Foreigner was originally formed in 1976 by the tandem of Mick Jones and Ian McDonald, who were accompanied by Alan Greenwood, Lou Gramm, Dennis Elliott, and Ed Gagliardi. The group released their first album in 1977, not even a year after forming. The album eventually went five-times platinum. Its follow-up was no slump, either.
Double Vision was released in 1978, and again, the singles on the album fueled it to a solid six months in the top ten list.
1979 was the first of a series of changes for the band. After the release of
Head Games, Ed Gagliardi left the band. The band was down to a quartet by 1981, which saw the release of their next album, their fourth album, aptly titled 4.
3 years passed until Foreigner came out with another album. This one, entitled
Agent Provocateur, featured the single “I Want To Know What Love Is,” which was their first #1 hit, but in spite of that, the album wasn’t as successful as their previous releases. A nine-month tour followed, and the band subsequently went on a hiatus, with Lou Gramm and Mick Jones focusing on other projects.
Foreigner collected again in 1987 with the release of
Inside Information. Their seventh album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 music charts. While Gramm and Foreigner both had success, tension led to Gramm’s departure from Foreigner. With the recruitment of a new singer, Johnny Edwards, Foreigner’s 1991 release of
Unusual Heat went largely unnoticed. Realizing the error of their ways, Jones and Gramm teamed up again, and released a compilation album; the 17-song
The Very Best… And Beyond. It was the most success that Foreigner had had in many years, along with the release of their live album.
Foreigner tried out
Mr. Moonlight in 1995, but this album fared even worse than the dud
Unusual Heat due to the fact that grunge was on the rise. The band went on tour through 2002.
Now, Mick Jones is the only remaining original member of the band, after Gramm left the band in 2003 to pursue a solo career. Kelly Hansen was hired as Gramm’s replacement.
Members
- Mick Jones: guitar, piano, keyboards, backing vocals [1976-]
- Jeff Jacobs: piano, organ, keyboards, backing vocals [1993-]
- Thom Gimbel: saxophone, guitar, backing vocals [1995-]
- Kelly Hansen: lead vocals
- Jason Bonham: drums
- Jeff Pilson: bass
Former Members
- Lou Gramm: vocals, percussion [1976-1990, 1992-2003]
- Bruce Turgon: bass, backing vocals [1993-2002]
- Denny Carmassi: drums [2002]
- Mark Schulman: drums, backing vocals [1993-1995, 2000-2002]
- Brian Tichy: drums [2000-2002]
- Ron Wikso: drums [1995-1998]
- Rick Wills: bass, backing vocals [1979-1992]
- Johnny Edwards: lead vocals, guitar [1990-1992]
- Dennis Elliott: drums[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]
- Andrew “Ravens Claw” Peters: drums [1992-1993]
Discography
- Foreigner [1977]
- Double Vision [1978]
- Head Games [1979]
- 4 [1981]
- Records [1982]
- Agent Provocateur [1984]
- Inside Information [1987]
- Unusual Heat [1991]
- The Very Best Of [1992]
- The Very Best And Beyond [1992]
- Classic Hits Live / Best Of Live [1993]
- JukeBox Hero: Best Of [1994]
- Mr. Moonlight [1995]
- I Want To Know What Love Is [1998]
- The Platinum Collection [1999]
- Rough Diamonds #1 [1999]
- Hot Blooded and Other Hits [2000]
- Anthology: Jukebox Heroes [2000]
- Complete Greatest Hits [2002]
- The Definitive [2002]
- Extended Versions [2006]
[-] Hide Full Biography
Foreigner was originally formed in 1976 by the tandem of Mick Jones and Ian McDonald, who were accompanied by Alan Greenwood, Lou Gramm, Dennis Elliott, and Ed Gagliardi. The group released their first album in 1977, not even a year after forming. The album eventually went five-times platinum. Its follow-up was no slump, either.
Double Vision was released in 1978, and again, the singles on the album fueled it to a solid six months in the top ten list.
1979 was the first of a series of changes for the band. After the release of
Head Games, Ed Gagliardi left the band. The band was down to a quartet by 1981, which saw the release of their next album, their fourth album, aptly titled 4.
3 years passed until Foreigner came out with another album. This one, entitled
Agent Provocateur, featured the single “I Want To Know What Love Is,” which was their first #1 hit, but in spite of that, the album wasn’t as successful as their previous releases. A nine-month tour followed, and the band subsequently went on a]
[+] Show Full Biography
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