How a burlesque-dancing, bass-playing actor from Hamilton became air-guitar champion of the world [Video]

“I can’t judge … but that is a little weird.” 

That’s what Zachary “Ichabod Fame” Knowles’ said when students he was teaching to dance Burlesque recommended he try air guitar competitions — contests in which people mime playing the guitar on stage.

“They laughed and said to me, ‘Yes, it is the most ridiculous thing that you can do with your clothes still on,'” Knowles recalled. “I agreed to that almost immediately.”

Knowles, who lives in Toronto and grew up in Hamilton’s Lisgar neighbourhood, tried out for a competition in 2017 and “did mediocre at best,” but stayed to watch everyone else perform. 

“I got to see everyone just putting their absolute heart into this absolutely ridiculous, high-energy 60 seconds and I loved it,” Knowles said. “It was such a cool community of people that are really wanting to put themselves out there and have a wild and celebratory time.”

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