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On the morning Alex Band and I connected over Zoom, the music world was stunned by the sudden news of Dolly Parton’s passing. This hit especially close to home for Band, whose rock band The Calling had been slated to open several shows during Parton’s Las Vegas residency-a plan that was postponed multiple times before ultimately being canceled.
Since their formation in Los Angeles back in 1996, The Calling has sold over 10 million albums worldwide and accumulated billions of streams. Their iconic hit, “Wherever You Will Go,” remains a timeless track that continues to attract new fans, including many from Gen Z who weren’t even born when the band first rose to fame.
Reflecting on the unexpected success of their breakthrough single, the 45-year-old Band admitted he never imagined the song would become a global anthem. Signed by RCA Records at just 15, Band and his bandmates had already written their debut album, Camino Palmero, but were waiting for the right opportunity to release it.
When the album dropped in 2001, it quickly soared in popularity. “Wherever You Will Go” not only dominated the Billboard Adult Pop Airplay chart for 23 weeks but also amassed over a billion streams on Spotify-a remarkable achievement for the band.
Interestingly, the song was initially met with skepticism by their record label, who didn’t want to record it. Band recalls the long journey from signing to release, spanning nearly five years, and how the song’s eventual rise to prominence far exceeded their expectations.
“A decade later, it was the No. 1 song of that whole decade in America. Just insane,” he said.
After their second album, Two, released three years later, The Calling faced challenges including label disputes and Band’s own health struggles, which ultimately delayed new music for over 20 years.
Unlike traditional bands, The Calling was primarily Band’s project with hired musicians. Aaron Kamin, the band’s guitarist and co-songwriter, was the only consistent member early on, though his intermittent departures strained relations with their producer Clive Davis and RCA. When Kamin quit on the day Two was released, it left the label unwilling to support another album.
Band then pursued a solo career but was soon diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a prognosis he described as a “slow death sentence.” Remarkably, his symptoms later vanished, allowing him to return to music by 2018-a new lease on life he cherishes deeply.
Starting in 2012, Band began writing again with hopes of a new Calling album. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the search for the right collaborators extended the process. In July, they released “Dust,” the lead single from their upcoming album, which quickly climbed to No. 40 on the Hot AC radio chart-his fastest-charting single yet.
“Dust” was inspired by existential reflections on the world’s fragility, Band’s interest in astrophysics, and the idea that love transcends space and time as a powerful, energetic connection.
The new album, Before the World Turns To Dust, features 15 tracks produced by John Fields and was recorded in Nashville and Minneapolis. Band chose to stay true to the band’s signature sound rather than chase fleeting trends, even as platforms like TikTok offer new promotional opportunities.
“I was pushed in many directions, but I just want to be myself,” Band said. “It’s also an incredible time because people are reconnecting with the music of the 2000s. That’s been really helpful for me to put out an album that sounds like what I’ve always done.”
The current lineup of The Calling includes Band, Daniel Damico, and Dom Liberati. To celebrate their long-awaited return, they will host a release show at Malibu’s Dreamland and perform three nights at Utah’s Egyptian Theater in mid-October.
“It’s been a 15-year journey to get here, so I already feel like a winner,” Band shared. “I’m over the moon happy.”
The Calling’s comeback marks not just a new chapter for the band, but a testament to perseverance and passion in the face of adversity. Their fans old and new have much to look forward to with this release.