During this past off-season, there was discussion between a few air guitarists of producing limited-edition promos to enhance the US Air Guitar brand. In 2011, the trading cards that Lieutenant Facemelter (Creative Director of USAG) designed were distributed nationwide to critical acclaim and demand for more keepsakes further intensified. Many projects were pitched yet with the new format, only a scant number came to fruition as of this post. One vein of artwork which did survive the process was re-purposed into a set of collectible postcards, which was meant to illustrate the diverse number of people who have been a part of USAG since its inception in 2003. The images below are a series that have been split to be paired with another card to form a whole. Physical manifestations of each have mostly been given away to this year's participants in the Northeast, though there are some that hope to make it to Finland as well.
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More images will be shared of this series, so keep checking back until all are revealed and y'all might even see someone you know!
The Air Guitar World Championships is a celebration of music enjoyment, mutual understanding and world peace. Thousands of people from all over the planet gather each summer in the town of Oulu, Finland for this event that bridges language barriers, religious beliefs and political leanings to find out which international representative best embodies the philosophy that by holding an air guitar one cannot commit atrocities with a firearm. Though superficially confusing and at times downright inane, none who participate in this annual quest for global harmony can deny its earnest desire to bring about the best in others through rhythmic and physical expressions.
One such competitor, Germany's own Geeky Gisbert (aka J. Fischer), conceived the notion that not only could air guitarists convey their individual messages on stage but also via stories collected then printed for all audiences to peruse at leisure. With the United States of America's fourth world champion in ten years, Nordic Thunder of Chicago, as one of his main liaisons, Gilbert was able to compile and edit an impressive number of backgrounds on air guitarists the world over for this first edition of "Air Guitar Heroes - Vom Spielen der Luftgitarre (About Playing Air Guitar)" published by blumenkamp in August of 2012.
Comprised mostly of entrants from Western countries such as Great Britain, the United States, Germany and France, this fascinating look into the diversely personal histories of Earth's most outstanding air guitarists offers a tantalizing glimpse into defining moments of their lives sixty seconds at a time. One notable trait that all these writers shared was a love and respect of live music performances with a clear goal of conflict-free unification.
Despite being surrounded by anonymous detractors who unceasingly decry this pursuit as nothing more than vapid and masturbatory adolescent antics, the invisible bonds among air guitarists which come about from determination, dedication and discipline are undeniably real.
The experiences that one can treasure for a lifetime are best measured by doing what one truly believes is the right thing to do then finding out that it was the correct course of action after all.
Finally appearing in the second round of the US Air Guitar Championships
after numerous attempts since 2009, the air guitarist known as G. Tso
Money now stood among veterans such as The Shred (Lance K.), Tommy
Fretless (Adam L.), MathRomancer (Paul M.) and Mitt Umlaut (Tom C.) as a legitimate contender to win the 2011 USAG Washington, D.C. Regional title. Faced
with the daunting task of rising above the assembled elite in
addition to stiff competition from Doug the Thunderstruck (Doug S.),
Shreddy Boop (Athena K.) and Airmageddon (Michael S.), a slight edge of
being tied for the second seed with D. Thunderstruck behind Tommy's
outstanding display of Round One airness instilled enough confidence
that this battle for the crown was far from over.
Twitter update from @usairguitar on 6-11-11
Twitter update from @usairguitar on 6-11-11
One by one as ranked earlier, each air guitarist in the compulsory round performed with wild abandon, frantic energy and animal magnetism whilst
the crowd and judges responded in kind. Following a near-perfect feat
of face-melting lunacy by Doug (the rookie prodigy of Juris Rocktor, aka
Mike S.) that elicited overwhelming roars of approval from all at the
9:30 Club, the moment arrived for G. Tso Money to win the audience back.
Twitter update from @usairguitar on 6-11-11
Twitter update from @usairguitar on 6-11-11
Sixty seconds later, a thousand cheers fell on adrenaline-deafened
ears and only by revisiting the video did it become apparent that
perhaps a worthy successor to the mantle of "Asian Fury" (aptly describing past US Air Guitar champions C-Diddy,
Sonyk Rok and Rockness Monster) had arrived. However, Tommy Fretless
once again shone brightest of all and earned his spot at the National
Finals in Chicago to rightfully represent the Mid-Atlantic air guitar
spirit.
Twitter update from @usairguitar on 6-11-11
Battered but not broken, G. Tso Money (Yeah Right's recap) was just getting started as the season rolled on further north to NYC...
The Thrash Prince of Hell Air, G. Tso Money, debuted on the US Air Guitar circuit two years ago and has since gained much more recognition within the community - from raucous jeers to thunderous cheers, this aspiring air guitarist has heard them all and will not stop until earning a chance to represent America on the main stage at Oulu, Finland for the Annual Air Guitar World Championships.
Trials by fire in 2009 and 2010 proved that after bottoming out, the only other way was up; enthusiastic yet lackluster and forgettable performances as a budding rookie, coupled with brutally honest reactions from judging panels and discerning audiences, nearly derailed the quest for spreading a personal message of world peace by air guitar (one cannot bear arms when playing invisible strings). Upon the realization that no less than a 200% effort would suffice in attaining this goal, meticulous planning and research was then invested in preparation for the 2011 campaign.
After witnessing the US Air Guitar Nationals at Irving Plaza in New York City last summer, the next ten months involved music selection, stage choreography, costume design and attitude readjustment. In addition to repeated viewings of "Air Guitar Nation" (the 2006 documentary film chronicling both C-Diddy and Björn Türoque's emergence as world air guitar superstars), a thorough understanding of the art form's philosophy was made possible by establishing more personal connections with fellow practitioners from all over the world. Some have said that it's best not to meet one's heroes, but even those who excel under the spotlights are real people with real lives that anyone can relate to on one level or another. Most notably, the friendships with Cold Steel Renegade (San Francisco, CA) and Brock McRock (Houston, TX) was invaluable in making a total commitment to upholding the true spirit of air guitar: for the love of music, for those who love music and for the individual freedom that no one can ever take away.
In returning to the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., on June 11th, all bets were off when a third performing slot was drawn for the Round One elimination. At a disadvantage once again by going early, there was only way to see if the training would pay off:
Twitter update from @usairguitar on 6-11-11
With such validation and regardless of the outcome, it finally became certain that everything up to this point had been a step in the right direction...
