David K. Israel
On Music: Björn Türoque: air guitar legend
by David K. Israel - March 3, 2008 - 2:39 AM

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Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point says, “Björn Türoque is so good that people with real guitars now have contests to see who can do the best imitation of his air guitar imitation.”

No joke.

bjornconan.jpgAnd today he’s all ours. Dan Crane, aka Björn Türoque, air guitar phenomenon and star of Air Guitar Nation is in the blog and giving away not one, but two prizes to two lucky readers. In my interview with him he’ll tell you that one of the most important things you need if you want to be a successful air guitarist is a great stage-name, like Björn Türoque for instance.

So let’s have ‘em! Enter as many times as you like, so long as each of your spectacularly creative stage-names is in a separate comment. Dan will pick his two favorites and one of you will get a copy of the movie Air Guitar Nation on DVD and the other a copy of his book To Air is Human.

Check out the Air Guitar Nation intro below and watch Björn unleash the full power of his airness. Then check out the exclusive mental_floss interview.

For those who want more Dan Crane, after the jump, check out the TV pilot Sound Bites he’s pitching to networks right now, starring those amazing dudes from Flight of the Conchords, as well as some more exclusive Björn Türoque footage.

Air Guitar Nation intro

Björn Türoque exclusive interview


Sound Bites with the Flight of the Conchords guys

Björn Türoque plays “In the Air Tonight,” exclusively for mentalfloss.com

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Comments (79)

  1. Rakheem Rol

    posted by Antanas on 3-3-2008 at 5:27 am

  2. Aislay De Geetars

    posted by Antanas on 3-3-2008 at 5:29 am

  3. Ai Rok

    posted by Antanas on 3-3-2008 at 5:31 am

  4. Sliced Bread

    posted by Jud on 3-3-2008 at 6:55 am

  5. Dominita Theyacks

    posted by Yonit on 3-3-2008 at 7:11 am

  6. Yo that movie rocked.

    Jack Axmann

    posted by TMo on 3-3-2008 at 7:47 am

  7. T-Rox

    posted by TMo on 3-3-2008 at 7:52 am

  8. If I was a woman, it would be Helen Damnation

    I, myself, would be an air guitar superhero called Shred Man with my able technician Finger Tap.

    posted by nathan on 3-3-2008 at 8:49 am

  9. Helen Lixx

    posted by qt314159265 on 3-3-2008 at 9:32 am

  10. Axe Likker

    posted by qt314159265 on 3-3-2008 at 9:33 am

  11. Axe Lixx

    posted by qt314159265 on 3-3-2008 at 9:33 am

  12. Captain Kitty

    posted by Brittany on 3-3-2008 at 9:36 am

  13. Suzie Van Pickenstein

    or

    “Tramp” Van Der Pickmeister.. “Tramp Meister” for short.

    posted by Kelly on 3-3-2008 at 9:44 am

  14. “Starla Clinton”

    or

    “Betty the Punisher”

    posted by kate on 3-3-2008 at 10:08 am

  15. Sturm Durango

    posted by Chris on 3-3-2008 at 10:10 am

  16. Dutch Windmills

    posted by Chris on 3-3-2008 at 10:11 am

  17. Sheila Shredz

    posted by Jess on 3-3-2008 at 10:29 am

  18. Chain Saw

    posted by Wolf on 3-3-2008 at 10:32 am

  19. BeefX O’van

    Chris…..Dutch Windmills is the sweetest name ever! That name should win!

    posted by Amos on 3-3-2008 at 10:46 am

  20. Mo’ Rok

    posted by Kinglink on 3-3-2008 at 11:18 am

  21. “The Draftsman” -he will blow you away or just make you put on a sweater.

    posted by sasme on 3-3-2008 at 12:36 pm

  22. Mies van der Roke

    posted by David on 3-3-2008 at 12:43 pm

  23. Mjolnair – Hammer of the Gods

    posted by David on 3-3-2008 at 12:49 pm

  24. Strum Thurmond

    posted by Jeremy on 3-3-2008 at 1:04 pm

  25. Aslo Vunderstitten

    posted by Jeremy on 3-3-2008 at 1:06 pm

  26. Eirhedz Schredenruehl

    posted by frodopal on 3-3-2008 at 2:16 pm

  27. Flailin’ Jimmy

    posted by frodopal on 3-3-2008 at 2:17 pm

  28. Finger Bleedin’ Good

    posted by frodopal on 3-3-2008 at 2:18 pm

  29. Mort d’Bores

    posted by frodopal on 3-3-2008 at 2:19 pm

  30. Callus MacFret

    posted by frodopal on 3-3-2008 at 2:22 pm

  31. AIMG (pronounced to rhyme with “mange” and standing for “Ace is my God”)

    posted by frodopal on 3-3-2008 at 2:23 pm

  32. One name…paczki (pronounced poonch-key)

    a. it looks cool
    b. If people were going to a show and they mispronounced it those who happen to be privy to the pronunciation could be condesending, which gives it an air on pretension which all real rocks stars need
    c. it means jelly doughnut in polish so your tagline could be “ich bin ein berliner” and it would be true

