Foreigner
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About Foreigner
Formed in the hustle and bustle of NYC in 1976, Foreigner is a British-American rock band that guitarist Mick Jones, vocalist Lou Gramm, drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboardist Al Greenwood, bassist Ed Gagliardi and multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald originally led. The Grammy-nominated collective is one of the world’s best-selling of all time with over 80 million record sales, including 37.5 million in the US.
In 1977, Foreigner released their self-titled debut album, which spawned the US Top 20 singles ‘Dirty White Boy’ and ‘Cold as Ice’. It was the first of six consecutive albums (including their greatest hits ‘Records’) to be certified multi-platinum and reach the Top 10 in the US. Their 1978 follow-up ‘Double Vision’ produced two more US smash hits ‘Hot Blooded’ and the title track. Rick Wills replaced Gagliardi on bass before the collective recorded their third album ‘Head Games’ (1979).
Following the departure of McDonald and Greenwood, the new quartet released ‘4’ (1981) which hit number one for ten weeks in the US and broke international ice as Foreigner’s first UK chart-topper (top five). ‘4’ featured the famous tracks ‘Urgent’, ‘Waiting for a Girl Like You’, and ‘Juke Box Hero’. Then, in 1985, Foreigner produced ‘Agent Provocateur’, which included the iconic power ballad ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’.
Since 1990, the band has undergone several line-up changes, including Elliot and Wills’ departure in 1991, while Gramm left the band in 1990, returned in 1992, and left again in 2003. During this time, three studio albums were produced ‘Unusual Heat’ (1994), ‘Mr Moonlight’ (1994), and ‘Can’t Slow Down’ (2009). Since 2003, Mick Jones has been the only original member involved with Foreigner, and the collective was selected as a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2024.
What is Foreigner’s biggest hit?
Foreigner’s biggest hit is 1984’s ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ which reached number one in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia alongside the Top 10 in Europe. It is the lead single off ‘Agent Provocateur’.
How did Foreigner get their name?
Mick Jones came up with the band's name as he, Dennis Elliott and Ian McDonald were British, while Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood and Ed Gagliardi were American, meaning at least half the band would be foreigners no matter what country they were in.
Who wrote Foreigner’s songs?
Mick Jones co-produced the band's albums and co-wrote most of their songs with its lead singer Lou Gramm. Jones was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013 and nominated for Grammy and Golden Globes for his songwriting talent.
Has Mick Jones worked with other artists?
Mick Jones has written songs such as ‘Bad Love’ with Eric Clapton and ‘Dreamer’ with Ozzy Osbourne and produced records with others, including Billy Joel’s ‘Storm Front’ and Van Halen’s ‘5150’. The multi-talented songwriter also won the prestigious British Ivor Novello Songwriter Award for ‘The Flame Still Burns’ - the soundtrack music for the film Still Crazy.
Foreigner Tour Dates & Tickets
For more information on upcoming Foreigner tour dates and tickets, please visit their official website.
