Advertisement
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Just £9.99 for the next 8 weeks
SUBSCRIBE
Music

IDLES superfan with Angelman syndrome performs onstage with favourite band

Big Issue introduced music fanatic Alastair Smith, who has Angelman syndrome, to his favourite band IDLES in June. The 20 year old was then handed the chance to join the punk rockers on tour. 'He may not calm down for some time,' his mum said

Punk band IDLES and superfan Alastair Smith

Alastair Smith with IDLES ahead of their Cornwall show. Image: Tom Ham

Big Issue introduced music fanatic Alastair Smith, who has Angelman syndrome, to his favourite band IDLES back in June – a month later he joined the punk rockers on tour.

Alastair, 20, from Hull, interviewed IDLES’ lead guitarist Mark Bowen using his symbol-based communication device for a special edition of the magazine with all the articles created by people with learning disabilities.

Alastair has Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects the nervous system and causes severe physical and learning disabilities, but he lives for music. 

Punk band IDLES and superfan Alastair Smith
Alastair Smith joins IDLES on stage. Image: Tom Ham

He and the IDLES guitarist hit it off and that led to Alastair being invited to on-stage when IDLES played at The Wyldes in Cornwall.

Alastair joined the punk rockers for their soundcheck before coming on to play MPC on Never Fight a Man with a Perm.

“He may not calm down for some time,” Alastair’s mum Jenn said. “It was an incredible experience for Alastair from soundcheck to afterparty.”

Advertisement
Advertisement

Alastair loves travel and live music and last year he went with his parents and best friend Harry to Berlin to visit the same spots that David Bowie and Iggy Pop did when they lived there.

His interview with Mark Bowen, while the band were on tour in the US, touched on his two passions.

When asked whether he and his bandmates enjoyed travelling on tour, Mark told Alastair it was something he also loved.

“It’s one of the greatest privileges of being a musician, getting to go to lots of different places all over the world. And insert yourself, very briefly, into a little scene of the cities that you go to,” said the IDLES star.

He asked Alastair: “Is there anything about travelling that you don’t like? Would you teleport if teleportation was a thing?”

You can read the full interview between Alastair Smith and IDLES’ Mark Bowen here.

Alastair is working with Nice Twice Club (Mencap) and Gig Buddies to help improve venue access across Hull and beyond. You can follow his musical adventures and more on Instagram @smiling_and_waving

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us moreBig Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Advertisement

Buy a Big Issue Vendor Support Kit

This Christmas, give a Big Issue vendor the tools to keep themselves warm, dry, fed, earning and progressing.

Recommended for you

View all
James Blunt: 'Nostalgia and misery have been my mainstays for over 20 years'
Music

James Blunt: 'Nostalgia and misery have been my mainstays for over 20 years'

The Making of Do They Know It's Christmas? review – spine-tingling scenes alongside camp and chaos
Band Aid recorded Do They Know It's Christmas? in 1984
TV

The Making of Do They Know It's Christmas? review – spine-tingling scenes alongside camp and chaos

'Last Christmas is woven in the fabric of Christmas': Celebrating 40 years of Wham!'s festive classic
Music

'Last Christmas is woven in the fabric of Christmas': Celebrating 40 years of Wham!'s festive classic

BBC 6 Music's Deb Grant: These are the albums, gigs and books that brought me joy in 2024
Music

BBC 6 Music's Deb Grant: These are the albums, gigs and books that brought me joy in 2024

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know