I Am the Air Guitar World Champion
When I was just 10, I read about a story in my community gazette about the World Air Guitar Competition, held annually every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My family had participated at the pioneering contest back in 1996 – my mother distributed flyers, my dad sorted the music. Ever since, national championships have been staged all across the world, with the titleholders converging in Oulu annually.
Back then, I asked my parents if I could enter. At first they were hesitant; the competition was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They believed it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was set on it.
As a kid, I was always “playing” air guitar, pretending to play to the iconic rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My parents were music fans – dad loved Springsteen and U2. the Australian rockers was the first band I stumbled upon myself. the guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my inspiration.
As I took the stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s that classic track. The crowd started yelling “Angus”, similar to the album track, and it dawned on me: this is what it feels like to be a guitar hero. I made it to the finals, playing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was captivated. I was dubbed “Little Angus” that day.
After that I stopped. I was a judge one year, and opened for the show another time, but I didn't participate. I returned at 18, tried a few different stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and adopt “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve made it to the final every year since 2022, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was determined to take the title this year.
The worldwide group is like a family. Our guiding principle is ‘Create music, not conflict’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a genuine belief.
The event is intense but joyful. Contestants have one minute to put their all – dynamic presence, perfect mime, stage magnetism – on an nonexistent axe. The panel evaluate you on a point range from a specific numeric range. If scores are equal, there’s an “air-off” between the remaining participants: a tune begins and you create on the spot.
Getting ready is key. I chose an a metal group song for my act. I played it repeatedly for weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my lower body prepared enough to jump, my hands quick enough to mimic solos and my upper body set for those gestures and hops. When the event came, I could sense the music in my bones.
When the show concluded, the points were announced, and I had tied with the titleholder from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was occasion for an final showdown. We went head-to-head to that classic rock anthem by Guns N’ Roses. Once the track began, I felt relieved because it was familiar to me, and more than anything I was so eager to have another go. When they announced I’d triumphed, the venue went wild.
It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I zoned out from surprise. Then everyone started singing Neil Young’s the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and raised me up on to their backs. Justin Howard – also known as his performer title – a previous titleholder and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I cried. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar international titleholder in two and a half decades. The earlier winner from Finland, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was also present. He bestowed upon me the warmest embrace and said it was “about damn time”.
The air guitar community is like a support system. The phrase we live by is “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a genuine belief. Participants come from many countries, and all involved is supportive and encouraging. Before you go on stage, every competitor comes and hugs you. Then for one minute you’re free to be yourself, humorous, the top performer in the world.
I’m also a percussionist and string player in a band with my brother called the band name, named after the sports figure, as we’re fans of Britpop and new wave. I’ve been serving drinks for a short time, and I produce independent videos and music videos. Winning hasn’t changed my day-to-day life significantly but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I hope it results in more artistic projects. Oulu will be a cultural hub next year, so there are exciting things ahead.
At present, I’m just grateful: for the network, for the ability to compete, and for that little kid who read an article and thought, “That's for me.”
