Michael Been of The Call R.I.P.
08-20-10, 02:06 PM
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Michael Been of The Call R.I.P.
From the onion:
According to the band’s publicist, Michael Been, vocalist and guitarist with ’80s band The Call, has died. Been is also father to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club frontman Robert Been, and was on tour with his son’s band as their sound engineer. Yesterday he suffered a heart attack while backstage at Belgium’s Pukkelpop festival and died. He was 60 years old.
During its 1980-2000 run, The Call recorded 10 albums and scored several hits, beginning with 1983’s “The Walls Came Down” from Modern Romans. The group’s self-titled debut scored an early fan in Peter Gabriel, who called it “the future of American music” and invited the band to open his 1982 Shock The Monkey Tour. Other high-profile champions of The Call included Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr, The Band’s Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson, and even Bono, all of whom guest-starred on Call albums. Bono sang backing vocals on The Call’s only No. 1 hit, “Let The Day Begin,” which was later revived as Al Gore’s campaign song in 2000. Many will also recognize the song “I Still Believe,” which was memorably featured in The Lost Boys—albeit in a cover version performed by bodybuilder/saxophone slinger Tim Capello.
Always loved Let the Day Begin.
Didn't know he was father of BRMC lead singer.
According to the band’s publicist, Michael Been, vocalist and guitarist with ’80s band The Call, has died. Been is also father to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club frontman Robert Been, and was on tour with his son’s band as their sound engineer. Yesterday he suffered a heart attack while backstage at Belgium’s Pukkelpop festival and died. He was 60 years old.
During its 1980-2000 run, The Call recorded 10 albums and scored several hits, beginning with 1983’s “The Walls Came Down” from Modern Romans. The group’s self-titled debut scored an early fan in Peter Gabriel, who called it “the future of American music” and invited the band to open his 1982 Shock The Monkey Tour. Other high-profile champions of The Call included Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr, The Band’s Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson, and even Bono, all of whom guest-starred on Call albums. Bono sang backing vocals on The Call’s only No. 1 hit, “Let The Day Begin,” which was later revived as Al Gore’s campaign song in 2000. Many will also recognize the song “I Still Believe,” which was memorably featured in The Lost Boys—albeit in a cover version performed by bodybuilder/saxophone slinger Tim Capello.
Always loved Let the Day Begin.
Didn't know he was father of BRMC lead singer.
08-20-10, 02:43 PM
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Re: Michael Been of The Call R.I.P.
Damn, sad news. The Walls Came Down is a fantastic tune, and their subsequent Into the Woods is one of my favorite albums of the 80's---dang, and I still a haven't picked it up on CD.
08-20-10, 06:15 PM
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Re: Michael Been of The Call R.I.P.
Sad news. The Call are yet another underrated band that I've always dug. This is still my favorite song of theirs, and I love Been's vocal delivery and rumbling bass on it....
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08-21-10, 12:55 AM
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Re: Michael Been of The Call R.I.P.
Sad new. I really liked The Call and Michael Been is a great songwriter.
He had a small part in Martin Scorses controversial film The Last Temptation Of Christ. He play one of the apostle.
He had a small part in Martin Scorses controversial film The Last Temptation Of Christ. He play one of the apostle.
08-21-10, 05:35 AM
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Re: Michael Been of The Call R.I.P.
Kind of got lost in the bombast in the late-80's, but "The Walls Came Down" is a brilliant tune. I don't really think any of their albums is a complete masterpiece, but each one had at least one fantastic tune. Here's a nice song from The Call's last studio output, 1997's "To Heaven And Back".<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fatlantamoi%2Fthe-call-soaring-bird&secret_url=false"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fatlantamoi%2Fthe-call-soaring-bird&secret_url=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> The Call - Soaring Bird by atlantamoi
Very sad to hear of Michael's passing.
08-22-10, 09:11 AM
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Re: Michael Been of The Call R.I.P.
Heard the news the other day and I was really saddened.
Always loved I Still Believe...
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Always loved I Still Believe...
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08-24-10, 05:24 PM
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Re: Michael Been of The Call R.I.P.
I just noticed this thread. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Have always been a big The Call and Michael Been fan. Saw them only once at Cabaret Metro in Chicago around '88 or so and it was the rockingest gig I've ever seen. Reconciled is in my top five favorite albums of all time.
Michael was very spiritual (many of The Call's lyrics are Christian allegories or prayers), so I hope he's at peace now.
Have always been a big The Call and Michael Been fan. Saw them only once at Cabaret Metro in Chicago around '88 or so and it was the rockingest gig I've ever seen. Reconciled is in my top five favorite albums of all time.
Michael was very spiritual (many of The Call's lyrics are Christian allegories or prayers), so I hope he's at peace now.
