EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: U.S. Air Guitar Champion ‘Nordic Thunder’ [AUDIO, NSFW VIDEO]

Justin Howard knows how to work it.

Groupies, George Lopez, two cities full of avid fans...life couldn't get much better. As Justin (AKA "Nordic Thunder") prepares to head to Finland next month as the U.S. representative in the World Air Guitar Championship, he was kind enough to talk to Rock 96.7's Tee Roy on Friday, July 29th.

Born and raised in Casper, WY, Justin has been calling the other Windy City home for the past eight years, but he hasn't forgotten his roots.

A big proponent of friends and family, Justin was more than happy to spend some time talking about his experience in this two part interview. Listen up as explains his beginnings, meeting ICP and Shaggy, preparing for the competition, gruesome air guitar injuries (some lady actually lost a toe!) and more...(transcript below)

Tee Roy:

Everyone can brag about Pete Williams and Dick Cheney, but now we have Nordic Thunder! One of the biggest names to come out of Casper, and he’s on the phone with me.

Justin, how you doing sir?

Justin: Good, good. How you doing T-Roy?

Tee Roy: Tell you what I was so psyched when I got the e-mail, saying you won the US Air Guitar championship. How is that?

Justin: Oh my God. It’s a dream I’ve been chasing since I crawled out of my mother’s womb. To become a champion in Air Guitar. To be the face of the 2011 US Air Guitar team is awesome. It’s so flattering and so awesome. I’m very honored to have this opportunity to represent this country in Finland next month.

Tee Roy: That brings up a good point. First you’re living in Chicago, and you’re even part of a comedy troop aren’t you?

Justin: Yeah I do some sketch comedy out here. I do some improve. I perform, there’s a theater out here called the annoyance theater. It defiantly helps me hone in my stage presence. And be able to be comfortable on the stage. I just like to have fun. I’m almost 28, I’ll be 28 next month. I’m constantly asked by some of my friends, “When are you gonna grow up?” I don’t think I ever will, I just like to have fun. And this is just probably one of the funnest things I have ever been a part of.

Tee Roy: Well being a professional kid is never a bad thing. Now you live Chicago, and this isn’t the first time you have tried out this, correct?

Justin: Yeah I’ve been competitive since 2006. And funny story, can I tell you story really quick?

Tee Roy: Hey do what you gotta do.

Justin: In 2005 I flew home for a friend’s wedding; it was the guy who owns the Ink Spot. I was in his living room playing Air Guitar, you know trying to do what I do.  And I turned weird, and I fell. My friends were yelling at me, “Come on man you got to get up and finish the song!” But I couldn’t because I couldn’t straighten out my leg. Went to the hospital and they x-rayed it and said everything looked good. But I would need an MRI to look for ligament damage. So they gave me a pair of crutches and I headed back to Chicago. And when I get there I see a fly for US Air Guitar, and I was really bummed that I couldn’t do it. Because here I am half crippled, and I was shocked that this kind of thing even existed outside of your living room or shower. So I went back to Casper that summer to have surgery on my knee, because I had torn my meniscus. And then I came back to Chicago and in 2006 I saw a ad that US Air Guitar was coming back. And I was like, “man I am going to enter this and win.” And that’s the first year I entered and I have been competing ever since.

Tee Roy: So you actually you had an Air Guitar related accident that required surgery?

Justin: Actually I have had two that required surgery. In 2008 I was in San Francisco for the US Finals that year. And I ruptured a disc in my back, and herniated the ones above and below the one I ruptured. But I think probably the most vicious gnarly injury that’s happened in Air Guitar. There was a champ in Brooklyn, a female, Betty Be Good. She, and I’m not making this up, I wish I was. Because it’s ridiculous as it sounds. During her second round performance she was running through the venue, and she was barefooted. As she was running she caught her toe on the edge of a table, and when she did she kept running but the toe decided to stay. And literally ripped her toe off. It was hanging on by the skin, she finishes her routine. Gets amazing scores and then is rushed off to the hospital. They amputated her toe that night, so there’s a nine toe’d air guitarist out there named Betty Be Good. It’s a rough sport man.

See how Justin Prepares for a Performance:

Tee Roy: Now let’s talk about your success. Obviously this year, you win the regionals, and then the US Air Guitar Championship. Then you flew out to LA to be on George Lopez, how was that?

