Rap Fan Gives Public Enemy A Lift To Their Own Gig In His Ford Focus

Don’t believe the hype: but do believe the incredible story of how a fan gave Public Enemy a lift to their arena show in his Ford Focus.

After an evening signing autographs at Sheffield record shop Record Collector, the rappers were left stranded when their taxi drove off without them.

With their gig supporting the Prodigy starting imminently at the Motorpoint Arena, a panicked cry went out - can anyone give them a lift?

Enter local snapper Kevin Wells, who told us: “I didn’t think I’d have time to go to the signing so I’d been in earlier that day to leave a CD and poster for them to sign. But it was all running late and I managed to pop in - I must have been one of the last ones in.

“When someone said “Anyone got a car?” I said, “I’ll do it.”

The band with Record Collector owner Barry Everard before the mad dash across Sheffield (credit: Kevin Wells)

“It was a bit of a squeeze - we had three in the back and one in the front. I kept looking in the rear view mirror and seeing Flava Flav in his sunglasses and thinking ‘is this really happening?’”

Because the band were running late there were a few tense phone calls during the ten minute drive, but that didn’t stop Chuck D making small talk with Kevin about Sheffield and the Tramlines festival Public Enemy headlined last year.

At one point, the whole crew rocked out to Bohemian Rhapsody when it came on the radio. “It was a real Wayne’s World moment - I wish I’d got it on video!” Kevin said.

“When we pulled up to the arena I said to the security guard, ‘This might sound daft but I’ve got the band in here.’

“He looked at me like, yeah right, I’ve heard that one before - so Chuck D showed him his pass and he said ‘Oh right!’”

Unfortunately Kevin had to go and photograph two other gigs in Sheffield that night so he couldn’t stay for the show despite the band offering him a ticket as thanks.

“Before I went I said, ‘We have to get a selfie or no one will believe this happened’. Even I had to pinch myself a bit.

“I put the photo up on Facebook and it all went a bit ballistic. Things like that don’t really happen, do they?

“A friend of mine said, ‘You’ll be able to dine out on that for a while!’”

Image credit: Kevin Wells on Facebook