The political air guitarist
Documentary 'Air Guitar Nation' showcases Hintz's other talent
By Jeff Bollier of The Northwestern
Krye Tuff has traded in his spandex pants, armbands, dark wig and Adidas high-tops for the more formal attire now demanded for work in the stately capitol building in Madison.
But that doesn't mean the legend of Krye Tuff is fading. Indeed, the air guitar champion's story is set to reach new heights when it premieres as part of a documentary film in New York City in March.
For some, the clash of heavy metal and heavy duty politics might be an uncomfortable mix, but not for Krye Tuff and his alter ego. He's traded in guitar licks and crazy costumes for button downed shirts and serious policy discussions, but he's not ditching talk of his colorful past screeching out "Talk Dirty to Me."
Krye Tuff may be more easily recognized by Oshkosh residents by his name for his admittedly more serious day job, Gordon Hintz, who was elected in November to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
"It's a hilarious story," he said. "I don't have any regrets. When one of your friends introduces you to someone as a former air guitar champion you have to just smile."
In June 2003, when he was a budget analyst for the city of Long Beach, Calif., Hintz earned the title West Coast U.S. Air Guitar Champion with blistering air guitar routines to Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me" and Motorhead's "Ace of Spades."
His victory and subsequent loss the same night to 2003 U.S. Air Guitar Champion David "C-Diddy" Jung set the stage for the documentary "Air Guitar Nation," which will premier in New York City March 23.
"I was nervous before I saw the movie about how they would pull it off, but it's really funny," Hintz said. "It's like the 'Rocky' of air guitar. It involved all the emotions in a way: Triumph, solidarity, commitment, competition."
The documentary captures a time in Hintz's life that other elected leaders might rather forget. But Hintz embraces the honor air guitar fans and judges gave him that night — so much so that he adapted an image of Tuff wailing on his air guitar for a campaign sticker in his unsuccessful 2004 campaign to unseat then-incumbent Rep. Gregg Underheim.
He also remains in contact with Jung, the eventual world air guitar champion, air guitarist Dan "Bjorn Toroque" Crane and "Air Guitar Nation" director Alexandra Lipsitz.
"Krye Tuff, I think, his style could be summed up as the ultimate in glammed-out Sunset Strip, 80s Poison-infused rockingness," said Crane, who lost to Hintz in 2003. "It was an L.A. crowd and he was able to totally channel their spirit. But he needed better hair — he should've had longer hair."
Hintz said Lispitz, Crane and Jung all donated to his 2006 political campaign. Lipsitz also made a trip to Oshkosh to get extra footage for the documentary. Her assessment of Hintz could apply as easily to his political efforts as his air guitar career.
"He's so well spoken. He's really smart and he really cares about it," Lipsitz said. "People think air guitar is something someone drunk and stupid does. And yeah, you can do it that way, but you can also be a thoughtful, smart and caring individual who just cares about the world."
Film well received
Competitive air guitar differs very little from its recreational ancestor practiced and honed by children everywhere. Aside from more elaborate costumes and routines, it requires little more than a love of music and a desire to have fun.
"I think it's something that everybody does," Lipsitz said. "Everybody can relate to it. Even if you've never picked up your air guitar, you've enjoyed music and tapped your along with your foot. And Gordon, he's a true believer in the power of air guitar. I think it's cool. Hopefully it will get out there and show people this thing exists and they can have a good time doing it."
Lipsitz said reaction to the film has been nothing but positive. "Air Guitar Nation" received the Audience Award at the 2006 South By Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, and it earned a second screening at Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival last year when the first one sold out quickly.
An image of Hintz in the heat of competition can be found on the movie's promotional poster and video of Krye Tuff's performance is sprinkled in the film's theatrical trailer.
"I think people are pleasantly surprised. They go in thinking it's a joke and not knowing what to expect and then they come out feeling elated," Lipsitz said. "It's rare we come out of the theater and not feel joy. I think we've won just in the reception we get from our audiences."
"Air Guitar Nation" originally was intended to be a reality show, "an anti-'American Idol'" that was picked up by VH-1 but then dropped.
Left with a lot of footage, Lipsitz went to a production company she worked with on reality TV shows like "Project Runway" and "Last Comic Standing" and pitched a documentary about the inaugural competition in 2003.
