Foreigner (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Foreigner | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City, New York |
| Genre(s) | Rock, Hard rock |
| Years active | 1976 – present |
| Label(s) | Warner, Atlantic |
| Members | |
| Mick Jones Thom (Tom) Gimbel Kelly Hansen Jeff Pilson Jason Bonham Michael Bluestein |
|
| Former members | |
| See: Foreigner former members | |
Foreigner is a rock band formed in New York City in 1976 by veteran musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald, along with then-unknown vocalist Lou Gramm (Louis Grammatico). Foreigner has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide [1] (including over 36 million in the United States alone).
Contents |
[edit] Band history
The band is led by British 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 and formed Foreigner with Lou Gramm, 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 British, while Gramm, Greenwood, and Gagliardi were Americans. [2]
The band's debut album Foreigner sold more than four million copies in the United States and stayed 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, topped their previous selling five million records and spawning "Hot Blooded", and title track "Double Vision". 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. Following the tour to support the album, keyboardist Al Greenwood and co-founder Ian McDonald were sacked, and the band was stripped down to a quartet. 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."
Foreigner's next album, aptly named 4, was the band's biggest hit containing "Juke Box Hero", "Waiting for a Girl Like You", and "Urgent". Before releasing albums of his own, Thomas Dolby played synthesizers on 4 (he contributed the signature synth sound on "Urgent" and played the atmospheric intro to "Waiting For A Girl Like You"). [3]
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", a gospel-inspired ballad backed by the New Jersey Mass Choir. In 1987 Foreigner released Inside Information; spawning hits such as "Say You Will" and "I Don't Want To Live Without You". But then, reportedly due to the egos of Gramm and Jones, the band dissolved. In the late 1980s, Jones and Gramm each put out solo efforts and the band went on hiatus.
In 1990, Mick Jones reformed Foreigner with a new lead vocalist, Johnny Edwards. This edition of Foreigner released the album Unusual Heat in 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 the chart.
By 1992, however, Lou Gramm rejoined Foreigner (bringing along with 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, due to the rising popularity of alternative and grunge rock, although the ballad "Until the End of Time" was a minor hit, hitting #42 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was to be the last time to date that Foreigner charted on a Billboard singles chart of any kind.
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 2003, Gramm again left Foreigner to embark on another solo career and formed the Lou Gramm Band. Jones, the founder and only remaining original member of Foreigner, decided to reform the band once again, and hired Kelly Hansen to replace Gramm as lead vocalist for the group in 2005. Hard rock legends, drummer Jason Bonham and bassist Jeff Pilson also joined the band. Pilson also joined the group as a producer.
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 most recent 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 currently has a new greatest hits anthology coming July 15th, titled No End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner. The anthology will include all of their greatest hits plus some new live recordings and a new studio track, "Too Late", which will be the first new track since 1994's Mr. Moonlight (which was their last album with Lou Gramm) and the first recorded output of the new lineup. [4]
[edit] Band members
[edit] Current members
- Kelly Hansen - lead vocals, percussion (2005-present) 2003-present?
- Mick Jones - lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1976–present)
- Thom (Tom) Gimbel - rhythm guitar, saxophone, flute, backing vocals (1993, 1995–present)
- Michael Bluestein - keyboards, backing vocals (2008-present)
- Jeff Pilson - bass, backing vocals (2004-present)
- Jason Bonham - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2004-2007, 2007-present)
[edit] Former members
- Lou Gramm - lead vocals, percussion (1976–1990, 1992–2003)
- Dennis Elliott - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1976–1991)
- Ian McDonald - rhythm guitar, keyboards, saxophone, flute, backing vocals (1976–1980)
- Al Greenwood - keyboards (1976–1980)
- Ed Gagliardi - bass, backing vocals (1976–1979)
- Rick Wills - bass, backing vocals (1979–1992)
- Mark Rivera - rhythm guitar, keyboards, saxophone, flute, backing vocals (1981-1987, 1991-1992)
- Bob Mayo - keyboards, rhythm guitar (1981-1985)
- Peter Reilich - keyboards (1981-1982)
- Larry Oakes - rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1988)
- Lou Cortelezzi - saxophone (1988)
- Johnny Edwards - lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1990–1992)
- Larry Aberman - drums, percussion (1991-1992)
- Andrew "Raven's Claw" Peters - drums, percussion (1992–1993)?
- Bruce Turgon - bass, backing vocals (1992–2003)
- Mark Schulman - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1992–1995, 2000–2002)
- Scott Gilman - rhythm guitar, saxophone, backing vocals (1992, 1993-1995)
- Ron Wikso - drums, percussion (1995–1998)
- Brian Tichy - drums, percussion (1998–2000, 2007)
- Denny Carmassi - drums, percussion (2002)
- Chaz West - lead vocals (2004)
- Jeff Jacobs - keyboards (1991-2007)
- Paul Mirkovich - keyboards (2007-2008)
[edit] DVDs
- 2001: Foreigner
- 2001: 4
- 2003: Foreigner: All Access Tonight
- 2007: Alive & Rockin'
[edit] Discography
[edit] References in popular culture
- Foreigner has been referenced multiple times on the show Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Most notably was the episode in which the Mooninites won the Belt of Foreigner at a local carnival, which according to Ignignokt, gives the wearer of the belt "all of the superpowers of '70s supergroup, Foreigner." The character Carl is also known to be a big fan of Foreigner, having seen them at the Meadowlands in '83. During this concert he copped a feel off a passed out "broad" and now whenever he hears the song "Urgent" he thinks of "her boobs covered in vomit".
- Foreigner also has two songs within the Grand Theft Auto video game series: one on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and one on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
[edit] 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
[edit] References
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008) |
- ^ Foreigner Tickets with a 200% Guarantee; Foreigner Tour Dates, Foreigner Concert Tickets
- ^ http://www.foreignerfiles.com/overview/faq/part1.htm Accessed: 11 March 2007
- ^ http://www.connollyco.com/discography/foreigner/four.html Accessed: 21 February 2008
- ^ [1]
[edit] External links
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