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The 2009 ANZ Air Guitar Champion is…‘Clay Bangers’
Clay Connolly aka ‘Clay Bangers’ (pic cte above) from Deer Park, Victoria backed up his 2008 Australian title victory to take out consecutive titles and be the first Australian to win three national titles, his first being in 2006. As with every year, the winner of this prestigious title does so with the ease & grace of an ACDC fan or scalper attempting to push in up front of the ‘Black Ice’ tour ticket office 2 minutes pre opening…say no more! Now etched in Australian Air Guitar folk law, ‘Bangers’ win was hard fought due to very stiff competition from fellow state & territory champions including: ‘Willy Sanchez’ (QLD), ‘Linz Man, the Air-Apparent’ (VIC), ‘Backyard Slash’ (NT), ‘Jimmy Dangles’ (NSW), ‘Jose Miguel Sanchez Rodriquez’ (ACT), ‘Rocks with Wolves’ (ACT) & ‘Billy Damage’ (WA). See competitor profile below. Second place went to ‘Gat Randy Rockin Reaper’ (NZ) (pic right above) with third place going to ‘Boner Stardust’ (ACT). Competitors put on an unforgettable show performing countless outrageous air antics to impress the judges and the large appreciative audience in attendance at the Canberra Irish Club. ‘Bangers’ went onto compete in the 2009 14th Annual Air Guitar World Championships (AGWC), Oulu, Finland which was won by French man, Sylvain 'Gunther Love' Quimene (FR) (35.1 pts) with 2008 AGWC Champ Craig 'Hot Lixx Hoolahan' Billmeier (US) 34.8 pts & 2009 USA Champ Andrew 'William Ocean' Litz (US) 34.8 pts sharing second place. Air Guitar Australia would like to take this opportunity to thank all air guitarists, their roadies and groupies, &, participating venues for their support of the 2009 ANZAGC. Air Guitar devotees are encouraged to ‘practice till their fingers bleed’ in preparation for the 2010 gig. ROCK U! Ronnie Riffless - AAGC Coordinator. MOB: 0417 706537. Check out the 2009 ANZ Air Guitar Champs Grand Final Competition photo gallery 2009 Media Samples; Check out the story from News.com feat Clay pre Air Guitar World Champs assault Frankie Magazine fea Clay Bangers Check out the Photo Gallery from the Sydney Morning Herald Newspaper online Check out the link to Sydney Morning Herald (page 3) story Check out the Canberra Times Newspaper Air Guitar Story fea 'Boner Stardust' from the ACT Check out the Canberra City News Story fea 'Miss Spent Youth' from the ACT 2009 'AUST & NZ Air Guitar Champs' Grand Final Competitors Profile:
2009 Northern Territory (NT) Champ is Rosco Davidson aka Backyard Slash (pic left). Age: 33.
2009 Queensland (QLD) Champ is Will Stroud aka Willy Sanchez (pic left). Age: 25. Occupation: Professional Front Man. Playing Hand: Left handed banger with a right handed power pump. Free round song choice: Homemade custom destruction. Air Guitar style: First wave Aussie 80s glam with a healthy dose of power... what other style is their? Musical influences: The Crüe, Warrant, Poison, Twisted Sister... all of which I have performed in Rock quote: "Place your bets on the Sanchez frets". Form: Multiple QLD state champ including back to back 08/09. Consistent performer that can surprise.
2009 New South Wales (NSW) Champ is Darrin Smith aka Jimmy Dangles (pic left). Age: 34 Occupation: Goat Herder. Playing Hand: Ambidextrous, but predominantly right handed. Free Round sing choice: Whole Lotta Rosie - Acca Dacca. Air Guitar Style: Dynamic, dangerous, sensual and spiritual. Musical influences: Glam/ metal/ classic rock. Eg AC/DC, Scorpions, Motley Crue, Poison. Rock Quote: Body Language is the only language that doesn’t lie Form: Multiple NSW state champ including back to back 08/09. 2nd place in 08 grand final. Previous Aust Champ. Done it all & wants to do it again.
Age: 30. Occupation: Documentary Maker. Preferred playing hand: I swing both ways. Free round song choice: We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister. Air Guitar style: Amazing Musical influences: David Bowie, Gary Glitter. Rock quote: Where's my burrito? Form: 08 ACT Champ seriously looking to increase his standing on Aust Air Guitar circuit. Rocks hard with home track advantage. 2009 could be the ‘year of the Boner’?
Playing Hand: Right. Form: Smoked it up at Aust Qualifier 2 to secure birth in main event. Unknown quantity surpassed by known quality.
ACT
Rep #3: Matt Rafter aka 'Jose
Miguel Sanchez Rodriguez'.
Free round song choice: Steve Vai/ Electric
Six - Gay Bar and Bill and Ted Combo
2009 Victorian (VIC) Champ is Lindsay Newton aka LinzMan 'The Air Apparent' (pic left). Age: 32. Occupation: Advertising Consultant. Playing Hand: Ambidextrous Free Round Song Choice: Yet to manifest itself... Air Guitar Style: Theatrical metal bombast born of fire Musical Influences: Crue, Tallica, Deth, Purps, Sabbs, Ozzy, Ginger, Baby, Sporty, Scary, Posh... Rock Quote: There is No ‘I’ in Air Guitar! Form: Back to back VIC state champ (08/09). 3rd in 08 grand final. Has what it takes to bring home the bacon.
2009 Western Australia (WA) Champ is William Denton aka Billy Damage aka William X. Damage III (pic left). Age: 30. Occupation: Plumber Playing Hand: Able to rock both sides of the parliament. Free round song choice: Preparing and arranging a piece at the moment. No spoilers yet but lets say there won't be a dry seat in the house. Air Guitar style: Have been likened to a velvet sledgehammer... maybe they were just talking about my cod piece. Musical influences: Nigel Tufnel, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Van Halen, Dragonforce, Amadeus Mozart, C.C. Deville... you know, all the gods. Rock quote: 'I just want to bring the thunder'. Form: Repeat offender on WA circuit. Placed 3rd in 08 WA State Final. On the rise with perfect preparation for the main event.
2009 New Zealand (NZ) Champ: Louis Ewen aka ‘Gat Randy Rockin Reaper’. (pic left) Age: 21. Occupation: Retail. Right handed. Free Round Song: Black Widow of La Porte. by John 5 Air Guitar style: Don't have a style, whatever style i have it just comes naturally. Musical influences: rock, heavy metal, metal, ska, punk, reggae, classical, pretty everything under the sun, but not rap or hip hop etc. Rock quote: "Music is to life, like Air is to guitar" Form: 08 NZ grand finalist. Knocked of 08 NZ Champ ‘Ginge Shreddor’ to secure 09 title. Big expectations.
'AAGC' Past Competitions, Events & Photo Galleries © Air Guitar Australia 2002- 2009. All Rights Reserved© Air Guitar Australia 2009. All Rights Reserved.
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ACT
Rep #1: Andrew Donnison aka ‘Boner Stardust’.
ACT
Rep #2: Shane Stark aka "Rocks with Wolves"
