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Foreigner

Classic Rock RockHall of Fame 2024

Foreigner were built on an unlikely pairing: English guitarist Mick Jones, who formed the band in New York, and Rochester-born singer Lou Gramm, whose voice gave their polished hard rock its grit. From "Feels Like the First Time" and "Cold as Ice" in 1977 through "Hot Blooded," "Urgent," and "Juke Box Hero," they were one of the most reliable hit-makers of late-70s and early-80s classic rock, and "I Want to Know What Love Is" took them to the top of the charts in 1984.

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4 (1981). It's the album where everything came together. "Juke Box Hero," "Urgent" with its honking Junior Walker sax, and the slow-burning "Waiting for a Girl Like You" are all here, and it spent weeks at number one in the US.

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Biography

Foreigner is a British-American rock band formed in New York City in 1976. The band's original lineup consisted of vocalist Lou Gramm, guitarist Mick Jones, drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboardist Al Greenwood, multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald (formerly of King Crimson) and bassist Ed Gagliardi. Gagliardi was replaced by Rick Wills in 1979. Foreigner is one of the best-selling bands of all time, with worldwide sales exceeding 80 million records, including 38 million in the US.

Jones came up with the band name because he, Elliott, and McDonald were British, while Gramm, Greenwood and Gagliardi were American, meaning at least half the members would be considered foreigners regardless of the country they were in. In 1977, Foreigner released its self-titled debut album, the first of six consecutive albums to be certified multi-platinum and reach the Top 10 in the US. The album produced two US Top 10 singles, "Feels Like the First Time" and "Cold as Ice". Their 1978 follow-up, Double Vision, was successful and included two more US hits: "Hot Blooded" and the title track.

Foreigner's third album, Head Games (1979), featured US Top 20 singles "Dirty White Boy" and the title track.

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