Public Enemy Get Ride to Gig With Sheffield Fan
A local photographer became a chauffeur to the stars when he gave Public Enemy a lift to their Sheffield show in his Ford Focus.
Professional gig photographer Kevin Wells came to the rescue after the hip-hop group, fronted by rappers Chuck D and Flavor Flav, were stranded at a record store in Broomhill, minutes before they were due on stage at the Motorpoint Arena with The Prodigy.
Public Enemy at their signing at Record Collector Sheffield @RCSheffield @PublicEnemyFTP @MrChuckD @FlavorFlav pic.twitter.com/H8cJ3LyB2s
— kevin wells (@BigwhopperKevin) November 29, 2015
The 50-year-old snapper told local newspaper The Star: “Public Enemy had a taxi booked for 6.30pm, but it drove off before the guys had finished signing autographs.
“People started panicking and looking for someone to drive, so I volunteered.”
Just casually given a lift to public enemy to @SheffieldArena @PublicEnemyFTP @MrChuckD @FlavorFlav @ExposedMagSheff just a normal Saturday
— kevin wells (@BigwhopperKevin) November 28, 2015
Kevin, who described the ride as “the most surreal journey of his life”, said the group even rocked out to Queen’s hit Bohemian Rhapsody – before posing for a selfie.
Public Enemy in my car in Sheffield @SheffieldArena @PublicEnemyFTP @RCSheffield @MrChuckD @FlavorFlav pic.twitter.com/cah6gO9yEk
— kevin wells (@BigwhopperKevin) November 29, 2015
“Everyone was singing the words and rocking out in the back of my car, it was like a Wayne’s World moment. I was looking in the rear view mirror thinking, ‘Is this actually happening?’,” he added.
The photographer revealed they arrived within minutes of their stage time.
Just hanging out with chuck D & Flavor Flav @PublicEnemyFTP @FlavorFlav pic.twitter.com/lWMwurBock
— kevin wells (@BigwhopperKevin) November 28, 2015
“We got to the arena about 15 minutes before they were due on stage. I drove up to security and said, ‘I’ve got the band in the back’,” he said.
“They looked at me as if I was having them on, but then I rolled down the windows and Chuck D showed them the security pass. Amazing, it just didn’t feel real.”
Oh Well I suggested we play Queen lol https://t.co/hUtsVSi6x8 The record store was crazy doPE too.
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) December 1, 2015