Alex Band
Alexander Max Band is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and actor, best known for his work under the band name The Calling and their hit song "Wherever You Will Go", which topped the Adult Top 40 for 23 weeks and garnered the number one spot on Billboard magazine's "top 10 hits of the last decade".
Along with friend and fellow songwriter Aaron Kamin, lead guitarist of The Calling, they achieved success with the release of two studio albums; Camino Palmero and Two. They also achieved number one hits across the world with singles "Adrienne", "Our Lives", and "Things Will Go My Way". As a solo artist, Alex Band is well known for providing the vocals and face to the top five hit, "Why Don't You & I" with Carlos Santana in 2004. In 2008, he created his own record label, AMB Records and released a five-song EP entitled Alex Band EP. Band later released his debut full-length album, We've All Been There in June 2010 which had the hit song, "Tonight”. He currently resides in Los Angeles.
Early life
Alex Band was born in Los Angeles, California, into an entertainment family. His mother is Meda Band, and his father, Charles Band, is a well known horror film director. His grandfather Albert Band was also another well known director. Band's father is Jewish and his mother is Christian. Both his parents were raised in Italy and they owned a castle in Giove, Umbria. Band explores spiritual themes in several of his songs though claims to be of no particular faith himself. Of the song "Please" Band said, "...I grew up with a Jewish father who didn't practice and a Christian mother whose only tie to Jesus was celebrating Christmas. Needless to say I had to find my own religion. And in this song I'm asking God what that should be...what should I believe? In a world so full of different religions and so many people fighting over whose belief is the correct one, it frustrates me to think that they all really boil down to the same thing."At a young age, Band's parents divorced and his father remarried. He grew up with two of his half-brothers Harlan and Zalman, and his sister Taryn. After his parents' divorce, his mother moved to Germany where she remarried and still resides. Band was about eight at the time. She had three sons after her move, who Band eventually met when he toured Germany. The single "Could It Be Any Harder" explains some of his feelings towards his mother's move.
Growing up, Band made small appearances in his father's films. He grew up on Camino Palmero street, which would later inspire his first album of the same name. He began playing guitar and song writing at the age of eight. Musically, Band was influenced by Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi, Live, Train, and U2. At the age of 14 he had a kokopelli tattooed on his wrist. This would later become a symbol for The Calling.
Early career
He soon formed his first band with friend and filmmaker, Jethro Rothe-Kushel, called "Maybe Solitude". Rothe-Kushel also directed his first music video for a song called "Dormant Prayer". After the band disbanded, Band met Aaron Kamin when Kamin was dating Band's sister. They both began writing songs and jamming as far back as 1996 and soon formed the band "Generation Gap" that consisted of him and Kamin, a musician he met when Kamin began dating his sister, and a few much older musicians. At this stage, the band also had saxophonist, Benny Golbin, giving the songs a more jazzy sound reminiscent of Dave Matthews Band.Eventually, Band and Kamin ditched the "Gap" lineup, and briefly switched their name to "Next Door", which itself was a nod to Ron Fair, a veteran music business executive and Band's neighbor.
Kamin and Band began focusing on songwriting more, and as Band's signature baritone voice began to mature, the duo began leaving demo tapes of new songs and ideas for Fair in his mailbox. They quickly found a similar sound amongst such ready-for-radio rock acts of the early 21st century as Matchbox Twenty, Third Eye Blind, Train, and Fastball.
By 1999, Fair was impressed enough by the demos to sign them to a record deal with RCA. They changed their name to The Calling, which reflected the band's renewed sense of purpose.
The Calling
1999-2002: ''Camino Palmero''
At the age of 15, Band signed with RCA Records with the band he had created with Kamin, now named The Calling. At this time, he dropped out of school, though he later received a diploma through home schooling. The Calling released their first single "Wherever You Will Go" to much acclaim. The song soon reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot AC charts for 23 weeks and peaked at number 5 on the Hot 100 charts as well as becoming an international hit. The band's first album Camino Palmero soon followed, peaking at number 36 on the Billboard Sales charts and eventually went Platinum. The band's next singles, "Adrienne" and "Could It Be Any Harder" soon followed, charting in the AC top 40.2003-2005: ''Two'' and disbandment
However, by 2004, the second album titled Two failed to live up to expectations, charting at number 54 on Billboard Top 200. The album suffered from a lack of label support, though the singles fared slightly better. The first single, "Our Lives," was featured in the 2004 Olympics ceremony and charted at number 34 in the Billboard top 40. A final single, "Anything," performed decently with little promotion, charting at number 23 in the Adult Top 40.After the lack of label support with "Two", the band announced a hiatus. On June 4, 2005, they performed their last concert to date in Temecula, CA.
Songwriting
During and after his time in The Calling, Band and Kamin co-wrote all of the band's songs. They also wrote songs for several other artists as well as for several movie soundtracks, most of which Band would perform on. One of the first such tracks was the single, "For You" which appeared on the Daredevil soundtrack. The OST peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Top 200.A cover of "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" was recorded for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Band recorded a song "Take Hold of Me" for use in his wife's movie Fish Without a Bicycle in which he has a small part. He also Appeared on the.
