Foreigner

Foreigner
2009 edition of Foreigner, after concert in San Francisco CA USA, 2 Sept 2009 2009 edition of Foreigner, after concert in San Francisco CA USA, 2 Sept 2009
Background information
Origin	New York City, New York
Genres	Rock, hard rock
Years active	1976–present
Labels	Rhythm Safari, Atlantic
Associated acts	Spooky Tooth, King Crimson
Website	http://www.foreigneronline.com/
Members
Mick Jones Thom Gimbel Kelly Hansen Jeff Pilson Michael Bluestein Brian Tichy
Former members
See: Foreigner former members

Foreigner is an English rock band formed in New York City in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones, ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald, and American vocalist Lou Gramm (Louis Grammatico). Foreigner has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide (including over 37.5 million in the United States alone).

Band history

The band is led by English journeyman rocker Mick Jones (former member of Nero and the Gladiators, Spooky Tooth, and The Leslie West Band) who in early 1976 met with ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald in NYC and formed Foreigner with Lou Gramm (ex-Black Sheep), Dennis Elliott, Al Greenwood, and Ed Gagliardi as a sextet. Jones came up with the name from the fact that he, McDonald, and Elliott were English, while Gramm, Greenwood, and Gagliardi were Americans.

The band's debut album Foreigner was released in March 1977 and sold more than four million copies in the United States, staying in the Top 20 for a year with such hits as "Feels Like the First Time," "Cold as Ice" and "Long Long Way From Home." Their second album, Double Vision (released in June 1978), topped their previous selling five million records and spawned "Hot Blooded," the title track "Double Vision" and "Blue Morning Blue Day." Their third album, Head Games, which was referred to by Gramm as their "grainiest" album, was also successful due to the thunderous "Dirty White Boy" and another title track hit "Head Games".

For 1979's Head Games, bassist Ed Gagliardi was replaced by Englishman Rick Wills. In September 1980, keyboardist Al Greenwood and co-founder Ian McDonald were sacked as Jones wished to have more control over the band and write most of the music (along with Gramm). The band was now stripped down to a quartet, with session players brought in as needed to record or tour (see below for complete list of members). Greenwood soon joined Gagliardi to form the AOR band SPYS with John Blanco, Billy Milne, and John DiGaudio. The band released two albums, a self-titled debut, and the follow-up Behind Enemy Lines.

In the meantime, Foreigner's next album, 4,(released in July 1981) was the band's biggest hit containing "Urgent" (which contains a Junior Walker sax solo), "Waiting for a Girl Like You," "Juke Box Hero" and "Break it Up." Before releasing albums of his own, Thomas Dolby played synthesizers on 4 (he contributed the signature synth sound on "Urgent" and played the intro to "Waiting For A Girl Like You"). For their 1981-82 tour in support of 4, the group added Peter Reilich (keyboards, synthesizers), former Peter Frampton band member Bob Mayo (keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals) and Mark Rivera (sax, flute, keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals). The latter two had also appeared on the sessions for 4. Reilich was dropped in May 1982 but Mayo & Rivera continued with the band through their 1985 tour.

Their next album, Agent Provocateur, was released successfully in late 1984, and gave them their first and only #1 hit in 1985 (in U.S., UK, Australia, Norway, Sweden, etc.), "I Want to Know What Love Is," written by Mick Jones, a gospel-inspired ballad backed by the New Jersey Mass Choir. "That Was Yesterday" was the next single released from the album in early 1985 and proved to be another sizable hit.

In late 1987 Foreigner released Inside Information; spawning hits such as "Say You Will" and "I Don't Want to Live Without You." On May 14th, 1988 the band headlined Atlantic Records 40 year anniversary concert, culminating with "I Want to Know What Love Is", joined by the likes of Phil Collins, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Roberta Flack and others from Atlantic Records singing in the choir. Later that year, the band went back on the road. But the touring for Inside Information was limited to Europe, Japan and Australia. For this tour, Mark Rivera and Bob Mayo were not available, so Larry Oakes (guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals) and Lou Cortlezzi (sax) augmented the quartet of Gramm, Jones, Elliott and Wills.

