Noughties rock star unrecognisable 22 years after smash hit Wherever You Will Go and shock abduction and robbery

NOUGHTIES rock star Alex Band looks unrecognisable 22 years after his smash hit, Wherever You Will Go.

Singer Alex, 42, has had a drama-filled life since his early noughties success with The Calling - who are back and working on new music.

In 2013, he claimed he was abducted and beaten by a group of men at gunpoint, who demanded his "Hollywood money".

Alex said he was dumped on train tracks after the ordeal, after being attacked walking from his Michigan hotel to a supermarket at 4am.

As a result, he fractured a bone in his lower back, lost a tooth, suffered a mild concussion and needed 15 stitches on his chin.

The musician told , "It's a horrifying feeling being held down and being helpless like that. 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."

Alex said of his kidnapper, "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. You do not need to go to the extent of killing me and making a child not have a father.'

"Then the guy said it's your lucky day. Kicked me out of the car and they drove off."

But his credit cards, ID phone and wallet - which contained $1,200 - were stolen and he was shortly taken to hospital covered in blood.

Nowadays, things are looking on the up as The Calling - also comprised of Daniel Damico and Dom Liberati - have reunited and are busy touring across the U.S with The Pop 2000.

Akin to The Big Reunion, it brings together bands such as Smash Mouth and O-Town for a string of festival-style concert.