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Biography
other usesInfobox musical artist| name = The Calling| image = The Calling RCA.jpg| background = group_or_band| origin = Los Angeles, California , United States|USA | genre = Alternative rock , Post-grunge | years_active = 2000cite web|author = O'Neill, Sinead| title = Calling all rock fans| publisher = The Sun| date = 2004-05-05| url = http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/webchats/article206467.ece| accessdate = 2008-11-25| quote = Since they formed in 1999, the two-piece - Aaron Kamin and Alex Band - have battled a hectic schedule, crazy fans and even a dispute with their own support musicians to make it to the big time. 2005cite web|author = Band, Alex and Kamin, Aaron| title = 7-1-05 - Some News| publisher = The Calling Official Website| date = 2005-07-01| url = http://www.thecallingband.com/news.php| accessdate = 2008-11-25| quote = Hello& #33; As some of you may have heard, The Calling will be going on hiatus for a while. | label = Sony BMG Music Entertainment|SonyBMG / RCA Records|RCA | associated_acts =| current_members =| past_members = Alex Band Aaron Kamin Nate Wood Billy Mohler Sean Woolstenhulme Dino Meneghin The Calling is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles , California , best known for their hit single, " Wherever You Will Go ". The group formed in 2000 and have released two albums. They have been on an indefinite "hiatus" since 2005, leaving most fans to conclude that they have broken up permanently.
Band history
The band was formed by Alex Band (vocals) and Aaron Kamin (guitar) when Kamin was dating Band's sister.cite news |author = Staff reporter | title = Calling returns with new album, outlook | agency = Associated Press | date = 2004-08-18 | url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5749628/ | accessdate = 2008-11-25 | quote = The duo met when Kamin, then a premed student at UCLA, began dating Bands sister. Kamin and Band initially began jamming and writing songs as far back as 1996, and began gigging under the band name "Generation Gap" with a drummer that was twice their age. At this stage, the band also had a saxophonist, giving the songs a more jazzy Dave Matthews -ish sound. Eventually, Band and Kamin ditched the "Gap" lineup, and briefly switched their name to "Next Door", which itself was a nod to veteran music business executive and Band's neighbor on Camino Palmero, Ron Fair .
Band's biggest musical influences were Pearl Jam (which was made clear in his vocal style, that is very similar to front man Eddie Vedder , certain songs from The Calling's first album, Camino Palmero carried grunge influence sounds.), Bon Jovi (Band's fashion sense was quite possibly inspired by frontman Jon Bon Jovi ) and U2 (especially in their later work, their instrumentation and the atmosphere of their music on their second album Two (The Calling album)|Two was similar to U2), and elements of each band's sound, lyrical style, and even appearance were crucial in fine tuning his musical direction for the band. 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 (band)|Train , and Fastball (band)|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.
While the RCA deal was a huge boost, it also created a new problem for Band and Kamin: they had no solid band and, thus, had hardly toured and built a fanbase. Rather than putting them out on the road and building regional support, Fair worked intensely with Band and Kamin for over two years perfecting the debut album. The Calling's first album was recorded from 19992001, largely with studio musicians. As the band advanced, Sean Woolstenhulme (formerly with Lifehouse (band)|Lifehouse ) (guitars), Billy Mohler (bass), and Nate Wood (drums) were added in 2001cite web |author = Kaufman, Gil | title = The Calling Sued By Former Bandmates; Finish Second Album | publisher = MTV | date = 2003-11-04 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480163/20031104/calling.jhtml | accessdate = 2008-11-25 | quote = as extra musicians/touring musicians, and a few of the songs were re-recorded. The Calling's first album, Camino Palmero (album)|Camino Palmero , was issued in July 2001 and quickly became a hit due to the strength of its single, " Wherever You Will Go ." The song was featured prominently in the television program|television series '' Smallville (TV series)|Smallville 's first season episode " Metamorphosis (Smallville episode)|Metamorphosis ". It was also featured in the 2000 film Coyote Ugly (film)|Coyote Ugly with the group performing in the background in the first club scene. In an episode of the CBS television drama Cold Case (TV series)|Cold Case '', "Frank's Best", the song is played at the end of the episode. Camino Palmero ultimately sold more than five million copies worldwide and was certified gold in the United States.cite web |author = Staff reporter | title = Smallville Music | publisher = Geocities | date = n.d. | url = http://www.geocities.com/smallvillelife/music.htm http://www.geocities.com/smallvillelife/music.htmdead link|date=October 2011|bot=AnomieBOT| accessdate = 2008-11-25
| quote = dead link|date=December 2010|bot=AnomieBOT
