I Became the Imaginary Guitar World Champion
Back when I was 10, I discovered a feature in my hometown newspaper about the Air Guitar World Championships, that happens every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My family had participated at the inaugural contest back in 1996 – my mum gave out flyers, my dad managed the music. Ever since, country-level contests have been staged in many nations, with the titleholders assembling in Oulu every summer.
At the time, I asked my parents if I could enter. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They felt it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was determined.
As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, pretending to play to the most popular rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. My parents were lovers of music – my dad loved Springsteen and U2. the band AC/DC was the original act I discovered on my own. the lead guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my idol.
As I took the stage, I did my routine to AC/DC’s that classic track. The spectators started shouting “Angus”, just like the album track, and it struck me: so this is to be a music icon. I reached the championship, competing to hundreds of people in Oulu’s market 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 once more, but I didn't participate. I went back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and make “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve qualified for the last round every year since 2022, and in 2023 I came second, so I was set to take the title this year.
Our global network is like a support system. The saying we live by is ‘Make air, not war’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a real philosophy.
The contest is intense but joyful. Contestants have a short window to deliver maximum effort – dynamic presence, perfect mime, stage magnetism – on an nonexistent axe. Judges rate you on a scale from 4.0 to 6.0. In the case of a tie, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the remaining participants: a song plays and you freestyle.
Getting ready is key. I selected an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I listened to it on a loop for a long time. I stretched constantly, trying to get my legs loose enough to leap, my digits nimble enough to imitate guitar parts and my spine set for those bends and jumps. When competition day dawned, I could feel the song in my bones.
When the show concluded, the scores came in, and I had tied with the winner from Japan, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was time for an tiebreaker. We faced off to the Guns N’ Roses hit by Guns N’ Roses. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was familiar to me, and more than anything I was so excited to play again. When they announced I’d emerged victorious, the area went wild.
The moment is hazy. I think I zoned out from the excitement. Then the crowd started performing Neil Young’s that well-known track and lifted me on to their backs. One of the greats – alias his stage name – a former champion and one of my best pals, was hugging me. I shed tears. I was Finland’s first air guitar international titleholder in 25 years. The previous Finnish champion, the earlier victor, was also present. He offered me the biggest hug and said it was “finally happening”.
The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. Our guiding saying is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a genuine belief. Competitors come from all over the world, and each person is supportive and encouraging. Before you go on stage, all participants comes and hugs you. Then for a brief period you’re allowed to be uninhibited, silly, the ultimate music icon in the world.
Besides that, I'm a drummer and musician in a band with my family member called the group title, named after the sports figure, as we’re inspired by British music genres. I’ve been working in bars for a couple of years, and I produce independent videos and performance clips. The victory hasn’t altered my routine too much but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I hope it leads to more artistic projects. Oulu will be a cultural hub the coming year, so there are exciting things ahead.
At present, I’m just appreciative: for the community, for the opportunity to play, and for that little kid who read an article and thought, “I want to do that.”
