I Became the Imaginary Guitar World Champion

When I was just 10, I read about a feature in my community gazette about the World Air Guitar Competition, held annually every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My parents had helped out at the very first contest since 1996 – my mum gave out flyers, my father organized the music. Ever since, domestic competitions have been organized in many nations, with the titleholders converging in Oulu every summer.

Back then, I asked my parents if I could enter. They weren't sure at first; the show was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They thought it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was set on it.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, pretending to play to the iconic rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. Mom and Dad were lovers of music – my dad loved Springsteen and U2. the band AC/DC was the original act I discovered on my own. the guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my hero.

Upon entering the spotlight, I performed my act to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The spectators started shouting “Angus”, similar to the live recording, and it struck me: this is what it feels like to be a music icon. I reached the championship, playing to crowds in the town square, and I was addicted. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a referee one year, and kicked off the show once more, but I stayed out of the contest. I returned at 18, experimented with various stage names, but fans continued using “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and choose “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve reached the finals each competition since then, and in 2023 I came second, so I was determined to take the title this year.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. It may seem funny, but it’s a genuine belief.

The competition itself is competitive but uplifting. Participants have one minute to put their all – dynamic presence, perfect mime, performance charm – on an imaginary instrument. Adjudicators evaluate you on a scale from a specific numeric range. In the case of a tie, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a tune begins and you improvise.

Training is crucial. I picked an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I listened to it on a loop for multiple weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my legs prepared enough to bound, my fingers fast enough to copy riffs and my back ready for those moves and leaps. Once the event dawned, I could feel the song in my bones.

When the show concluded, the points were announced, and I had drawn with the titleholder from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was time for an tiebreaker. We faced off to that classic rock anthem by Guns N’ Roses. When I heard the song, I felt at ease because it was one that I knew, and primarily I was so eager to perform one more time. Once the results were read I’d won, the area went wild.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I lost consciousness from the excitement. Then all present started chanting the classic tune the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and hoisted me on to their arms. Justin Howard – also known as Nordic Thunder – a previous titleholder and one of my closest friends, was embracing me. I wept. I was the first Finnish air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The prior titleholder, the earlier victor, was in attendance as well. He offered me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “finally happening”.

Our global network is like a family. Our motto is “Make air, not war”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a true way of life. Participants come from all over the world, and each person is helpful and motivating. As you prepare to compete, all participants offers an embrace. Then for a brief period you’re free to be free, humorous, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a beat keeper and musician in a group with my family member called the band name, named after the football manager, as we’re fans of Britpop and new wave. I’ve been bartending for a few years now, and I create short films and song visuals. The title hasn’t changed my day-to-day life significantly but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I aspire it brings more artistic projects. Oulu will be a European capital of culture soon, so there are exciting things ahead.

For now, I’m just grateful: for the group, for the chance to perform, and for that budding enthusiast who picked up a newspaper and thought, “I want to do that.”