STAR TURN!
Pop hero Lewis Capaldi fulf ils childhood vow – and helps friend hit big time
AS youngsters they jammed together in their bedrooms, dreaming of one day becoming pop stars.
And while the young Lewis Capaldi and Luke Gibson strummed their guitars in Bathgate, West Lothian, they made one another a promise – if either became famous they would help the other hit the big time.
Now, having become one of the world’s best-selling artists, Capaldi is making good on his vow.
Gibson, who uses the stage name Luke La Volpe, saw his single Terribly Beautiful top the Scottish charts, grace the top ten UK singles chart and reach number four on iTunes.
The 24-year-old said: ‘When we were wee boys we said to each other if one of us got famous he’d help the other. I’ve known Lewis since I was 13 when I was at Bathgate Academy and he went to St Kentigern’s.
‘We were getting older and sneaking into bars to play, pretending we were 18. Lewis and I were 15 then.
‘We were always playing on the same bills at local bars and venues.
Lewis did a small tour in England and invited me to come along and play on it. I was blown away. I got a wee taste of proper gigs on that tour and then he went stratospheric and I was sitting at home.’
After topping the charts, Capaldi asked his pal to guest at his Summer Sessions concert at Edinburgh’s Princes St Gardens last August.
Gibson said: ‘Playing to that many people was the best high in my life. That night with Lewis was the biggest turning point in my life. Lewis’s success gave me the selfconfidence that if I kept working I’d get something.
‘It has paid off because I’m now getting a bit of recognition.
‘He is definitely going to continue to support me. It’s ridiculous that it’s happened for him and ridiculous I’m having a taste of it.’