2007 Australian Air Guitar Champs

The 2007 Australian National Air Guitar Champion is… ‘Tommy Air Manuel’!!

Wes Roe aka ‘Tommy Air Manuel’ (pic below), 05 & 07 WA State Champ & first ever WA competitor to secure the National title, took out the 6^th Annual Australian Air Guitar Championships (AAGC) National Grand Final on Friday night 25/5/07 at ‘The Vic Hotel’, Darwin, Northern Territory.

‘Tommy’ went onto represent Australia at the 12^th Annual Air Guitar World Championships (AGWC), Finland, Friday September 7th, where he placed 16th overall. 2006 AGWC defending champ, Ochi “Dainoji” Yosuke from Japan took the World title out again in 2007. The Ideology of AGWC is to promote world peace. According to the AGWC ideology, all evil things disappear from the world whenever people play the air guitar.

Now etched in Australian Air Guitar folk law, ‘Tommy’s’ win was hard fort due to very stiff competition from fellow state & territory champions including: 'Where’s Kenny’ (QLD), ‘Cas Man’ (VIC), ‘Hume Dogg’ (SA), ‘Lord of the Strings’ (Alice Springs – NT), ‘Miss Spent Youth’ (ACT).

Please see competitor profiles below & CLICK HERE to view the 2007 AAGC National Final photo gallery.

‘Tommy’ played a classic 80’s rock number ‘Nothin but a good Time’ by ‘Poison’ in his free round and a 'Metallica' classic, ‘Enter Sandman’, in the mystery round.

‘Mr Air Manuels’ technical & unique performance gave him the slightest of edges over second placegetter ‘Lord Gore’ (NSW) & third placegetter ‘Mr Damage’ (Darwin - NT). ‘Competitors put on an unforgettable show performing countless outrageous air antics to impress the judges and the large appreciative audience.

Air Guitar Australia would like to take this opportunity to thank all challenging air guitarists, their roadies and groupies, &, participating venues for their support of the 2007 AAGC.

Aspiring Air Guitar devotees are encouraged to ‘practice till their fingers bleed’ in preparation for the 2008 event.

Unlike an air guitar, we look forward to seeing you at the 2008 AAGC.

Ronnie Riffless - AAGC Coordinator

2007 AAGC National Finalists Profiles:

QUEENSLAND (QLD). Name: Kenneth Francis aka ‘Kenny’.

Age: 21. Left Handed. Occupation: Bartender.

Music Influences: My Parents.

Air Guitar Style: Rock.

Free round song selection: ‘Joker & the Thief’ by Wolfmother.

Form: Inaugural year of competition.

NEW SOUTH WALES (NSW). Name: Russell Adams aka 'Lord Gore'.

Age: 22. Left Handed. Occupation: Student / Bartender.

Music Influences: Rock/Metal.

Air Guitar Style: Brutal.

Free round song selection: 'Fucking Hostile' by Pantera.

Form: Placegetter in previous NSW Finals. 06 NSW State Champ. 3rd place at 06 National Final.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (ACT). Name: April Mack aka 'Miss Spent Youth'.

Age: Piss off. You never ask a lady her age! Right Handed. Occupation: Hard Core F@#king Rock Star.

Music Influences: Hendrix to Stevie Ray, from Van Halen to Dimebag Darrell.

Air Guitar Style: No retreat, No Surrender!

Free round song selection: 'Are you gonna go my Way' by Lenny Kravitz.

Form: 2nd place 06 ACT Final. Sole chick rock participant.

VICTORIA (VIC). Name: Stephen Lee aka 'Casman'.

Age: 21. Right Handed. Occupation: Student-Primary teaching / Restaurant kitchen hand.

Music Influences: The Darkness, Motley Crue.

Air Guitar Style: Positively Rigid, and incredibly satisfying.

Free round song selection: 'I believe in a thing called Love' by The Darkness.

Form: 04 & 05 TAS Champ.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA (SA). Name: Ryan Hume aka 'Hume Dogg'

Age: 18. Right Handed. Occupation: Student

Music Influences: Heavy Metal

Air Guitar Style: Original / metal/thrash

Free Round song selection: TBA.

Form: 1st year on Air Guitar circuit.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA (WA). Name: Wes Roe aka 'Tommy AirManuel'

Age: 29. Left or Right Handed: Both. Occupation: Sales Trainer.

Music Influences: Mostly from the Womb.

Air Guitar Style: Glamorized Cock Rock.

Free round song selection: TBA.

Form: Placegetter in previous WA Finals. 05 WA Champ.

*NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT).

*Darwin: Name: Norm Hawkins aka 'Mr Damage'.

Age: 48. Right Handed. Occupation: Crocodile Farm Supervisor.

Music Influences: Classic Hard Rock.

Air Guitar Style: Raw and Emotional.

Free round song selection: TBA…but more then likely something by classic rock outfit ‘Whitesnake’.

Form: 03 & 05 NT Champ.

*Alice Springs: Name: Kaileb Rothwell aka 'Lord of the Strings'.

Age: 18. Right Handed. Occupation: Student.

Music Influences: AC/DC, Zack Wylde, Steve Vai, and Rock and Metal.

Air Guitar Style: Very accurate to the technical side of guitar & also extremely entertaining.

Free round song selection: 'You shook me all night Long' by AC/DC.

Form: 1st year on Air Guitar circuit.

Home Page