'The Calling' Singer Says He Was Abducted, Attacked In Michigan

LAPEER (WWJ/AP) - The lead singer of rock group The Calling was abducted, beaten and robbed after performing at a Michigan festival, the band said Monday.

Alex Band was attacked outside a store in Lapeer early Sunday, the group told The Associated Press. The Calling had performed Saturday night at the Lapeer Days Festival, about 45 miles north of Detroit.

Band had a spinal fracture, three broken teeth and needed 15 stitches in his chin, The Calling said in a statement.

Police asked the public for help in investigating.

Detective Sgt. Craig Gormley said in a statement -- which doesn't name Band by name -- that the victim reported two males forced him into a minivan, then assaulted and robbed him before dropping him off at a railroad crossing.

Band was picked up and driven to a local hospital by his band manager, who called 911 on the way.

Click here to hear the 911 call.

In its statement, The Calling said Band was visiting a mini-market after the show when "Alex was grabbed by his shirt and hit from behind."

"I was pulled by my shirt, back, and two guys grabbed each of my arms and just pulled me into the van, and then they clubbed my face with a police baton," Band told ABC's Good Morning America.

Band said he then had a gun put to his face while an attacker demanded his "Hollywood money."

The Calling said Band told his assailants he was "about to be a dad," and one of them said, "We don't kill fathers" before releasing him.

Band acknowledged having past substance abuse problems, but denied what he said were rumors that the abduction report was either drug-related or faked.

"I take my rehabilitation very seriously," he said. "I was near death due to this unbelievable situation, and the rumors are categorically false."

The Los Angeles-based group rose to fame after their 2001 song, "Wherever You Will Go," was used in several TV series and in the movie "Coyote Ugly."

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