The Call

Singer/bassist/guitarist Michael Been was already in his 30s and a veteran of such hippie-era bands as Moby Grape offshoot Fine Wine, Chicago psych/prog outfit Aorta, and H.P. Lovecraft spinoff Lovecraft when he found his way into New Wave with The Call. Their 1982 debut displayed a penchant for impassioned sociopolitical lyrics, edgy, angular riffs, and powerful, pulsing grooves. Over time, their music became more anthemic, which suited Been’s near-operatic vocal chops, and positioned the group as an American answer to the likes of U2 and Simple Minds (members of both bands guested live and on record with The Call). Their only chart entries were 1983’s infectious, Talking Heads-ish “The Walls Came Down” and 1989’s bounding, optimistic “Let the Day Begin,” later used by Al Gore in his Presidential campaign, but The Call were staples of the ‘80s college-rock scene. The intense, bearded Been played John the Apostle in fan Martin Scorsese’s controversial 1988 film The Last Temptation of Christ, a natural fit for the impassioned and religious musician. The Call split after 1990’s Red Moon, and Been released a solo album in ’94, but the band reunited for a final album, To Heaven and Back, in ’97. Subsequently, Been devoted his time to his son Robert Levon Been’s band, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, for whom “Papa Been” was sound engineer and guru, on tour and in the studio. He died while on the road with BRMC in 2010, at the age of 60.