A heavy metal tour in the Midwest nearly came to a halt on the side of a rural highway, until a stranger handed over his car keys.
The Autumn Kings had just played Rock Fest Wisconsin in Chippewa Valley when their van broke down. The Detroit-based trio called every mechanic in the area, but were told the engine would take two days to fix.
The band had 10 hours to get to its next show, the Upheaval Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan, about 500 miles away.
Then, according to the band’s agent Brandy Robidoux, they witnessed “one of the biggest acts of kindness of their lives.”
A stranger named Ernie stopped to ask if he could help. He ended up giving the band the keys to his Ford Explorer for several days, so they could drive more than 1,000 miles and finish the tour.
“The kindness of this one man restored our faith in humanity,” the band wrote on Facebook.
“With all the things you hear, about how the world is always going to hell, there are truly generous human beings, beyond comprehension,” said Jake Diab, guitarist and vocalist of the band.
“If it weren’t for Ernie, we wouldn’t have been able to get to Upheaval Festival.
“And Heaven was looking down on us (because) we had what I believe to be the greatest show of our career.”
“Without you (Ernie), it would NOT have been possible!”
When the band returned the red truck to Ernie’s house, they asked why he wanted to help.
“I’ve never met a live band before,” the Wisconsin man in his 60s said, “but I just (did it) to help three strangers on the side of the road.”
A fan of the band, Brooke Murray, wrote: “This is the best and most Midwest story I’ve ever heard!”
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