The film has already become a hit in Japan, Portugal and Australia, while screenings in Scotland and Greece have continued to spread the air-guitar gospel.
Competitive air guitar continues to gain popularity. The 2003 U.S. competition featured two regional qualifiers and that grew to five in 2004 and seven in 2005.
"This year, we're going to be doing a 15-city tour, so it's really going to expand this year," Crane said. "It doesn't surprise me at all that air guitar has grown exponentially in the past few years. It's one of those things that once you go to a competition, the air guitar gets in your bloodstream and you can't let go of it."
Krye Tuff on hiatus
Crane still believes Hintz should've never set down his air guitar and many within the community feel the same way.
"I think he had to make a hard choice in '04 because he was running (for the Assembly)," Crane said. "It was his first run and I think he had to choose between air guitar and politics. I think he made the wrong choice, but we all have to choose our battles."
While the air guitar nation continues to call for his return, Hintz said Krye Tuff has taken a long-term hiatus.
"Krye Tuff is definitely put away for the time being and I'm living vicariously through them as they continue to rock with the air guitar gods. I wish them nothing but the best," Hintz said. "A whole new batch of people follow it and are now aware of where Oshkosh, Wisconsin is. I had no expectations for this at all, but I'm really happy."
Crane said the same things that made Hintz a great air guitarist – many involved with the documentary still want him to bring Krye Tuff back – will make him a good elected leader.
"If you're holding an air guitar, you can't be holding a gun at the same time. The roots of the international movement are in fostering world peace," Crane said. "This is what makes Krye Tuff a great air guitarist, it's what makes Gordon Hintz a good politician: Deep in his heart, he wants a better world for all of us."
Hintz, for his part, feels like he has blazed a unique trail from entertainment to politics.
"I may be the first person ever to go from air guitar champion to elected office," he said. "But that being said, I don't think anyone ever thought I was less than totally serious about what I've been doing (in politics). I've always felt I take my job seriously, but I don't take myself very seriously."
Jeff Bollier: (920) 426-6688 or jbollier@thenorthwestern.com
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070128/OSH0101/701280515/2025
Posted January 28, 2007
By Jeff Bollier of The Northwestern
Krye Tuff has traded in his spandex pants, armbands, dark wig and Adidas high-tops for the more formal attire now demanded for work in the stately capitol building in Madison.
But that doesn't mean the legend of Krye Tuff is fading. Indeed, the air guitar champion's story is set to reach new heights when it premieres as part of a documentary film in New York City in March.
For some, the clash of heavy metal and heavy duty politics might be an uncomfortable mix, but not for Krye Tuff and his alter ego. He's traded in guitar licks and crazy costumes for button downed shirts and serious policy discussions, but he's not ditching talk of his colorful past screeching out "Talk Dirty to Me."
Krye Tuff may be more easily recognized by Oshkosh residents by his name for his admittedly more serious day job, Gordon Hintz, who was elected in November to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
"It's a hilarious story," he said. "I don't have any regrets. When one of your friends introduces you to someone as a former air guitar champion you have to just smile."
In June 2003, when he was a budget analyst for the city of Long Beach, Calif., Hintz earned the title West Coast U.S. Air Guitar Champion with blistering air guitar routines to Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me" and Motorhead's "Ace of Spades."
His victory and subsequent loss the same night to 2003 U.S. Air Guitar Champion David "C-Diddy" Jung set the stage for the documentary "Air Guitar Nation," which will premier in New York City March 23.
"I was nervous before I saw the movie about how they would pull it off, but it's really funny," Hintz said. "It's like the 'Rocky' of air guitar. It involved all the emotions in a way: Triumph, solidarity, commitment, competition."
The documentary captures a time in Hintz's life that other elected leaders might rather forget. But Hintz embraces the honor air guitar fans and judges gave him that night — so much so that he adapted an image of Tuff wailing on his air guitar for a campaign sticker in his unsuccessful 2004 campaign to unseat then-incumbent Rep. Gregg Underheim.
He also remains in contact with Jung, the eventual world air guitar champion, air guitarist Dan "Bjorn Toroque" Crane and "Air Guitar Nation" director Alexandra Lipsitz.
