air guitar rock out at Reading Festival breaks the record

Charity ActionAid and two hundred and fifty four Reading festival goers broke the Guinness World Record for the largest air guitar ensemble at Little Johns Farm, Richfield Avenue, Reading, Berkshire on Thursday 21 August.

Hundreds of revellers kicked off Reading Festival by joining charity ActionAid to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people playing air guitar in unison. Gathered together in the 'Bollocks to Poverty' tent, the 254-strong crowd collectively rocked it out to the Bon Jovi classic 'You Give Love a Bad Name.'

Led by 'expert' air guitarist Dave 'Wildman' Pickles and partner Ricky 'Gorgeous' Jones, the crowd were given an air guitar warm up lesson before the big moment.

Official adjudicator, Erica Holmes-Attivor, from Guinness World Records was on hand throughout the attempt to check all participants were playing their air guitar non-stop throughout the track.

Erica said: "This was one rowdy and unruly crowd, but I kept a close eye on them and checked all were playing their air guitar correctly. We are proud to announce ActionAid have broken the Guinness World Record for the largest air guitar ensemble."

Anella Wickenden, who heads up the youth team at ActionAid, said: "This is our seventh year at Reading and we always have a fantastic response from people who want to get involved and join in the fight against global poverty. We want to say a big thanks to everyone who joined us to break the world record. The atmosphere in the tent was electric. Who needs real instruments when you've got hundreds of Reading fans all armed and ready to rock their air guitars?"

Reading Festival took place over the bank holiday weekend, from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th August. Tickets for the 2009 have gone on sale priced at £155 for the 3 days with camping. To buy tickets, click here.

The eFestivals photos and reviews of Reading Festival 2008 will be online over the next few days - don't forget to check back and check them out!

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