DT: JULY 10, 2026 FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN, SRO PR THE CALLING RETURN WITH POWERFUL NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO “DUST” OUT TODAY THE BAND TO RELEASE FIRST ALBUM IN 25 […]
THE CALLING
BIO
(2026)
THE CALLING make the kind of music that lifts spirits, inspires perseverance against all odds, and reminds you that you’re not alone. The multiplatinum Los Angeles, CA group fronted and founded by Alex Band [vocals, guitar] have quietly soundtracked a handful of major historical moments and countless treasured memories for fans worldwide. Selling over 10 million albums worldwide, their songs have rung out everywhere from the closing ceremonies of the Summer Olympics® to the opening of the Academy® Awards. They have garnered numerous awards, gathered billions of streams, regularly registered 8 million-plus monthly listeners on Spotify, and received dozens of massive film and television placements. Moreover, they have performed for sold-out audiences on multiple continents.
Perhaps most impressively, the group have done all of this without releasing a new album since 2004.
22 years later that changes with the arrival of their long-awaited third full-length album, Before the World Turns to Dust [TLG / Virgin Music Group].
“If you like The Calling, you’re going to like this,” smiles Alex. “It’s in the same vein of what we’ve done since day one. We keep it simple. After all of this time, we still write big and anthemic rock-pop songs that uplift and make you feel something.”
Alex found refuge, solace, and truth in music during his childhood in Los Angeles. As the son of influential director, producer, and master of horror Charles Band [Puppet Master, Trancers], he grew up in Hollywood. Primarily residing with his dad and stepmom, he saw the good, the bad, and the ugly of his beloved hometown at a young age (even living through a car bomb nearly burning down the family’s home).
“I was raised with resources in a great and loving atmosphere, but there was a lot of crazy shit happening behind-the-scenes,” he adds.
At the age of four, he recorded his very first tunes with a mini-cassette player. Fostering an innate obsession with music, he picked up saxophone and taught himself how to play guitar, piano, and bass. From there, he continued to write songs in earnest. A neighbor who served as Vice President of A&R at RCA heard Alex’s demo tape and proceeded to sign him.
“I was a messed up kid, and music was all I knew,” he elaborates. “All of a sudden, I had a record deal. They took me out of high school, and I started working in the music business. I never looked back.”
One of the songs he wrote at 15-years-old, “Wherever You Will Go,” changed everything. It gradually climbed the charts until it cracked the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, achieved a multi-Platinum certification, and resounded in every corner of popular culture with syncs in Coyote Ugly, Saving Grace, Smallville, and the BBC’s Strike, to name a few. It held #1 on the Billboard Adult Pop Airplay Chart for 23 consecutive weeks and achieved the crown of “No. 1 Adult Pop Song of the Decade,” according to Billboard. During the twenty-twenties, it notably joined Spotify’s prestigious “billions club,” eclipsing 1 billion streams on the platform. Of course, it also adorned the band’s full-length debut, Camino Palmero, which reached platinum status as well, in over 30 countries. Meanwhile, 2004’s follow-up, Two, yielded the fan favorite “Our Lives” which went #1 in multiple countries.
However, it all came screeching to a halt in 2005. Alex weathered label drama and industry twists and turns just to release his first solo LP, We’ve All Been There, five years later in 2010. Not long after, he received earth-shattering news when doctors diagnosed him with Parkinson’s Disease. For the next seven years, he struggled to regain his motor-skills.
In 2018, the winds changed. His condition improved, he regained strength, and the symptoms retreated to the surprise of everyone—most of all Alex.
“The doctor’s conclusion was either the disease went dormant or someone fucked up and read the initial scans wrong, meaning I actually had Parkinson’s Syndrome because that lasts up to seven years,” he says. “I have a feeling it was the ‘Syndrome’ and not the ‘Disease’. I’ll never really know though.”
Receiving “the health green light,” he turned his attention back to THE CALLING, penning songs and playing shows internationally. Despite a break at the onset of COVID, it was full steam ahead for the first time in decades. Alex tapped producer John Fields and recorded BEFORE THE WORLD TURNS TO DUST in Nashville, TN and Minneapolis, MN joined by Daniel Damico [guitar, keys], and Dom Liberati [bass, programming].
“When we finished our second record, I thought I would do my solo thing for two years and go back to The Calling,” he states. “I never imagined all of the ensuing drama. The Calling is what I wanted from the beginning. When we got back on the road, it was crazy to see all of the fans who stuck by me. I didn’t even know I’d be alive at this point. It’s changed my perspective. Each day is a pleasant surprise, especially when things work out.”
It certainly sounds like it’s working on the single “Dust.” On the track, a steady beat holds the tempo, ethereal keys hum softly, and distant guitar glimmers. A wave of power chords carries a chantable chorus as the frontman assures, “Before the world turns to dust, love will find us.”
“‘Dust’ was one of the first tracks written for this,” he recalls. “It’s a tragic love song. I had been learning about quantum physics and the idea of cosmic dust. I was thinking, ‘Maybe humans are all connected on a more intense level than we’d ever imagined?’ The core message is, ‘Everything is going to be okay.’ Even if it seems like the world is ending, we have love, and we need to rely on it now more than ever.”
Gentle harmonics flicker through a palm-muted riff on “Strange.” Cranking up the volume, a distorted crunch underscores the punchy hook, “You could throw it all in my face, but I’d still be happy.”
“It’s actually my wife’s favorite track,” he laughs. “It’s about getting revenge on a person who did you wrong. Post-relationship, this individual’s attacks bounce right off you. You’re going to be happy no matter what.”
“Stand Up Now” serves as the record’s clarion call. Breathy vocals give way to a seismic refrain, “Come on, stand up now and break these walls down.” A skyscraping guitar solo stretches to heavenly heights alongside his heartfelt harmonies.
“In a sense, it’s about standing up for what you believe in,” he remarks. “For me, it’s about literally getting back on your feet for real. My songs may often have a dark tone, but they ideally leave you in a good place.”
In the end, THE CALLING are here for you.
“All I want is to please our fans,” he concludes. “I think they will connect to this album because it’s hopeful. Staying optimistic was the only thing that kept me going. The Calling means everything to me. I put everything into bringing it back. I missed it so much, and I’m glad to share it again.”
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