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August 21, 2010 8:58

The Call frontman Michael Been dies

Bassist and singer also worked as soundman for his son's band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

The Call frontman Michael Been dies

The Call frontman Michael Been has died aged 60.

The bassist, singer and songwriter passed away after suffering a heart attack on August 19 – he was at Belgium's Pukkelpop festival working as soundman for his son Robert Levon Been's band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Been, born in Oklahoma, formed The Call in California in 1980. The group went on to have a number of hits, including 'When The Walls Came Down', 'Everywhere I Go', 'I Still Believe (Great Design)' and 'Let The Day Begin' – the latter was used by Al Gore during his 2000 US presidential campaign.

His solo album, 'On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown', was released in 1994. The band appeared to go on hiatus around the turn of the millennium, and Been concentrated on working with his son's group.

He also appeared in a number of films, including Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation Of Christ, where he played the Apostle John.

A statement on The Call's website read: "We have his son and family in our prayers. The Call's music will always live on."

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