I Became the Imaginary Guitar Global Winner
When I was just 10, I read about a article in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had participated at the inaugural contest back in 1996 – my mother handed out flyers, my father organized the music. Ever since, country-level contests have been staged globally, with the champions gathering in Oulu every summer.
Back then, I inquired with my family if I could participate. Initially they had doubts; the event was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They felt it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was set on it.
As a kid, I was always “playing” air guitar, pretending to play to the most popular rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. Mom and Dad were enthusiasts – my father loved The Boss and U2. the Australian rockers was the first band I found independently. the guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my inspiration.
Upon entering the spotlight, I performed my act to AC/DC’s the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The spectators started yelling “Angus”, just like the live recording, and it hit me: this must be to be a guitar hero. I made it to the finals, competing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.
After that I stopped. I was a adjudicator one year, and kicked off the show once more, but I didn’t compete. I went back at 18, experimented with various stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I embraced it and adopt “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve reached the finals annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I came second, so I was resolved to take the title this year.
The worldwide group is like a close-knit group. The saying we live by is ‘Create music, not conflict’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a true ethos.
The competition itself is competitive but uplifting. Contestants have 60 seconds to deliver maximum effort – dynamic presence, perfect mime, stage magnetism – on an imaginary instrument. The panel score you on a point range from four to six. If scores are equal, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a song plays and you improvise.
Training is crucial. I picked an a metal group song for my act. I played it repeatedly for multiple weeks. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my legs prepared enough to leap, my digits fast enough to imitate guitar parts and my upper body ready for those gestures and hops. When the event arrived, I could internalize the track in my being.
Once all acts were done, the points were announced, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was moment for an tiebreaker. We faced off to Sweet Child o’ Mine by the rock group. Once the track began, I felt relieved because it was a tune I recognized, and primarily I was so eager to have another go. When they announced I’d won, the area exploded.
My memory is blurry. I think I zoned out from the excitement. Then the crowd started chanting Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World and lifted me on to their shoulders. One of the greats – alias his stage name – a past winner and one of my closest friends, was embracing me. I wept. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar international titleholder in a quarter-century. The previous Finnish champion, the former champion, was also present. He gave me the warmest embrace and said it was “about damn time”.
Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our guiding saying is “Create music, not conflict”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a real philosophy. Competitors come from many countries, and all involved is supportive and encouraging. Prior to performing, each contestant comes and hugs you. Then for a brief period you’re free to be free, humorous, the top performer in the world.
I’m also a percussionist and musician in a band with my family member called the band name, inspired by the sports figure, as we’re influenced by British music genres. I’ve been bartending for a short time, and I direct short films and performance clips. The title hasn’t altered my routine significantly but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I aspire it brings more artistic projects. The city will be a cultural hub the coming year, so there are exciting things ahead.
For now, I’m just thankful: for the group, for the chance to perform, and for that budding enthusiast who read an article and thought, “I want to do that.”
