mLABS Artist
As part of PSL’s mLABS program, we offer feature stories that put a spotlight on those who are the makers of the music, the singer of the songs, the tellers of the stories. Our inaugural artist, Alex Band, has quite the story which offers a unique insight into the ups and downs of today’s music business and the fight for survival. Grab a beverage and enjoy!
And the Band Played On….
“All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it.”
– Jean Cocteau
You’d think Cocteau had Alex Band in mind when he uttered those words. Band, most well known as the former vocalist and chief songwriter for the internationally successful rock outfit The Calling, has embarked on a solo career- and we here at PSL stood up and took notice. We love the underdog, and we love those who aren’t afraid to fight for their cause. If you’re the spirited type, Band’s story is at a minimum, motivation for some really great songs.
To bring you up to speed, Band’s first noted foray into our ears was the chart-crushing hit “Wherever You Will Go” (click to listen). Sitting atop the Adult Top 40 charts for a staggering 27 weeks and with 5 million+ units sold, The Calling’s debut album Camino Palmero enabled Band and his cohorts to firmly plant a flag that demanded a salute.
The Calling’s sophomore effort, Two, while not having received the fanfare of their debut album, appears to be a somewhat symbolic endeavor- positioning itself as a statement to the troubles that quickly arise when success strikes as quick as lightning and loud as thunder. Sure, one would think that selling truckloads of records and topping the charts would mean mansions, money and millions…right? Think again. This is the music business. The reality is that in today’s music world, success generally equates to lawyers, lawsuits and long drawn out legal battles.
Alex Band and partner since childhood Aaron Kamin literally were The Calling. They formed the two-piece in Band’s family garage in the 90’s, and were the only members of the group…in the beginning. Kamin and Band obtained their first record deal when Band was merely 15, and after a five year development cycle (back when labels actually used to develop artists), The Calling ultimately consisted of Band, Kamin and hired musicians for recording and touring.
Sounds simple enough right? Not so. Back then, once a major label became involved, all bets were off. What was originally two becomes five, what was “you” becomes “them”, and what was your music becomes subject to the whim of approval of what the radio promotions execs think the mileage of that music will be. If you fight the powers that be too much, you’ll find yourself “shelved”. Piss of the promo guys, and you’ll find your radio campaign limited to whomever at college radio happens to find it. Rock the boat with your marketing and sales team, and find your record in the generic alphabetic slot in the CD aisle (if you can find it at all). Generally, your only choice was to do what “they” said. You played the game. Unless/until your name is Bono, Bruce, Jon, or Madonna, you lived or died by their sword and theirs alone.
Case in point: Bon Jovi is and was Jon Bon Jovi. Bruce Springsteen’s band is and was the “E-Street Band”. For massive artists from an earlier generation of the music business, it’s always been clear. Not so in the case of The Calling. As the label made its moves, The Calling mysteriously transitioned from childhood partners Band and Kamin, to simply being (no pun intended) a band. New members of the group, who had been hired by the label as backing musicians for Band and Kamin, somehow obtained equal footing in photo shoots, videos, etc. Poor housekeeping within the label walls landed Kamin and Band square in the middle of litigation, as the other members who were “hired guns” started staking claims to the financial successes achieved as a direct result of Kamin and Band’s years-long partnership.
The sad reality is: you don’t get famous without getting sued. Someone, somewhere will try to claim that they bought you your first guitar for Christmas when you were 8, and as such, they’re entitled to a portion of your newfound riches. Someone will slip on a beer cup while heading to their seat at your show, and expect you to make them a millionaire, because you were on stage at the time. No exaggeration necessary- these situations are not hypothetical. They are true, and they happen to artists ALL the time. With that in mind, let’s get back to our story.
Following litigation settlements with the aforementioned hired musicians, partners Kamin and Band ultimately parted ways in 2005.