Justin: Oh my God, it’s still weird. Even hearing you say it, “You were on George Lopez”.  It hasn’t really set in yet. But ugh it was so great I wish I could have spent more time out there to really enjoy California. I’ve been to California twice, ironically both for Air Guitar. But this last trip was to do the George Lopez show. I wasn’t really a big fan of the show, didn’t watch it a whole lot. But now that I’ve been there it’s got a special place in my heart, I might start tuning in. It was fun; I met Shaggy and his band. ICP was there. And the Fashion Guru Tim Gunn was there. He complimented my clothes.

Tee Roy: If you watch the video, he was totally checking out your butt.

Justin: Oh totally! He was whispering sweet nothings in my ear all night. I was like, “come on man I got a girlfriend!”

Tee Roy: Hey Jenna Elfman was there that night, did you meet her?

Justin: No she had like her own private room within in the Green room. So I saw her in passing, she smiled at me and winked. So I think she dug what I had going on.

Tee Roy: Well yeah, you’re a sexy dude, let’s be honest.

Justin: Of course!

Tee Roy: And one question I thought was funny that George asked you, about the groupies. So you really have groupies?

Justin: Oh my god yeah! The very first year I did this, was the first pair of breasts that I signed. That’s rock star level right there. The women, man just eat it up. I got a girlfriend, she competes too. Her name’s Cannon Ball Maven. She’s very protective of me, so when the groupies come in her eyes start flaring. It’s like, “Okay better take a step back.” But the girls man, they love the Thunder, they love the Air Guitar it’s awesome.

Tee Roy: I love it. So you take off to Finland next month, US Air Guitar is paying for you to go?

Justin: Yeah they’re sending me out there.

Tee Roy: How many countries compete in that?

Justin: Oh man I want to say around 20. I don’t know the exact number. There’s people that literally come from all over the world, and meet in this small town in Festival. It’s a couple day festival, and there’s one night that the big competition goes down. The main initiative behind Air Guitar is to promote world peace. There’s a saying, “you can’t hold a gun when you’re holding a Air Guitar.” So for a couple of days all these countries are together in this little town celebrating life and rock’in and rolling. I can’t wait to be a part of it, I am really excited about it.

Tee Roy: Well the city of Casper is really proud of you. The story we posted has gotten a ton of positive response. Now you were the school president?

Justin: No I wasn’t the school president. I don’t think I was smart enough for that, I was the class clown. I’m dumb enough for that, so it worked out well.

Tee Roy: Well Justin good luck in your endeavors and please keep in touch with us. Anything you want to say to your fans here in Casper?

Justin: Oh my God, I just want to say that Casper is my home, I love it there. It’s awesome to know I have a strong pillar of support in Chicago and I have this MASSIVE pillar of support back in Casper. And it’s just the most flattering thing in the world to know my friends and family are back there watching and supporting me. I’m representing Chicago, but I’m also representing Casper, and representing this country as I go onto the global stage. Thank you so much for everything, I love you Casper!

Tee Roy: Alright man, and enjoy that thong. It looks like a lot of fun to wear.

Justin: Oh it absolutely is. Can I give a couple shout outs?

Tee Roy: Yeah man!

Justin: Yeah! I would love to say hi to my mom and dad and my sister who I hope is listening. Big fan of the Black Livers, The Dang Ol Boys, and all the guys at the Ink Spot. Yes, YES! This victory is as much for Casper and Chicago, and US Air Guitar as it is for me. This is our title, I keep calling it our title. This title is ours, and everyone who supports Air Guitar and the Thunder. Let’s Celebrate!

Tee Roy: Alright man, well that’s Justin Howard aka Nordic Thunder. Make sure you go check out his comedy troupe ladyparts.com. And I believe you guys have some youtube videos?

Justin: Yeah you check it out, it will send you out there and you can see my acting like an idiot in a different way.

Watch Justin's Performance on 'Lopez Tonight':

No matter how you feel about Air Guitar, you have to admit that Justin is the perfect representative. Easy going, funny (click here to check out his Chicago comedy troupe "Lady Parts"), down to earth, and an overall great guy. The U.S. Air Guitar judges couldn't have chosen a better air-head to represent our country in Finland next month. Good luck, Nordic Thunder....we're all rooting for you!

Check out the pics below, and to see Justin's road to the title, click here.