Hamilton man ‘shreds’ his way to world air guitar championship

A Hamilton-born musician was crowned the best guitarist you’ve never heard at the Air Guitar World Championships last week in Oulu, Finland.

Known as ‘Ichabod Fame,’ Zachary Knowles (who actually does play guitar and bass) got hooked on air guitar from a couple of his students when he was teaching burlesque dancing.

He shredded his way to victory with a performance of Nickelback’s ‘Photograph,’ tossing his long hair and employing an arsenal of spins and high leg kicks to beat out 15 other contestants, including three-time champion Nanami (Seven Seas) Nagura and performers with handles such as ‘Shred Lasso’ and ‘Guitarantula.’

Contestants are judged on the performance of two songs in two separate rounds, each lasting 60 seconds. While passion is required, props and costumes and real instruments are not allowed.

In addition to international camaraderie, the tournament also promotes inclusivity, as the activity is something anyone can do.

The Air Guitar World Championship, which first launched in 1996, says its aim is to promote world peace and that negative things such as war and climate change will vanish “when all the people in the world play the air guitar.”