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The Call's Michael Been, dead at 60
The Call's Michael Been Dies of Heart Attack at B.R.M.C. Show
According to multiple media reports, musician and sound engineer Michael Been died on Thursday, after apparently suffering a massive heart attack backstage at the Belgian music festival Pukkelpop. He was 60.
Been first made a name for himself as the founder and leader of Bay Area alt-rock band the Call, who first had a hit in 1983 with their single 'The Walls Came Down.' The Call opened for Peter Gabriel on his 1982 'Shock the Monkey' tour and collaborated with him on their 1985 album, 'Reconciled.' They also collaborated with Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson, both of the Band. The Call were active for two decades beginning in 1980, despite a break in the mid-'90s when Been briefly pursued a solo career. Been also put the band on hold, briefly, in 1987 when he appeared as Apostle John in the movie 'The Last Temptation of Christ.'
Been's son, bassist Robert Levon Been (who has also gone by the name Robert Turner), co-founded the band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in 1998. Michael took an active interest in his son's musical career and toured with the band as their sound engineer. He was working with them, at Pukkelpop, when he allegedly suffered the heart attack backstage.
Buddyhead reports that the festival's organizer says Been received immediate medical aid by an on-site medical team and was then rushed to Salvator Hasselt hospital, where he was later declared dead.
Our hearts and thoughts go out to his friends, family, bands and fans. Condolences have been pouring into the BRMC Facebook page and there's a memorial on the Call's official website as well -- he will be missed by more than one musical community and by more than one generation of music fans.
It's sad that I only found out about this a month after the fact. Guess the corporate whore media didn't even see fit to report it. Even if you only remember them for their one big hit, The Call were a great band for the times. Michael Been was a decent songwriter, and a good human being who will be missed. I really had no idea the guy was 60. A little old for a guy from an 80's band......
According to multiple media reports, musician and sound engineer Michael Been died on Thursday, after apparently suffering a massive heart attack backstage at the Belgian music festival Pukkelpop. He was 60.
Been first made a name for himself as the founder and leader of Bay Area alt-rock band the Call, who first had a hit in 1983 with their single 'The Walls Came Down.' The Call opened for Peter Gabriel on his 1982 'Shock the Monkey' tour and collaborated with him on their 1985 album, 'Reconciled.' They also collaborated with Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson, both of the Band. The Call were active for two decades beginning in 1980, despite a break in the mid-'90s when Been briefly pursued a solo career. Been also put the band on hold, briefly, in 1987 when he appeared as Apostle John in the movie 'The Last Temptation of Christ.'
Been's son, bassist Robert Levon Been (who has also gone by the name Robert Turner), co-founded the band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in 1998. Michael took an active interest in his son's musical career and toured with the band as their sound engineer. He was working with them, at Pukkelpop, when he allegedly suffered the heart attack backstage.
Buddyhead reports that the festival's organizer says Been received immediate medical aid by an on-site medical team and was then rushed to Salvator Hasselt hospital, where he was later declared dead.
Our hearts and thoughts go out to his friends, family, bands and fans. Condolences have been pouring into the BRMC Facebook page and there's a memorial on the Call's official website as well -- he will be missed by more than one musical community and by more than one generation of music fans.
It's sad that I only found out about this a month after the fact. Guess the corporate whore media didn't even see fit to report it. Even if you only remember them for their one big hit, The Call were a great band for the times. Michael Been was a decent songwriter, and a good human being who will be missed. I really had no idea the guy was 60. A little old for a guy from an 80's band......
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