By this time, Band had already begun actively working on his solo efforts. He appeared on Santana’s enormously successful hit “Why Don’t You & I” in 2003. With his songs being contributed to various soundtracks, and after signing with a different label, Band spent a year moving towards his new home at Geffen Records in late 2005. With a solid body of work, serious radio credibility, and having earned what should have been his “right of passage” into assuming the role as creator of his own destiny; another obstacle was placed in Alex Band’s path. Geffen clearly had ideas that differed from Band’s for his music. Though the label strongly urged Band to conform to what the popular radio climate dictated through working with the likes of Timbaland and Akon, Band remained steadfast in making his record, his way. When your calling card (no pun intended –sorry Alex, it just happens!) includes generating tens of millions of dollars in business, one would think that some latitude would not only be deserved, but also irrefutably earned. Unfortunately, that’s simply not the case in this business. As two years of creative differences escalated and brewed in the background, Geffen Records was also quickly becoming anemic. The business, which failed to respond to the mp3 generation, found itself a victim of its own arrogance and pompous demeanor. By 2007, Geffen Records found itself just another ghost in the ever-growing graveyard of defunct major labels…and with its death, went Band’s debut solo release. Simply folded into Interscope, Geffen left Alex Band with an album that would never see the light of day and a contract restricting his ability to record for any other parties.
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain
One thing Band is, if not one hell of a songwriter, is a hell of a fighter. The entertainment world is full of artists who’ve rolled over dead, as the digital generation continues to slaughter how this business of music is done. A barren landscape of shelved records, label cutbacks, firings, layoffs, mergers, bankruptcies, and piracy, has devastated the once healthy business of music. Band’s unwavering faith, conviction, and belief in his art is rare, inspiring, and stands as a testament to anyone who dares challenge the passion Band pours into his work. Bloodied, battered and beaten, Band bucks the system repeatedly. In one instance, he literally liquefied his assets – from house to cars- solely to spend the following months re-acquiring his own album and wiping out his contract from the defunct, but Universal owned, Geffen.
In 2008, Band established AMB Records as his very own record label- a byproduct of the frustration faced during his time with Geffen. With the album recorded under the Geffen contract still in limbo, April 2008 saw the independent release of an eponymous five song EP. Shortly after the release, Band faced yet another hurdle with the passing of his long time manager, Stu Sobol. Once again, Band opted to jump the hurdles he was confronted with, and continued to persist.
Rounding into 2010, with his debut solo album finally wrestled out of the grips of Geffen and with the support of EMI Worldwide, June 2010 saw Band release “We’ve All Been There”, a collection of superbly written and slickly polished recordings that includes stunningly strong tracks such as “Tonight”, “Without You”, and “Euphoria”. Through the battles, there’s one thing Band hasn’t lost and that’s the ability to pen musical gold. One thing’s for sure; Geffen simply didn’t deserve this album. This pride and joy should be Alex’s and Alex’s alone. He’s earned it. Whether or not this record sells ten copies or ten million, it stands for something far beyond a metric. It’s clear that Alex Band makes music because it’s who he is, not what the Billboard charts may say he is- and that’s an integrity that’s nearly been lost in music these days.
Still, it’s no fairytale ending for Band…not yet at least. Universal, who closed up shop on Alex with Geffen in 2007, also recently acquired Band’s distribution partner EMI. If the history of major label acquisitions is any indicator, there may be more uphill battles for Band lying ahead-but this time he’s firmly planted his very own flag in concrete. Having recently acquired all original master recordings of everything he ever recorded and all of the publishing to every song he’s ever written, Band certainly isn’t afraid to kick ‘em while they’re down, and God Bless him for it. It’s about time.
Alex commences his Forever Yours 2012 tour in Mannheim, Germany on January 17, 2012 and will return to the states to continue work on his forthcoming full length release.
Look for Alex Band at http://www.alexband.net
Preview and buy “We’ve All Been There” @ Amazon or iTunes