By Meltdown/ WRIF/ February 25, 2025
If you haven’t heard of Autumn Kings yet, that’s about to change. These guys are making big moves, from Detroit to Europe, and they stopped by WRIF before heading out on tour. Jake Diab and Joe Coccimiglio sat down with me to talk about their roots, their influences, and even what it was like meeting Kid Rock.
From LaSalle to Detroit Rock City
Autumn Kings hail from LaSalle, Ontario, just minutes from the Detroit border. Being so close to the Motor City, I had to ask: what kind of music did they grow up on?
“We had a crazy mix of American and Canadian influences,” Jake told me. “We grew up listening to WRIF, 89X, and going to shows at Joe Louis Arena and later LCA. We were heavily into bands like KISS, Metallica, and Eminem, but we also loved Three Days Grace, Billy Talent, and Sum 41.”
And Joe? Turns out he’s got a folk music side. “Yeah, I love Fleet Foxes,” he laughed. “Not the most rock ‘n’ roll thing, but hey, it’s part of what makes our sound unique.”
The Tragically Hip: Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em?
Now, I had to bring this up: The Tragically Hip.“We’re gonna get exiled from Canada for saying this,” Joe admitted. “But… we never really got into The Hip.”
Jake jumped in, “We used to play acoustic gigs back in the day, and in Canada, when someone shouts ‘Freebird!’ in the U.S., up there, they scream ‘Play The Hip!’ And we never did. So yeah, we might be the most blasphemous Canadians ever.”
Cracking the U.S. Market: “It’s Everything”
One thing I’ve heard over and over from Canadian bands? Breaking into the U.S. market is crucial. And for Autumn Kings, it was a must.
“It’s everything,” Jake said flat-out. “A guy named Tim Trombley, who worked with Nickelback and Sum 41, once told us, ‘Sign in the U.S. first.’ There are a ton of great Canadian bands—Moist, Sloan—that should have blown up worldwide, but they started in Canada and never caught on internationally. But Three Days Grace, Theory of a Deadman, Nickelback—they cracked the U.S. first and then took off everywhere.”
Joe added, “That’s why we focused on Detroit when we were coming up. More opportunity, and honestly, we feel more at home in the U.S. rock scene.”
New Music & A Massive European Tour
Autumn Kings describe their sound as “if Linkin Park and Fall Out Boy had a baby.” Their latest single, “Snake Charmer,” is catching some serious attention—even from I Prevail.
“I was texting Dylan from I Prevail this morning,” I told them. “He loves the track.”
“No way!” Jake said. “That’s awesome.”
And now, the band is heading overseas for their first-ever European tour.
“We’re hitting eight countries in three weeks,” Jake said. “Switzerland, France, Belgium, Poland… it’s a dream.”
“And then we’ve got a U.S. tour this summer with Bailey Spinn,” Joe added. “She’s got a cool Avril Lavigne-style punk-rock vibe, and we’re hitting a bunch of cities we’ve never played before.”
Meeting Kid Rock & Rock ‘n’ Roll Wisdom
Alright, so what’s the biggest rock star they’ve met?
“For me, Kid Rock,” Jake said.
Turns out, Autumn Kings had a residency at Little Caesars Arena, playing at Kid Rock’s restaurant, and one day, Bob himself rolled in.
“He’s exactly how you’d picture him,” Jake laughed. “Cigar in hand, whiskey flowing. He actually gave us advice.”
And get this—it was pure Kid Rock wisdom:
“A good artist borrows inspiration. A great artist straight-up steals it!”
“He said it totally unapologetically,” Jake laughed. “I was like, dude, you are so authentic.”
Final Thoughts: Parents, Persistence, and Rock Dreams
Like a lot of rock musicians, convincing their parents that this was a real career took some work.
“My parents are first-generation immigrants—Lebanese dad, Italian mom,” Jake said. “They wanted me to be a doctor or lawyer. When I told them at 15 that I wanted to be a rockstar, they thought I was insane.”
Joe nodded. “My family’s Italian, too. My dad was like, ‘I can get you a construction job.’ Anything outside of construction was a win for him.”
But over time, as Autumn Kings started building a real following, their families came around.
“They’re our biggest supporters now,” Jake said. “They’re even flying to Europe next week to see us play.”
What’s Next?
Autumn Kings are on the brink of something big.
They’ve got a European tour, a U.S. tour, and a ton of new music on the way. Before heading out the door, they promised me one thing—they’re coming back to WRIF after the tour to share all the stories.
“We’ll bring souvenirs!” Joe joked.
And I’ll hold them to it.
In the meantime, check out Autumn Kings’ new single “Snake Charmer”—and if you’re in Europe, catch them live while you can.
Rock on, boys! 🤘
