Michael Been of The Call dead at 60

[Dennis Donovan]

The Call front man Michael Been dies



Michael Been, former front man for the Northern California rock band the Call, died after suffering a heart attack Aug. 19 at Pukkelpop Festival near Hasselt, Belgium. He was 60.

Singer-guitarist Been was working as the sound engineer for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, his son Robert's band. He collapsed backstage and was pronounced dead at a Hasselt hospital.

Sometimes compared to U2 thanks to their expansive sound, ambitious themes and literate writing, the Santa Cruz-bred Call was founded by Oklahoma native Been in 1980. The group released eight studio albums and a live set on such major labels as Mercury, Elektra and MCA. The quartet's highest charting album, "Let the Day Begin," was issued in 1989; the album's title cut was used by Sen. Al Gore as his presidential campaign song in 2000.

Been wrote the soundtrack for Paul Schrader's "Light Sleeper" (1992) and appeared in Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988) as the Apostle John.
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Read more: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118023117.html?categoryId=25&cs=1#ixzz0x8xIRp

I loved The Call and I love BMRC but didn't know of the connection until now. Amazing!

Two of their well-known songs:

Let the Day Begin
The Walls Came Down

[Dulcinea]

1. RIP.

"The Walls Came Down" was one of my favorite songs from the '80s.

"...I don't think there are any Russians
And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals
Playing with tanks..."

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Those were the lyrics that made me really notice the song...

...that and the RIPPING keyboard riff.;)

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Now that I've listened...

"Let the Day Begin" is very familiar to me, have heard it countless times and liked it. It certainly takes me back and reminds me of another time... ;(

[xchrom]

2. Good night, sweet prince. Nt

[Lint Head]

4. I saw them in a small nightclub in Nashville in the early 1980's

Also in the crowd was Dickey Betts, who sat in, and Joe south. It was a fantastic experience not to mention I was very stoned.

[tanyev]

5. Oh, no. I loved The Call.

Especially Let the Day Begin. Been had a great voice.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Sad news...

Godspeed, Michael Been... ;(

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. Vaya con Dios, Michael, everywhere you go...oh ho ho ho ho ho.

I have that song on a mix CD in the car and listen to it often. I can;t think "80s Rock" without thinking of it. What a shame.

[Patsy Stone]

9. Wow.

That's a shame. He had a great voice. Saw them a long time ago with the English Beat, and Beat Rodeo and I still remember it was a wonderful show. He came out and the first thing he said was, "I guess we're the Beat Call." RIP.

[Touchdown]

10. Very sad! I have 3 of their CDs because I wore out the cassettes.

:cry:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

11. Oh no!

I loved them -- they were local and so cool. :(