Air Guitar Championships

At our youth club in 1991, we held a local Air Guitar competition to qualify for the National Championship. On these Friday nights, most of us would head to the local servo and buy alcohol since there was no age limit on purchasing cigarettes and alcohol.

This day we got ‘Gammel Dansk’, a Danish bitters which was created in 1961 and flavored with secret herbs and spices like star anise, nutmeg, ginger, laurel, gentian, Seville orange, cinnamon and more. The 38% alcohol hit hard especially when temperatures were low.

It was then that I had a plan. I wanted to make my performance stand out so at the competition, I arranged for my friends to create a path to the mirror wall for me when I gave them a nod during my guitar solo. Then, I ran up towards the wall, took one step up and jumped onto the dance floor on my knees which got the crowd and judges really excited. Finally, due to what must have been the influence of ‘Gammel Dansk’, I tore open my button shirt right in front of the female judge! Buttons flew everywhere as this secured me the win! Later that night we laughed about it while reliving each moment.

Upon qualifying for the National championships, a bus was arranged for local supporters to attend the event in Copenhagen. I went with my uncle, who knew the main act of the evening — Dj Baker, a techno DJ who was all the rage at that time.

When we got to the venue, there were over 1000 people inside. The competition was intense, with 20 participants, most of whom were just like me: everyday people who had made it through to the next level. Then there were a few who had planned this for a very long time and knew what they were doing. The stage was well-lit, so I couldn’t hide; my signature move of jumping off the wall was ruined by all the prizes on shelves near the only visible wall. However, I hadn’t lost heart and still had a surprise attack planned with my friends storming the stage and tearing apart my shirt. While it did have some effect on the audience, take note that if you’re planning to do this too, use lightweight fabric which is easier to rip than cotton! In the end, I came sixth out of twenty competitors, winning prizes such as a Swatch Twin phone -the hottest item back then - and creating an unforgettable memory.