In the late 1980s Jones and Gramm each put out solo efforts and Gramm decided to leave the group in 1990 while touring behind his second solo release Long Hard Look(1989).

In 1990, Mick Jones brought in a new lead vocalist, Johnny Edwards (formerly of the bands Montrose, King Kobra, Buster Brown and Wild Horses). This edition of Foreigner released the album Unusual Heat in the summer of 1991. This was at the time their worst selling album and only climbed as high as #117 on the Billboard 200, although "Lowdown and Dirty" was a minor mainstream rock hit, reaching #4 on that chart. For their 1991 tour, Jeff Jacobs, who'd played in Billy Joel's band, was brought in as the new keyboardist and Mark Rivera returned. But just after the start of this tour, Elliott decided to leave the group. Larry Aberman was then recruited as a temporary replacement. Since 1992 several other drummers have come & gone, including Mark Schulman (1992-1995, 2000-2002), Ron Wikso (1995-1998), Brian Tichy (1998-2000, 2007, 2008-now), Denny Carmassi (2002-2003), Jason Bonham (2004-2007, 2007-2008) and Bryan Head(2008). Scott Gilman(guitar, sax, flute) joined the touring band in 1992 and took over from Rivera later that year after he left. Thom Gimbel briefly subbed for Gilman in 1993 then replaced him permanently in 1995.

By 1992 Lou Gramm rejoined Foreigner (bringing along his Shadow King bandmate bassist Bruce Turgon) and produced the band's second greatest hits album, The Very Best of...and Beyond, which included three new songs. Three years later Foreigner released what was supposed to be the band's comeback album, Mr. Moonlight. This album fared even worse than Unusual Heat, although the ballad "Until the End of Time" was a minor hit, hitting #42 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1997 Gramm underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. The medications he was prescribed caused considerable weight gain and affected his singing voice.

In 2001, the Warner Music Group selected Foreigner and 4 to be among the first group of albums from their catalog to be remastered, enhanced and released in the new DVD Audio format. In 2002, the 25th Anniversary Year brought affirmation of the enduring respect for Foreigner recordings with Rhino Entertainment re-issuing the 1977 - 1981 multi-platinum albums in special enhanced formats. Foreigner, Double Vision, Head Games and 4 received the attention of Rhino's staff with new photos, liner notes and bonus tracks of previously unreleased material. New greatest hits albums were also produced in the U.S. and in Europe. The U.S. version reached #80 on the Billboard 200 Album chart.

In late 2002, Foreigner played in the Netherlands at the annual Night of the Proms festival. It was the last time to date that Gramm & Jones have played together as musical disagreements at that point caused Gramm to leave again by early 2003 to embark on a solo career.

Jones, the founder and only remaining original member of Foreigner, decided to take some time off before looking to form a new lineup in 2004. On July 25, 2004 in Santa Barbara, California at Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort, Jones appeared with a brand new version of Foreigner that included: Jeff Jacobs, Thom Gimbel, former Dokken bass player Jeff Pilson, current UFO drummer Jason Bonham (son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, who had also played with the brief Led Zeppelin reunions and his own band Bonham) and Bonham singer, Chaz West. West was hired for that show only and was eventually replaced by former Hurricane singer Kelly Hansen in 2005.

Foreigner joined Def Leppard along with Styx on tour in 2007. They also toured extensively in their own right in 2007 - the 30th anniversary of the founding of the band.

Their album, Extended Versions, featured the new line-up playing all their classic hits live in concert in one of the most "studio like, clean sounding" live album recordings produced. They are currently working on a new album which will include a mix of both new songs as well as new takes on their old material.

