If you've read the "Thanks" section of any of any of our records, you've seen Greg Davis mentioned. At least to my recollection, though, I've never fully shared the story of this American hero in any interviews or public posts online. But that's about to change. It's the Summer of 2014. We're a couple days into what's going to be the biggest tour we've ever done. Driving through Clinton, MS. It's hot, and our old, crappy van has evidently had all it can take. You guessed it. It gives out and leaves us stranded. First night, and after an unreasonable amount of difficulty from a complete jerk of a police officer, we have to sleep in the van, parked in the parking lot of a nearby store. Somehow we manage to get it to a local mechanic shop the next day, but they aren't immediately able to look at it and figure out the problem. They let us leave it outside their shop and just sleep in it for the next night or two.
Eventually they discover it's some super expensive thing that's messed up and it will be a little while longer until it's actually able to be fixed. We've cancelled the subsequent tour dates and resigned to our imminent poverty. Everyone's stinky and we haven't had a good rest in days. It's just gotten dark and we're all just kind of chilling in the van outside the shop and chatting with one another. Suddenly someone says, "Uh-oh. There's a cop." I let out a sigh of complete irritation, fully expecting this guy to be as unpleasant and spiteful as the officer I mentioned earlier and to demand that we somehow move our immovable van to a designated broken down van zone.
He knocks on the door. I open.
"Yes, sir?"
"Hey. You guys having some van trouble?"
"Yes, sir."
"Yeah, I've seen y'all walking around town and this van parked here the last few days. I just wanted to come and offer to get you guys some food and buy you a hotel room, if you want?"
Greg Davis, ladies and gentlemen. He bought us all Wendy's and then took us to probably one of nicest hotels I've ever been in. We got showers and a good night's rest, AND the next day he took us to a college in the area and got us set up with free food. We hung out in the library and around the campus all that day until they called and told us our van was finally ready. It was never explicitly stated, but I have my suspicions that he's the one who actually fixed the van too. Mr. Davis, if by some crazy chance you're reading this, I hope you're doing well wherever you are. You are the man, and you made a lousy situation much better for some metal guys and girls stranded in a strange town.
Wow. As a mom, I offer my deepest gratitude for your kindness to my son and his band mates. I indeed never knew this story, but having heard it now, feel that officer Greg Davis was a Godsend that day. Thank you for being obedient or just being kind to some strange, stranded, and stinky young people. People like you give hope for humanity.