Lou Gramm Questions Legitimacy Of Current Foreigner Lineup
Lou Gramm recently had the opportunity to sing Foreigner songs on a big stage, when he performed at the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And he was apparently given an invite of sorts to rejoin the band for part of their final tour.
In a recent interview, Gramm said that his former band’s management spoke with him about the idea, but he noted that the terms didn’t really appeal to him. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, he said that he would consider a U.S. run of dates, but he wasn’t interested in doing international shows. But there were other issues beyond that.
“It would be much more interesting to me if it was members of the original Foreigner with augmented instrumentation, like another guitar player or something. Rather than going out with another band that calls themselves Foreigner.” That was likely a dig at the current band’s lineup: bassist Jeff Pilson, who has been with the band since 2004, keyboardist Michael Bluestein who joined in 2008, guitarist Bruce Watson who joined in 2011, drummer Chris Frazier who joined in 2012 and guitarist Luis Maldonado, who has been with the band since 2021. Singer Kelly Hansen has been with the band since 2005. Hansen, Bluestein and Pilson were on the band’s most recent album, 2009’s Can’t Slow Down, but none of them played on any of the band’s classic era albums from the 1970s or 1980s.
The band’s founder, Mick Jones, is still a member of the group, but hasn’t performed with them since 2022. He suffers from Parkinson’s disease.
Further, Gramm noted that when he began inquiring about specific songs that he would be interested in singing, he was told that Kelly Hansen had dibs on those songs. He said that if he couldn’t sing the songs that he considers to be his signature songs, he’s not likely interested in participating in the tour.
Gramm did perform with some members of the current band at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, along with Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on drums and Slash from Guns N Roses on guitar. Demi Lovato sang “Feels Like The First Time,” followed by Sammy Hagar with Kelly Hansen singing “Hot Blooded” and then Gramm with Kelly Clarkson singing “I Want To Know What Love Is.”
