The 2007 NZ National Air Guitar Champion withdraws from Air Guitar World stage!

In a shock announcement that rocked the rock world of Air Guitarists across the nation, Shane Tooley aka ‘Axcalibur’ (pic below left), 07 Christchurch rookie Champ who recently was crowned 2007 NZ Air Guitar Champ, has withdraw from attending & representing NZ at the 12th annual Air Guitar World Champs.  See 'Axcalibur' statement below.

‘Axcaliburs’ discussion to withdraw from the Air Guitar World stage was due to religious commitments. In light of this announcement, NZ can still hold their heads high in the knowledge that good ole boy from Hamilton and second placegetter at the National Final, John Gerrand aka ‘Rootin Tootin Redneck Jono’ (pic below right) went onto represent the country at the 12th Annual Air Guitar World Championships (AGWC), Finland, Friday September 7th and placed 10th 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.

   

*************************************************************************************************

STATEMENT FROM 'AXCALIBUR'

Hi guys and gals, it is with great regret that I must confirm my withdrawal from representing our mighty nation at the world champs in Finland. My decision not to go is based on my religious beliefs; as I am a practising Seventh-Day Adventist Christian I observe Saturday (starting from sunset Friday night and going to sunset Saturday night) as the Sabbath. During the Sabbath I choose to put aside all the other things in my life to focus on my relationship with God and unfortunately the world champs are scheduled to be held during this time. I am not being made to withdraw, I do so freely because I have chosen to put God first in my life.

I want to say a huge thankyou to Brett and the people involved in the NZ Air Guitar Championships, Gizzy for her critique and especially all my fellow competitors, it was sensational to jam with each of you, ROCK HARD AND ROCK FREE!

Jono mate, all the best for the worlds. I know you'll do us all very proud, you know how to get a crowd going! Looking forward to hearing how you go in Finland.

Thanks again,

Shane 'Axcalibur' Tooley.

*****************************************************************

6th annual New Zealand Air Guitar Champs

Shane Tooley aka ‘Axcalibur’, 07 Christchurch rookie Champ took out the 6th Annual NZ Air Guitar Championships (NZAGC) National Grand Final on Thursday night 26/7/07 at AUT ‘Ves Bar’ in Auckland.  

Please click here to view National Final Photo Gallery

Broken strings, bones and dreams have been endured in a lead up to the National Grand Final in order to find the ‘greatest guitarist in NZ who never played’!

Now etched in NZ Air Guitar folk law, ‘Axcalibur’s’ win was hard fort due to very stiff competition from fellow regional champions including: ‘Hellmutt’ (Sth AKLD), ‘Tempo’ (Tauranga), ‘The Axe’ (WELL), Smash (DUN), Jack Axe (Nth AKLD) & sole rock chick participant ‘Red Hot Emma’.

‘Axclaibur’ played a ‘Darkness’ classic ‘I believe in a thing called Love’’ in his free round with his overall performance giving him the slightest of edges over second placegetter ‘Rootin Tootin Redneck Jono’ (HAM) & third placegetter ‘Silence’ (GIS).  Competitors put on an unforgettable show performing countless outrageous air antics to impress the judges and the large appreciative audience. 

Some highlights to the evening was a special guest performance by ‘Double D Dave’ who is believed to be the first blind person (sight impaired, not drunk) to compete in the history of the competition.  Another highlight and possible Air Guitar first was 'Jack Axe's' performance where he wore a pair of rollerblades!

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 NZAGC. 

Practice till ya fingers bleed!!  Ronnie Riffless - NZAGC Coordinator

2007 NZAGC Regional Champion Profile:

*Auckland Central. Name: Emma Greer aka 'Red Hott Emma'. 

Age: 18.  Right Handed.  Occupation: Sales Assistant.

Music Influences: Rock, Dance, Hip Hop.

Air Guitar Style: Chick Rock personified!

Free round song selection: TBA.

*Auckland North.  Name: Jacob Slovak aka 'Jack Axe'. 

Age: 22.  Right Handed.  Occupation: Film and TV bitch by day, ROCKSTAR by night!

Music Influences: You cannot defeat the metal!  Bring the Thunder!!

Air Guitar Style: Awesome.

Free round song selection: TBA.

*Auckland South.  Name: Ben Greaney aka 'hellmuTT' (2006 NZ Air Guitar National Champ)

Age: 21.  Right Handed.  Occupation: Automative Detailer.

Musical Influences.  Rock N Roll, Punk Rock & Funk.

Air Guitar Style: Innovative & Unorthodox.

Free round song selection: 'Bulls on Parade' by Rage against the Machine.

*Hamilton.  Name: John Gerrand aka ‘Rootin Tootin Redneck Johno’

Age: 26.  Right Handed.  Occupation: Cabinet Maker.

Musical Influences: 80s 90s Rock, Metal, e.g. Poison, Motley Grue, Metallica, Pantera, Guns n Roses, Korn, etc.

Air Guitar Style: Infectious!!

Free round song selection: TBA.

*Tauranga.  Name: Noe Soames aka 'Temper'

Age: 18. Right Handed.  Occupation: Music Student.

Musical Influences: Jimi Hendrix, Kirk Hammett, Stevie Ray Vaughn & Dave Mustaine.

Air Guitar Style: Trash - late 80's glam.

Free round song selection: 'Laid to Rest' by Lamb of God.

*Gisborne.  Name: Chris De Yrom aka 'Silence'.

Age: 41.  Right Handed.  Occupation: Truck Driver.

Musical Influences: Hard rock bands from the 80's.

Air Guitar Style: Original

Free round song selection: 'Kick start my Heart' by Motley Crue.

*Wellington. Name: Lloyd Hemi aka 'The Axe'.

Age: 24.  Right Handed.  Occupation: Bartender. 

Musical influences: Motorhead, GNR, AC/DC, Metallica, Monster Magnet

 
Air Guitar Style: Violently Sexual. 

Free round song selection: 'Cities On Flame' by Church Of Misery.

*Dunedin.  Name: Andrew Leighton aka Smash

Age: 22.  A sweet right hand rift.  Occupation: Student & Pro Am Athlete

Music Influences: 60's: Drug, sex and rock and roll. Big influence was the godfather of the guitar, Jimi Hendrix! 

Air Guitar Style: No holding back! The audience will be left wondering what the fuck was that! Carnage, destroying guitar solo's...

Free round song selection: 'Welcome to the Jungle' by Guns & Roses.

*Christchurch.  Name: Shane Tooley aka 'Axcalibur'. 

Age: 22.  Right Handed.  Occupation: Apprentice Builder. 

Music Influences: Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Queen, George Thoroughgood, The Black Crowes, The Darkness, The Living End. 

Air Guitar Style: A brutal fusion of tender finger/fretboard lovemaking subtely overlaid with amp-cone slaughtering riff blitzkrieg. 

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

© Air Guitar Australia 2007.  All Rights Reserved.                                         

AGA Home Page