    posted by Gary on 3-3-2008 at 3:19 pm

  33. Amp Lee

    posted by Greg on 3-3-2008 at 4:53 pm

  34. Strummer Amp

    posted by Antanas on 3-3-2008 at 5:53 pm

  35. Pick Slide…only because it’s the coolest move in rock.

    posted by artie on 3-3-2008 at 9:18 pm

  36. Waylon Fretz

    posted by artie on 3-3-2008 at 9:20 pm

  37. Herr Geetar

    posted by artie on 3-3-2008 at 9:21 pm

  38. Airy King (think Slayer)

    posted by artie on 3-3-2008 at 9:24 pm

  39. BrrWrite BrunNet

    posted by Bbrizzle on 3-3-2008 at 10:48 pm

  40. Boo Princezzz

    posted by Barttttt on 3-3-2008 at 10:52 pm

  41. Oovefour Alll

    posted by Bdogg on 3-3-2008 at 10:53 pm

  42. The Shadow of Smoke

    posted by Adrienne on 3-4-2008 at 12:11 am

  43. This is awesome.

    posted by Ransom on 3-4-2008 at 12:42 am

  44. Shred McManus

    posted by guy mandude on 3-4-2008 at 7:43 am

  45. Thanks Amos! You just made my day.

    And umm…. Silent Townshend?

    posted by Chris on 3-4-2008 at 8:28 am

  46. Dusty Sanchez

    …not too be confused with his cousin.

    posted by Jeremy on 3-4-2008 at 3:35 pm

  47. Airic Clapton

    posted by david on 3-5-2008 at 1:43 am

  48. Tjurn Ittup

    posted by david on 3-5-2008 at 1:46 am

  49. Joaquin Wohl

    posted by leslie on 3-5-2008 at 9:18 am

  50. Shred Nugent

    posted by Jennifer on 3-5-2008 at 9:45 am

  51. Ted Wyman. It’s combo of Ted Nugent and Bill Wyman

    posted by Ralph on 3-5-2008 at 10:33 am

  52. Miko Spinz (Mee-k-o)

    posted by Des on 3-5-2008 at 12:09 pm

  53. Helen Keller.

    posted by Patrick on 3-5-2008 at 4:07 pm

  54. Starr Laroque

    posted by Tama on 3-5-2008 at 9:57 pm

  55. Starr Larocque

    posted by Tama on 3-5-2008 at 10:07 pm

  56. Fender Hindenburg

    posted by Bill on 3-5-2008 at 10:16 pm

  57. Faux Orrfrend

    posted by Michael on 3-5-2008 at 11:02 pm

  58. seth pistols
    or
    Francois leChainsaux

    posted by eirean on 3-6-2008 at 12:09 am

  59. Bee Sharp (B#)

    Goes well in an argument too.
    “Hey there is no such note!”
    “On the air guitar, there is!”

    posted by Jax on 3-6-2008 at 1:34 am

  60. Les(ser) Paul

    posted by Jax on 3-6-2008 at 1:37 am

  61. Pinch-a-Monique

    posted by Jax on 3-6-2008 at 1:40 am

  62. Strat-O-Blaster

    posted by Jax on 3-6-2008 at 1:49 am

  63. Mad Air
    or Madd Aire

    Sounds cool to me, anyway.

    posted by ACute Angle on 3-6-2008 at 8:19 am

  64. Air Mon Grrrrink

    Bad Axe Whammybar

    Aermotor (name of an old windcharger)

    Bangin Olufson

    Twisted in the Wind

    posted by Tom on 3-6-2008 at 9:40 am

  65. Hugh Manatee

    posted by Scott on 3-6-2008 at 10:57 am

  66. Flieger Angrif

    (Air Raid in German)

    posted by Jim J on 3-6-2008 at 10:58 am

  67. Nnnnnnccccggghhhhhhh

    Pronounced by snorting in through your nose.

    posted by SCott on 3-6-2008 at 10:59 am

  68. Sven Gali

    posted by Jim J on 3-6-2008 at 11:01 am

  69. Al Keida

    axe of the apostles

    posted by DAvid on 3-6-2008 at 11:03 am

  70. Luft Waffen

    posted by Jim J on 3-6-2008 at 11:14 am

  71. sky ghost

    sky riders

    ghost glider

    sky drifter

    Listen to its message

    posted by hellbentforleather on 3-6-2008 at 11:47 am

  72. Herr Mëtul!

    posted by Jason! on 3-6-2008 at 5:16 pm

  73. Oops, I pasted the wrong one in. I meant to enter:

    Herr Metül

    Not that the umlaut actually has anything to do with the pronunciation. Like all metal bands, it is purly decorative. And it looks cooler!

    Yay!

    posted by Jason! on 3-6-2008 at 5:49 pm

  74. Lix Von Eargasm…….Better Be Good!

    posted by Duke on 3-6-2008 at 11:11 pm

  75. Publik Sax

    posted by TMo on 3-7-2008 at 2:55 pm

  76. Saxin Public

    posted by TMo on 3-7-2008 at 2:55 pm

  77. okayy okay this one.
    FloorRest Scent

    posted by BDOGG on 3-10-2008 at 9:50 pm

  78. Bend Errr

    posted by BDOGG on 3-10-2008 at 9:51 pm

  79. Tammmi Wammmieee

    posted by BDOGG on 3-10-2008 at 9:52 pm

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