there."

The comments didn't disappoint, with users chiming in on how the entire school was completely oblivious to an absolute legend in the making.

Others were calling him the coolest person in the school.

Daniel says he's only been playing for two-and-a-half years.