【新闻标题】The Calling Singer Alex Band Says He Was Abducted by Men Who Wanted 'Hollywood Money'
【正文】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 mildconcussion and require 15 stitches to close a gash in his chin. The "Wherever YouWill Go" singer said he also suffered a fractured lowerback from when the men threw him out of their vehicle.
"It's ahorrifying 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 beenhit. It sounds ridiculous but it's true.
"This was not just being hit. It was being blown to the head."
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.
Band says hewas grabbed and forced into a van where the men beat him and pointed a gun and demanded his "Hollywood money."
"Theystarted 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.
"Heheld 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 today, 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.
Brad Garrett, an ABC News consultant and former FBI agent, said threats to famous
people are common, but an actual assault is unusual.
"It's fairly common for high-profile people to be threatened via email, the Internet,but the idea that they are actually abducted, assaulted and robbed is very rare," he said.
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. I was near death due to this unbelievable situation and the rumors are categorically false and not a hoax as reported," Band was quoted in a statement on The Calling's Facebook page.
"Police and detectives were called to the scene and are undergoing an investigation with the local authorities," The Calling said in the same statement.
"Despite rumors of this being a drug related situation it is clearly NOT the case and there was NO abuse of alcohol also backed by medical examination."
The Calling released two successful rock albums in the early 2000s before the group broke up.
【正文】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 mildconcussion and require 15 stitches to close a gash in his chin. The "Wherever YouWill Go" singer said he also suffered a fractured lowerback from when the men threw him out of their vehicle.
"It's ahorrifying 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 beenhit. It sounds ridiculous but it's true.
"This was not just being hit. It was being blown to the head."
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.
Band says hewas grabbed and forced into a van where the men beat him and pointed a gun and demanded his "Hollywood money."
"Theystarted 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.
"Heheld 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 today, 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.
Brad Garrett, an ABC News consultant and former FBI agent, said threats to famous
people are common, but an actual assault is unusual.
"It's fairly common for high-profile people to be threatened via email, the Internet,but the idea that they are actually abducted, assaulted and robbed is very rare," he said.
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. I was near death due to this unbelievable situation and the rumors are categorically false and not a hoax as reported," Band was quoted in a statement on The Calling's Facebook page.
"Police and detectives were called to the scene and are undergoing an investigation with the local authorities," The Calling said in the same statement.
"Despite rumors of this being a drug related situation it is clearly NOT the case and there was NO abuse of alcohol also backed by medical examination."
The Calling released two successful rock albums in the early 2000s before the group broke up.
