To be honest I was never personally a huge fan of Of Mice & Men’s music. I only followed this band around for the day on photo assignment - most of my time was spent with Austin as he ran around all day doing signings, interviews, and miscellaneous stuff. I didn’t know much about the guy beforehand, but I left with a whole new respect for him. I’ve never seen someone so passionate about his fans. We weren’t doing an interview - nothing he said the whole day was recorded - there was no need to put up a front. But the whole day he wouldn’t stop talking to me about how no matter how tired, sick, or exhausted he is, he wants to be out there every single day meeting the fans who make him able to do what he loves, and how he owes every single fan way more than they could ever owe him. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t miss a signing or show unless he was handcuffed to the bus. I watched him meet a few hundred people that day alone and every single one of them had his undivided attention and he was so genuinely happy to see every single person that was there. I’d never seen an artist that enthusiastic to just meet people for a few seconds. I was just really impressed with him as a human being. I’m glad so many kids pick him as a role model.
The photo above is of a girl giving him a Star Wars blanket in Minnesota at Warped.
oh my god
(via paulafricaordie)