"Krye Tuff, I think, his style could be summed up as the ultimate in glammed-out Sunset Strip, 80s Poison-infused rockingness," said Crane, who lost to Hintz in 2003. "It was an L.A. crowd and he was able to totally channel their spirit. But he needed better hair — he should've had longer hair."
Hintz said Lispitz, Crane and Jung all donated to his 2006 political campaign. Lipsitz also made a trip to Oshkosh to get extra footage for the documentary. Her assessment of Hintz could apply as easily to his political efforts as his air guitar career.
"He's so well spoken. He's really smart and he really cares about it," Lipsitz said. "People think air guitar is something someone drunk and stupid does. And yeah, you can do it that way, but you can also be a thoughtful, smart and caring individual who just cares about the world."
Film well received
Competitive air guitar differs very little from its recreational ancestor practiced and honed by children everywhere. Aside from more elaborate costumes and routines, it requires little more than a love of music and a desire to have fun.
"I think it's something that everybody does," Lipsitz said. "Everybody can relate to it. Even if you've never picked up your air guitar, you've enjoyed music and tapped your along with your foot. And Gordon, he's a true believer in the power of air guitar. I think it's cool. Hopefully it will get out there and show people this thing exists and they can have a good time doing it."
Lipsitz said reaction to the film has been nothing but positive. "Air Guitar Nation" received the Audience Award at the 2006 South By Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, and it earned a second screening at Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival last year when the first one sold out quickly.
An image of Hintz in the heat of competition can be found on the movie's promotional poster and video of Krye Tuff's performance is sprinkled in the film's theatrical trailer.
"I think people are pleasantly surprised. They go in thinking it's a joke and not knowing what to expect and then they come out feeling elated," Lipsitz said. "It's rare we come out of the theater and not feel joy. I think we've won just in the reception we get from our audiences."
"Air Guitar Nation" originally was intended to be a reality show, "an anti-'American Idol'" that was picked up by VH-1 but then dropped.
Left with a lot of footage, Lipsitz went to a production company she worked with on reality TV shows like "Project Runway" and "Last Comic Standing" and pitched a documentary about the inaugural competition in 2003.
The film has already become a hit in Japan, Portugal and Australia, while screenings in Scotland and Greece have continued to spread the air-guitar gospel.
Competitive air guitar continues to gain popularity. The 2003 U.S. competition featured two regional qualifiers and that grew to five in 2004 and seven in 2005.
"This year, we're going to be doing a 15-city tour, so it's really going to expand this year," Crane said. "It doesn't surprise me at all that air guitar has grown exponentially in the past few years. It's one of those things that once you go to a competition, the air guitar gets in your bloodstream and you can't let go of it."
Krye Tuff on hiatus
Crane still believes Hintz should've never set down his air guitar and many within the community feel the same way.
"I think he had to make a hard choice in '04 because he was running (for the Assembly)," Crane said. "It was his first run and I think he had to choose between air guitar and politics. I think he made the wrong choice, but we all have to choose our battles."
While the air guitar nation continues to call for his return, Hintz said Krye Tuff has taken a long-term hiatus.
"Krye Tuff is definitely put away for the time being and I'm living vicariously through them as they continue to rock with the air guitar gods. I wish them nothing but the best," Hintz said. "A whole new batch of people follow it and are now aware of where Oshkosh, Wisconsin is. I had no expectations for this at all, but I'm really happy."
Crane said the same things that made Hintz a great air guitarist – many involved with the documentary still want him to bring Krye Tuff back – will make him a good elected leader.
"If you're holding an air guitar, you can't be holding a gun at the same time. The roots of the international movement are in fostering world peace," Crane said. "This is what makes Krye Tuff a great air guitarist, it's what makes Gordon Hintz a good politician: Deep in his heart, he wants a better world for all of us."
Hintz, for his part, feels like he has blazed a unique trail from entertainment to politics.
"I may be the first person ever to go from air guitar champion to elected office," he said. "But that being said, I don't think anyone ever thought I was less than totally serious about what I've been doing (in politics). I've always felt I take my job seriously, but I don't take myself very seriously."
Jeff Bollier: (920) 426-6688 or jbollier@thenorthwestern.com
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070128/OSH0101/701280515/2025
Posted January 28, 2007
Labels: Gordon Hintz
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