In June 2002, Woolstenhulme left The Calling;cite web |author = Staff reporter | title = For The Record: Quick News On Stone Cold Steve Austin, Foxy Brown, The Calling, Cam'ron & More | publisher = MTV | date = 2002-06-17 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1455265/20020617/foxy_brown.jhtml | accessdate = 2008-11-25 | quote = Sean Woolstenhulme, guitarist for the Calling, is leaving the band to join his brother Rick Woolstenhulme in Lifehouse. he was later replaced by Dino Meneghin.cite web |author = Staff | title = The Calling | publisher = Rock on the Net | date = 1997-2006 | url = http://www.beepworld.de/members64/calling-news/biography.htm | accessdate = 2009-09-17 | quote = Woolstenhulme left the band to join his brother's group Lifehouse. He was replaced by Dino Meneghin. Mohler and Wood left in October 2002.cite web |author = Staff reporter | title = LA Music Academy - Careers - Success Stories - Nate Wood | publisher = Los Angeles Music Academy | year = 2005 | url = http://www.lamusicacademy.com/careers/successstoriesnate.asp | accessdate = 2008-11-25 | quote = Nate left The Calling in October of '02 to join Kneebody, and to record a solo album at home on a Rolands 1680, singing and playing all the instruments himself. cite web |author = Staff | title = Biography | publisher = Beepworld | date = n.d. | url = http://www.beepworld.de/members64/calling-news/biography.htm | accessdate = 2009-09-17 | quote = But unfortunately Billy and Nate decided to quit The Calling on 31st October 2002 as well and even sued Alex and Aaron and their management for fraud and mismanagement and asking for an accounting of funds during the time, that they spent in the band. In November 2003, former members Wood and Mohler sued Band, Kamin, and the group's management accusing each of mismanagement, fraud, and asking for an audit of the money that was spent during their tenures in The Calling. They claim they were promised a share of the royalties and profits from touring and merchandise in 2001-02. Band and Kamin claimed the two were hired musicians and not entitled to royalties.cite web |author = Wiederhorn, Jon | title = The Calling Call Former Bandmates' Suit 'Dirty,' Prepare New Single | publisher = MTV | date = 2004-01-27 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484600/20040126/calling.jhtml | accessdate = 2008-11-25 | quote = The Calling contend that Mohler and Wood were hired guns and therefore not entitled to royalties.
In June 2004, the group returned with Two (The Calling album)|Two . The album had three singles and accompanying videos: "Our Lives", "Things Will Go My Way", and "Anything". With new touring musicians, the band toured for most of 2004. However, "Two" faced disappointing sales compared to Camino Palmero|their first album .Citation needed|date=December 2011 After a lengthy world tour in support of the album, and lacking any clear label supportas well as Kamin and Band moving in increasingly separate directionsthe band was effectively ended. In July 2005, they went on "indefinite hiatus" after playing a farewell show in Temecula, California . Alex and his new touring musicians (often mislabeled as "The Calling") have played sporadic gigs since 2008.
The band's signature song, "Wherever You Will Go," was named the #1 Adult Pop song of the decade by Billboard (magazine)|Billboard magazine.Citation needed|date=December 2011
*A mini EP containing "Where Ever Will You Go (Live)" and "Could It Be Any Harder" was given free with Little Chef Kids meals.
Songs in popular culture
"Wherever You Will Go" is heard in the movie Coyote Ugly (film)|Coyote Ugly , but does not appear on the soundtrack.
The band appeared in the film Coyote Ugly (film)|Coyote Ugly , performing "Wherever You Will Go" when Violet goes to the club looking for the manager and sees Kevin for the first time.
"Wherever You Will Go" was heavily used by UPN in 2001 in advertisements to promote the debut of Star Trek: Enterprise .
The CW Television Network|The CW hit show Smallville (TV series)|Smallville used "Wherever You Will Go" in the second episode of Smallville (season 1)|season 1 ("Metamorphosis"), but it was never included on any of the soundtracks. The song "Unstoppable" was also featured in the pilot.
In 2001, The Calling contributed a live performance version of their song "Wherever You Will Go" to the charity album Live in the X Lounge|Live in the X Lounge IV .
"Wherever You Will Go" was used in soundtrack of Love Actually .
Popular sketch comedy TV show MADtv|Mad TV parodied the music video|video for "Wherever You Will Go," parodying how The Calling, Creed (band)|Creed , Pearl Jam , and Ray Charles all sound similar.
"For You" was used in the soundtrack of Daredevil (film)|Daredevil .
The Calling appeared on the TV show American Dreams as protestors and sang a cover song|cover of The Beatles song " Nowhere Man (song)|Nowhere Man ."
The song "Our Lives" was played in the closing of the 2004 Summer Olympics.cite web |url= http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0051650/bio |title=Alex Band - Biography |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= |accessdate=2009-04-21
The song "Could It Be Any Harder" was featured on the spin off series " Brooke Knows Best " in 2008.
"Wherever You Will Go" was used in the final scene of the series finale of Saving Grace (TV series)|Saving Grace , which aired on Monday, June 21, 2010.
"Wherever You Will Go" was covered by the band "Boyce Avenue" in December, 2011.
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.thecallingband.com The Calling official website
http://www.alphalyrics.com/the_calling-a4/index.html The Calling lyrics
imdb name|id=1237325|name=The Calling
The Calling DEFAULTSORT:Calling, The Category:Musical groups established in 1999 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2005 Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles, California Category:Alternative rock groups from California Category:American post-grunge musical groups
