Make air, not war

Air Guitar World Championships were arranged for the first time in Oulu in 1996. Since then the competition has expanded to unbelievable heights.

The first competition was arranged more or less as a joke. At the moment national competitions are kept in 12 different countries and the most important event of the year is the World Championships in Oulu.

The success lies in the absurdness of the idea and also in the universal rock humour. Besides the obvious entertainment point of view, there are also higher goals for playing air guitar. According to the promoters, if everyone would play air guitar, no wars would break out in the world.

Participants in the Air Guitar World Championship take the contest seriously, but not themselves.

Air guitar maestro from Oulu

The winners of world championship have been from outside Finland. One player has still kept the Finnish flag high. Eero Ojala has participated in the three most recent AGWC and his best result has been 9th.

According to Eero a good air guitarist has to have a good rhythm and charisma on the stage. A good song has to be a lot of energy which then shows also in the playing. Eero has performed a variety of different music styles on stage from Queen, No Man's Band to Alice Cooper. As his own guitar hero Eero mentions the late Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell.

Eero Ojala prepares for the contest well ahead by designing his choreography and outfit. In the picture Eero is showing his style from the year 2006.

In air guitar playing Eero is attracted in the personal way and hunger to perform. He has been playing music since he was a child.

- I think everyone has played air guitar when they were a child, Eero laughs.

Air guitar playing is a serious business

For the first time Eero attended more or less with humour in mind. After watching the other players performing, he noticed that he needs to put more work on his performance. In addition to practising playing air guitar, he also put his mind in the show all together.

- Usually I start my training a couple of weeks before the competition by deciding my outfit and makeup, Eero reveals.

For those who are thinking of attending next year, Eero gives the tip that you have to be really into the playing. You have to be bold enough to try new and different things. The most important thing is of course to keep the humour and be yourself.

As final words Eero wants to spread the official statement of the competition: make air, not war.