The Calling Singer Says He Was Abducted, Beaten and Left for Dead - East Idaho News
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The Calling Singer Says He Was Abducted, Beaten and Left for Dead

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HT alex band attack lpl 130820 16x9 992?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1377006185608ABC News(NEW YORK) — The Calling lead singer Alex Band says he was abducted, beaten, robbed and left for dead by two men this weekend after performing at a Michigan music festival.

Band, 32, says the beating Sunday morning caused him to lose a tooth, suffer a mild concussion and require 15 stitches to close a gash in his chin.  The “Wherever You Will Go” singer said he also suffered a fractured lower back from when the men threw him out of their vehicle.

“It’s a horrifying feeling being held down and being helpless like that,” Band told ABC News.  “I’ve never been in a fight in my life.  I’ve never been hit.  It sounds ridiculous but it’s true.”

“This was not just being hit.  It was being blown to the head,” he added.

It was supposed to be a triumphant return weekend for Band because he was bringing The Calling back together, although he’s the only original member.  The band headlined the Lapeer Days Festival in Lapeer, Mich.

Band says the ambush took place Sunday at about 3 a.m. while walking from his hotel to a nearby convenience store.

He says he was grabbed and forced into a van where the men beat him and pointed a gun and demanded his “Hollywood money.”

“They started ripping everything out of my pockets and said take everything out.  They stole my wallet and credit cards and my ID.  They took my phone,” Band said.

The two men, according to Band, stole $1,200 and would have killed him had he not told them he was expecting a child.

“He held the gun to my forehead and held me out of the door like that and that’s when I said I just found out a few weeks ago that I’m going to be a dad,” he said.

Band said he began to cry as he begged the men to spare his life.

“You do not need to go to the extent of killing me and making a child not have a father,” Band recounted.  “Then the guy said it’s your lucky day. Kicked me out of the car and they drove off.”

Police declined to comment on Tuesday, noting in a news release that the incident remains under investigation.  They do not name Band as the alleged victim.

“The victim, a member of the band ‘The Calling,’ reported being forced into a blue colored minivan-style vehicle between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. by two male subjects,” the release said.  “The victim reported being assaulted, robbed and dropped off on another street within the city of Lapeer.”

The victim was transported to the hospital by another member where he was treated and released, the release said.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

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