Record Man 2012
On August 31, 2012, at the age of 17, Kristian managed to beat the Guinness Book of World Records’ record for 'the longest guitar solo ever played.’
The record consists of striving, for as long as possible, to play a single guitar solo, and to beat the time set by previous participants. The rules of the record were demanding, and some had little to do with the guitar. For example, participants could not eat or go to the bathroom, or stop playing, which sets this particular record apart from other, better-known ones. After 2013, they changed the rules, making it significantly less difficult for those later participants.
In 2012, when Kristian wanted to set the record in May, they didn’t let him because the record was highly sought after and because he was still a minor. In August, nobody had tried to exceed 13 hours of soloing, so he asked again and they let him participate, with parental consent. This meant that the same strict rules would apply to him as to the older competitors.
On August 31, the last day of the event, Kristian was allowed one chance to beat the existing record. If he didn’t beat it then, due to health risks or not enduring long enough, it would foreclose the possibility of a second attempt. That day he was relaxed and focused on playing and enjoying his music. Amazingly, thanks to this fact and the support of the public, Kristian managed to outlast the previous contestant. He maintained his normal physical faculties in spite of the challenges of the contest.
Kristian beat the previous record at 2:25 am on September 1, 2012, having started playing at about 10 am the day before.
Despite the risks, Kristian says he would do it again, and do everything to fight for his dream, because the power of the self has no limits.
Even so, Kristian disagrees with some of the rules of the record. He prefers the record of playing for more than 100 hours with stoppages of five minutes per hour, and allowing the participant to meet biological needs that have little to do with the record itself.
Aside from the little media recognition he got in his hometown, Kristian didn’t get any rewards for breaking the record, just an affidavit of having set the 2012 record. The minor media attention gave him a slightly higher profile in his hometown and the surrounding areas.
The record consists of striving, for as long as possible, to play a single guitar solo, and to beat the time set by previous participants. The rules of the record were demanding, and some had little to do with the guitar. For example, participants could not eat or go to the bathroom, or stop playing, which sets this particular record apart from other, better-known ones. After 2013, they changed the rules, making it significantly less difficult for those later participants.
In 2012, when Kristian wanted to set the record in May, they didn’t let him because the record was highly sought after and because he was still a minor. In August, nobody had tried to exceed 13 hours of soloing, so he asked again and they let him participate, with parental consent. This meant that the same strict rules would apply to him as to the older competitors.
On August 31, the last day of the event, Kristian was allowed one chance to beat the existing record. If he didn’t beat it then, due to health risks or not enduring long enough, it would foreclose the possibility of a second attempt. That day he was relaxed and focused on playing and enjoying his music. Amazingly, thanks to this fact and the support of the public, Kristian managed to outlast the previous contestant. He maintained his normal physical faculties in spite of the challenges of the contest.
Kristian beat the previous record at 2:25 am on September 1, 2012, having started playing at about 10 am the day before.
Despite the risks, Kristian says he would do it again, and do everything to fight for his dream, because the power of the self has no limits.
Even so, Kristian disagrees with some of the rules of the record. He prefers the record of playing for more than 100 hours with stoppages of five minutes per hour, and allowing the participant to meet biological needs that have little to do with the record itself.
Aside from the little media recognition he got in his hometown, Kristian didn’t get any rewards for breaking the record, just an affidavit of having set the 2012 record. The minor media attention gave him a slightly higher profile in his hometown and the surrounding areas.