Solo career
Band's solo career started long before the hiatus of The Calling. He was personally chosen by Chad Kroeger to perform on the Carlos Santana single "Why Don't You & I" in 2003. Originally, Kroeger wrote and sang on "Why Don't You & I" for Santana's Shaman. However, when Arista Records decided to release the song as a single, Kroeger's record label refused permission, citing concerns that Kroeger appearing on a "high-profile single" that could conflict with his own newly released comeback album.Band's version became extremely successful charting at number 3 on the Billboard Top 40, and number 8 on the Billboard Top 100. It was also recently named the number 5 song of the decade on the Adult Pop charts by Billboard. It reached number 1 on the AC charts and continues to be played on AC stations to this day. Band's version appears on Santana's special release album, Ceremony: remixes & rarities and Ultimate Santana. Band also contributed the song "The Truth" to the soundtrack of the 2005 movie "Doll Graveyard" which was directed by his father.
In November 2005 it was announced Band had signed as a solo artist with Ron Fair as part of Geffen Records. A new album had been recorded and was said to be released in late 2007, but was delayed several times. Band left the Geffen label in 2008.
During this time Band had a few releases. One of his songs titled, "It Doesn't Get Better Than This" for ' soundtrack. Band performed and co-wrote the song, "Coming Home" which was featured in the film, The Final Season in late 2007.
In October 2007 Band performed at the first Alex Band's Donate Life Rocks charity concert for "Donate Life America" in Los Angeles, CA. The concert was taped and will air on DISH Network. Band also taped an appearance on ' which filmed at the concert. The second Alex Band Donate Life concert was held in Richmond, VA on August 21, 2008. The first music video in his solo career was again directed by lifelong friend and director / producer, Jethro Rothe-Kushel, for a song called "Only One".
In October 2016 Band was featured as a guest artist for the song "Donde Quiera Que Vayas Yo Iré" by Venezuelan actress Gabriela Spanic. The song was released digitally on October 28, 2016.
Indie Label
Band expressed displeasure with the continued delayed release of his debut album. On April 16, 2008 Band announced via his official fan site that he had left Geffen and created his own label called AMB Records under which the album in the US will be released. He will work with EMI for the international release. "I've been working on leaving my label for a while now, and moving to somewhere else to put this record out finally and give it the push it deserves...and I'm happy to announce that I will be putting the record out ON MY OWN! With help from good friends in the business and an amazing team, I'm putting together my own Label. This gives me the freedom to make my own decisions, to invest in myself, and to do what I want, when I want. This is the way to go these days in the music business and I am sooooooo lucky to be able to do it. There are no firm details as to when exactly the record will be released, but I am doing everything in my power to make the process as speedy as possible. I will let you all know of course as soon as I find out more."On April 25, 2008 Band released a 5-song EP titled, "Alex Band EP". The EP contained 4 new songs in addition to the song "Coming Home". The EP is sold via his official fan site. A new version of the EP was created for his tour in Brazil. On May 13 it was announced that the track, "Only One" would be the official single, for Brazil only, with both single and video available through Band's official fan site. His debut solo album "We've All Been There" was released on June 29, 2010. The first single "Tonight" was released on February 15, 2010.
Acting career
Band appeared in the movie Coyote Ugly as a musician on the stage of the club.Band also appeared on the episode "Help |Help", which aired January 14, 2009. Band played a drugged-out musician who is the suspect in a murder case. The songs he performed were his own. He has said there will be more acting in the future.
Personal life
Band married girlfriend, actress Jennifer Sky, on July 25, 2004. The couple split in 2009. In February 2010, he became engaged to Kristin Blanford. She appeared in music videos for his songs "Tonight" and "Euphoria". They married on May 1, 2011 and divorced in April 2012. Band married girlfriend, Shayna Weber, in October 2013 which was confirmed on the Twitter account of each. Via Twitter, Alex confirmed in early 2016 that he and Shayna are expecting their first child in the summer. Their son, Max Bowie Band, was born on September 3, 2016.Band was reportedly abducted on August 18, 2013 by two men who robbed, beat him severely, and dumped him on train tracks in Lapeer, Michigan. He was taken to an emergency room at a nearby hospital where he was treated and released.
Charity work
Band has worked with several charities. After an illness his ex-wife dealt with, Band became a supporter of organ donation, working closely with the charity Donate Life America. Annually he performs at "Alex Band's Donate Life Rocks Concert" to raise money and awareness for the cause.Each year Debbie Hagerman, who ran his official fan site, organized a birthday charity project in Band's name, asking that, in lieu of gifts, fans donate to a charity instead. In addition a calendar was produced each year showcasing Band in concert. All proceeds went to the Alex Band Education Fund for Donate Life America. The projects have raised over $30,000 in honor of Band.
Band is also active in promoting awareness and involvement in the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease. He himself was diagnosed in 2012 with young onset Parkinson's, which he announced during a benefit show performed on Stageit from Ryan Cabrera's home on March 23, 2013.
Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
| Title | Album details |
| Alex Band EP |
|
| After the Storm |
|