Music

Issues between Lou Gramm and Foreigner — especially with band founder Mick Jones — have been well-documented over the years, especially after Gramm’s final departure in early 2003. But in the wake of Foreigner’s “life-changing” induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last October, Gramm has a new attitude.

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“Ever since (the induction) it felt like, personally, I had to find a way to let go of some of the things I’ve been holding onto for years — and, like the song says, let it be,” Gramm tells Billboard. Gramm, who was Foreigner’s original singer in 1976 and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with Jones in 2013, has been making occasional guest appearances with Foreigner since 2017. After singing a pair of encore songs with the band on March 15 in Clearwater, Fla., it was announced that Gramm will be joining the group for an eight-date Historic Farewell Tour run through Mexico and South America that starts April 28 and includes shows in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

Kelly Hansen, Foreigner’s frontman since 2005, will not be part of those concerts, with guitarist Luis Maldonado taking his place and planning to sing some of the repertoire in Spanish. “It’s a hackneyed sentiment, but it’s true — life’s too short,” Gramm says of his latest return to the fold. “And a lot of the things that are blown up and made big deals about are easy enough to get over and humble yourself and reach out a little bit, ’cause what you’ve been mad about for the past 20 years is not a monumental thing.”

Gramm and Jones have both acknowledged a sometimes volatile relationship as a songwriting tandem and bandmates during the former’s three tenures with Foreigner, often related to the dynamic of Gramm as a junior partner in the equation. More recently there was a dustup over ownership of demo recordings the two made during the early 2000s. But the Rock Hall induction, which Jones missed due to his continuing battle with Parkinson’s disease, clearly softened Gramm’s outlook.

“I hope he was watching the show,” says Gramm, who’s not in touch with Jones directly anymore. “It was a great experience and…a real honor for what all of us, and especially Mick, have accomplished. Our creative partnership was really excellent. I think we were all very proud.” The new bonhomie extends to his relationship with Hansen as well. “We didn’t have a very good relationship before, either, but it’s good now,” Gramm confirms.

“I’m glad he feels that way,” Hansen says in a separate interview. “Hopefully we’re gonna be having a lot of the original guys come on stage here and coming out for our 50th anniversary, which is next year. That’s kind of full circle. We like that energy, and I think everyone understands of how fortunate we all are to have been part of this legacy and enjoy the commonality of this legacy.”

Gramm, for his part, says he’s up for joining Foreigner for more of its 2025 dates in North America and certainly plans to be part of the 2026 activities, which will also mark the 45th anniversary of 1981’s six-times platinum 4 album. “I don’t think there’s any contrivance or people questioning the reason why I would be up there with that band,” Gramm says, noting that the current edition, active since the mid-2000s, “is something Mick wanted to do after we parted company, and he did a great job and they’ve done a great job over the last two decades of keeping the name up there and flying the flag. They deserve a lot of credit.”

The current Foreigner performed during the Rock Hall induction ceremony, backing guest singers Demi Lovato (“Feels Like the First Time”), Sammy Hagar with Slash (“Hot Blooded”) and Kelly Clarkson, with Gramm, on their Billboard Hot 100 topper “I Want to Know What Love Is,” on which original keyboardist Al Greenwood and second bassist Rick Wills sang backup. “There was a lot of awesome talent that I enjoyed listening to,” Gramm recalls, though he acknowledges that, “I wasn’t crazy about the fact I was in the dressing room while ‘Hot Blooded’ and some rockers were sung by other singers — great singers, of course, but I made no bones about it that I wanted to sing a rock n’ roll song. While I really I like (‘I Want to Know What Love Is’), it wasn’t my favorite song to sing that night. But singing with Kelly Clarkson made it so special. She’s such an awesome singer, and we did a very good job together.”

Foreigner’s other big news during 2024 was the release of “Turning Back the Time,” an archived 1996 track, for a new compilation of the same name. Gramm says there’s more where that came from, including another unreleased song, “Fool If You Love Him,” that he recently recorded some fresh vocals for. “For every Foreigner album we always recorded three or four songs more than we needed, and we usually chose 10 songs and rest were either done or almost done but were excellent,” Gramm says. “They fall by the wayside on times like this. There doesn’t seem to ever be a lack of material.” Jones, who stopped touring with Foreigner some years ago, has been working with Marti Frederiksen on both existing and new material, and Hansen confirms that “there’s a bunch of stuff in several states of completion, it’s just a matter of having time. Maybe for me, being not on the road as much, might afford some more time to finish some of those.”

Hansen revealed his plan to dial down touring when the Historic Farewell Tour was announced in fall of 2022, and while he’ll be out with Foreigner through the summer he’ll also be sitting out a fall run in Canada, with Geordie Brown from the Foreigner stage musical Juke Box Hero joining. In a statement Hansen explained that “some residency issues have forced me to limit appearances outside of the USA this year,” and he’s not offering specifics beyond that cryptic explanation.

“I made the statement because that’s the statement I wanted to make,” he says. “I know what it might sound like…I don’t feel like I want to go into details about my residency issues, but that’s the reason.” Hansen adds that, “It’s fine, and I’m happy doing everything that I can do. But, yes, there will come a point in time eventually where I won’t’ be doing this.” At the moment, he intends for that to be after the 2026 dates.

“Plans sometimes change, but those are the plans,” Hansen notes. “Listen, I never say never, but I’ve been in this business just about 50 years. I’ve had my time in here, and in the business, and the entertainment business is not the easiest business in the world. I really want to be able to live my life outside of being on the road nine months a year. I want to be able to do other things in my wife, with my family, while I still can. And I don’t want to be out there doing these songs at less than the standard that we’ve set, ever.”

Foreigner is also setting up an Australian tour in addition to next year’s 50th anniversary shows. A documentary project is in the works to commemorate the landmark. The Juke Box Hero musical, which has been previewed in Alberta and Toronto, is slated to go into production during 2026 as well.