Foreigner 2023-2024 Tour Dates, Foreigner Band History and Members

Foreigner 2023-2024 Tour Dates

Foreigner Band

Foreigner is a renowned British-American rock band that originally formed in New York City back in 1976. The group's inception was marked by the collaboration of guitarist Mick Jones and multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, an original member of King Crimson, along with vocalist Lou Gramm.

The band's name, cleverly coined by Jones, held significance as a reflection of the diverse nationalities within the group: Jones, McDonald, and drummer Dennis Elliott were British, while Gramm, keyboardist Al Greenwood, and bassist Ed Gagliardi were American.

This cultural blend lent itself to their unique sound and identity.Foreigner quickly rose to prominence with their eponymous debut album in 1977, marking the beginning of a successful streak.This album was the first of four consecutive albums to achieve at least 5× platinum certification in the United States. The release of "Foreigner" was accompanied by chart-topping singles like "Feels Like the First Time" and "Cold as Ice."

 Their subsequent album, "Double Vision" (1978), further solidified their status, with hits like "Hot Blooded" and the title track. Despite lineup changes that saw members like McDonald and Greenwood depart, Foreigner's resilience led to the groundbreaking album "4" (1981), which topped charts internationally and featured memorable tracks like "Urgent," "Waiting for a Girl Like You," and "Juke Box Hero." The band's later years saw the iconic ballad "I Want to Know What Love Is" and continued chart presence, reaffirming their lasting impact on the music scene.

Foreigner Band History

The history of the Foreigner band traces back to its formation in 1976, under the leadership of the English musician Mick Jones. Prior to Foreigner, Jones had an extensive musical background, having been a part of notable acts such as Nero and the Gladiators, Johnny Hallyday's band, Spooky Tooth, and The Leslie West Band.

The band's inception followed the disbandment of The Leslie West Band, leaving Jones stranded in New York City. Encouraged by Bud Prager, West's manager, Jones embarked on a journey to continue his songwriting and form a new band.

Teaming up with musicians from the New York music scene, Jones assembled the initial lineup, which included keyboardist Al Greenwood, drummer Stan Williams, and Louisiana bassist Jay Davis. However, after some experimentation with vocalists, Jones opted to retain only Greenwood as he continued his search for the right combination of members.

The turning point came when Jones crossed paths with Ian McDonald, a former member of King Crimson, and drummer Dennis Elliott during recording sessions for other projects. The roster began to take shape, and the final pivotal addition was Lou Gramm, whom Jones discovered through a Black Sheep album given to him by the group's lead singer backstage at a Spooky Tooth concert.

With Gramm's impressive vocal prowess, the core lineup was completed by the addition of Brooklyn bassist Ed Gagliardi.The band's original name, "Trigger," was chosen temporarily and featured on their demo tape. However, record labels were unresponsive to the name.

A fortuitous turn of events occurred when John Kalodner, an A&R representative at Atlantic Records, noticed a tape on the desk of Atlantic's president, Jerry L. Greenberg, labeled as "Trigger." Kalodner recognized the potential of the songs and urged Greenberg to explore signing the band. With the Trigger name already taken, Mick Jones devised the moniker "Foreigner," inspired by the fact that the band comprised both English and American members, making them "foreigners" in each other's countries.

Foreigner Band Debut

Released on March 8, 1977, under Atlantic Records, Foreigner's self-titled debut album marked a defining moment for the band as they entered the music landscape. Produced initially by John Sinclair and Gary Lyons, the album underwent a transformative remixing led by Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, and Jimmy Douglass.

Recorded across The Hit Factory, Atlantic Recording Studios, and Sarm Studios for mixing, the album's impactful tracklist included hits like "Feels Like the First Time," "Cold as Ice," and "Long, Long Way from Home."

The album's chart performance was nothing short of impressive, reaching No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 and securing top 10 positions on the Canadian and Australian albums charts. Additionally, the album captured the No. 1 spot on the Norwegian Albums Chart.

With its United States certification for five million copies sold, Foreigner's debut album not only introduced their signature sound to the world but also paved the way for their future successes, solidifying their position in the rock music pantheon.

Foreigner Band Members

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