Louis Tomlinson’s support act Andrew Cushin has admitted it was “very daunting” opening for the One Direction star on his mammoth solo tour.
The 24-year-old rising star – who has been championed by the likes of Noel Gallagher and Pete Doherty – found going onstage before the chart-topping boy band star on his 2023 global jaunt nerve-wracking and says it “massively opened” his eyes to what it’s like to play to thousands of people.
The Geordie rocker went on to praise Louis, 32, for always being there to offer him advice and revealed the pair keep in contact.
Andrew told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “We are still in touch. He was an amazing person to be around. It was very daunting at first and it massively opened my eyes. His door was always open for advice.
“He took me to a lot of after-parties. I was rather drunk on a number of occasions but it was brilliant.”
Andrew signed to Libertines and Babyshambles star Pete’s Strap Originals record label with Louis assisting, whilst Oasis legend Noel, 57, has also recorded with Andrew and produced and played guitar on his tune ‘Where’s My Family Gone’ in 2020.
The ‘Wonderwall’ hitmaker jumped at the chance to work with the new talent after his manager sent the Britpop star a video of him performing at a gig.
Andrew – who has just released his latest single, ‘L.I.F.E.’ from his upcoming second album ‘Love Is For Everyone’, due for release on May 2 – previously praised Noel for putting him “at ease” in the studio.
He told NME at the time: “When Noel arrived, I was bricking it. He shook my hand and we just had a chat straight away. We spoke about our families and all his great times from the 90s and it instantly put me at ease.
“It meant that by the time I went in to do the first vocal and couple of chords, I just knew I was there to work. I thought ‘let’s just try and impress him and get it as good as it should be’.”