944

944 chats with solo artist Alex Band, formerly of the band The Calling at Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood's 2010 Global March on Stage.

944: Who is your favorite musician or band?
Alex Band: I like The Fray a lot. One Republic is also good. There is a band that didn’t really take off too much called The Safety Suit, and I really like their record. I just saw them live, too. They were really good. But I still listen to what I grew up on; U2 and Coldplay.

944: If you could jam with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be?
AB: Paul McCartney and Bono.

944: Do you have any new projects you’re working on?
AB: I have a solo album coming out in late June. I started writing it about four or five years ago. It’s similar to what I did writing with The Calling - kind of big, anthemic, rock/pop songs, and it’s a lot more grown up. I wrote a lot of the calling stuff when I was a teenager. But the single just came out and went to radio. I also just released a live DVD from Brazil, playing The Calling songs and new songs, and have a bracelet line, as well. It’s 12 different bracelets and each one comes with a free song download from my album. It’s called Blackstar Bracelet.

944: Fave places in the world to play?
AB: Both my parents were raised in Italy about an hour north of Rome so every year we go there. The Calling’s biggest, successful country was Brazil so I do like going there a lot, too. Japan is always fun because it’s kind of wild and different. I love Japanese food and they have killer there that actually fits me.

944: Tell us about your rock star style.
AB: I’m pretty picky about clothing. I like fitted, funky clothing. There’s always H&M, you never know what you’re going to find. There is also this one store called H. Lorenzo on Sunset Plaza - very rock and roll, and jackets are my favorite things to buy. If it was up to me I would wear the same black jeans and T-shirt everyday and just keep changing my jacket.

944: With our May 944 Picks issue coming up, we want to know - where is your favorite place to eat in LA?
AB: I’m really partial to Mexican food so anything Mexican and decent. I like Chipotle. It’s nice, quick and tasty.

944: Do you ever pick up an issue, of say, 944 Magazine?
AB: Yeah of course! It’s very hip and up-to-date on fashion stuff. I was just living in a fancy, little condo in Hollywood and they had 944 everywhere so I always picked it.

www.blackstarbracelet.com

Reporting by Hannah Montgomery