In September 2007 it was announced that Foreigner would join Pete Townshend, Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings, and Paolo Nutini as openers for the one-night-only Led Zeppelin reunion show in memory of Atlantic Records' Ahmet Ertegun. The show took place on December 10, 2007, in London, England, having been postponed by 2 weeks due to Jimmy Page fracturing a finger.

The band released a greatest hits anthology on July 15, 2008 titled No End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner. The anthology included all of their greatest hits plus some new live recordings and a new studio track, "Too Late", which was their first new song release since 1994's Mr. Moonlight, and the first recorded output of the new lineup. "Too Late" was released as a single on June 17, 2008. In 2008 Bonham parted ways with Foreigner. Bryan Head was then brought in to fill the drum chair. But his tenure was short and he also departed to be replaced by the returning Brian Tichy.

The band recently performed at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA, on 2 September 2009 as the headliner of the VMworld 2009 Party celebration for the annual VMworld Conference.

Foreigner released their new album September 29th, 2009 called Can't Slow Down. It was one of several recent classic rock releases(ACDC, The Eagles, Journey, and KISS being four others)to be released exclusively through the Walmart stores chain.

Band Members

• Kelly Hansen – lead vocals, percussion (2005–present)
• Mick Jones – lead guitar, keyboards, bass, vocals (1976–present)
• Thom Gimbel – guitar, saxophone, flute, backing vocals (1993, 1995–present)
• Michael Bluestein – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (2008–present)
• Jeff Pilson – bass, backing vocals (2004–present)
• Brian Tichy - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1998–2000, 2007, 2008–present)

Former members

• Lou Gramm – lead vocals, percussion (1976–1990, 1992–2003)
• Dennis Elliott – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1976–1991)
• Ian McDonald – guitar, keyboards, saxophone, flute, backing vocals (1976–1980)
• Al Greenwood – keyboards, synthesizers (1976–1980)
• Ed Gagliardi – bass, backing vocals (1976–1979)
• Rick Wills – bass, backing vocals (1979–1992)
• Mark Rivera – saxophone, flute, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (1981–1988, 1991–1992)
• Bob Mayo – keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals (1981–1988)
• Peter Reilich – keyboards, synthesizers (1981–1982)
• Larry Oakes – guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (1988)
• Lou Cortelezzi – saxophone (1988)
• Johnny Edwards – lead vocals, guitar (1990–1992)
• Larry Aberman – drums, percussion (1991–1992)
• Bruce Turgon – bass, backing vocals (1992–2003)
• Mark Schulman – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1992–1995, 2000–2002)
• Scott Gilman – guitar, saxophone, backing vocals (1992, 1993–1995)
• Ron Wikso – drums, percussion (1995–1998)
• John Purdell - keyboards, synthesizers(filled in for Jacobs 2000)
• Denny Carmassi – drums, percussion (2002)
• Chaz West – lead vocals (2004)
• Jeff Jacobs – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (1991–2007)
• Paul Mirkovich – keyboards, synthesizers (2007–2008)
• Jason Bonham – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2004–2007, 2007–2008)
• Bryan Head - drums, percussion (2008)

Discography

Main article: Foreigner discography

Studio albums

Year	Title	U.S.	UK	GER	AUT	CH	RIAA Certification	BPI Certification
1977	Foreigner	4	-	-	-	-	5x-Platinum	-
1978	Double Vision	3	32	-	-	-	7x-Platinum	-
1979	Head Games	5	-	-	-	-	5x-Platinum	-
1981	4	1	5	-	-	-	6x-Platinum	Gold
1984	Agent Provocateur	4	1	-	10	1	3x-Platinum	Platinum
1987	Inside Information	15	64	-	-	7	Platinum	Silver
1991	Unusual Heat	117	56	-	30	8	-	-
1994	Mr. Moonlight	136	59	29	-	17	-	-
2009	Can't Slow Down	29	-	-	-	-	-	-

See also

• Best selling music artists
• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of number-one albums (United States)
• List of best-selling albums in the United States
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart

External links

• Foreigner's Official Website
• Lou Gramm's Official Website