Public Enemy fan gives group a lift to gig in his Ford Focus

Public Enemy were driven to their latest gig in a fan’s Ford Focus after a taxi driver left them stranded.

Photographer Kevin Wells turned chauffeur when he offered to drive rappers Chuck D, Flavor Flav and their entourage to the group’s gig with The Prodigy at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena.

Public Enemy – who shot to fame following the release of their 1987 album Yo! Bum Rush – were expecting to be collected in a taxi from their signing at the Record Collector store, in Broomhill, but the driver drove off.

Mr Wells – who had stopped by to grab an autograph – stepped in to help them out.

Speaking to The Star, Mr Wells said: “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.”

He described the journey as the “most surreal” of his life, but said he had a “right laugh”.

Mr Wells – who posted several photos from the journey to his Facebook account – continued: “We were chatting away, but the phone was constantly going as their management were clearly worried.

“Then as we were coming through Attercliffe, Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen, came on the radio.

“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: “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.’

“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.”