A Kansas musician has become the newest World Air Guitar Champion.

The Lawrence Journal-World  reports that the title was bestowed upon Eric “Mean Melin” Melin on Friday. Because he’d come in second at the U.S. Air Guitar National Finals in Los Angeles, Melin hadn’t actually qualified to compete at the championships in Oulu, Finland.

But, fortunately for Melin, there’s something called a Dark Horse round. This qualifying event on the eve of the championship offers a way into the finals for its top finishers.

Merlin won the Dark Hourse round. He then riffed and thrashed his way past 16 other competitors from Europe to Japan to win the world championship.

Melin is the drummer for a band called the Dead Girls. He’s also the Journal-World’s movie critic.
—