Foreigner is a rock and roll band formed in New York in 1976 by experienced musicians Mick Jones and Ian McDonald. Despite accusations of formulaic commercialism, Foreigner's unique style of heavy metal with keyboard flourishes has racked up sales of over 50 million records worldwide to date.
Biography
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 four other musicians who were all unknown at the time to create a sextet.
The band's debut album sold more than four million copies in the U.S. and stayed in the Top Twenty for a year with such hits as Feels Like the First Time, Cold as Ice, and Long Long Way From Home. Their sophomore effort, Double Vision, topped their previous selling 5 million records and spawned Hot Blooded and title track Double Vision. The third album Head Games was also successful due to the thunderous Dirty White Boy and another title track hit Head Games. 1980 brought personnel changes so that now that band was a quartet and Rick Wills played bass. The leaving memebers Gagliardi and Greenwood went on to the failed band "Spys".
Foreigner's next album, 4, was their biggest hit containing Jukebox Hero, Waiting for a Girl Like You, and Urgent. Their next album, Agent Provocateur, gave them their only #1 hit, a gospel-inspired ballad backed by the New Jersey Mass Choir, "I Want to Know What Love Is." The band released several more albums with moderate success, and in the late 80's Jones and Gramm each put out solo efforts and the band dissolved. But by 1993, however, the two reunited, reforming Foreigner and producing a new album. The reformed band is still together and toured throughout the U.S. recently with Journey. In VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, Foreigner ranked 86th. Foreigner today is a staple of classic rock stations, and still contain legions of fans who admire and adore their innovative arena rock anthems, which have had a major effect on music and culture in the United States.
Members
Current Members
Mick Jones: guitar, piano, keyboards, background vocals (1976-)
Jeff Jacobs: piano, organ, keyboards, background vocals (1993-)
Thom Gimbel: saxophone, guitar, background vocals (1995-).
Former Members
Lou Gramm: lead vocals, percussion, background vocals (1976-90; 1992-2002).
Bruce Turgon: bass guitar, background vocals (1993-2002).
Denny Carmassi: drums (2002).
Mark Schulman: drums, background vocals (1993-95; 2000-2002).
Brian Tichy: drums (1998-2000).
Ron Wikso: drums (1995-1998).
Rick Wills: bass guitar, background vocals (1979-1992).
Johnny Edwards: lead vocals, guitar (1990-1992).
Dennis Elliot: drums (1976-1991).
Ian McDonald: guitar, keyboards, saxes, flutes, b. vocals (1976-1980).
Al Greenwood: keyboards, synthesizers (1976-1980).
Ed Gagliardi: bass guitar, background vocals (1976-1979).
DVDs
Foreigner(Concert) 2001
4(Concert) 2001
Discography
- Foreigner (1977)(Feels LIke the First Time, Cold as Ice, Long Long Way From Home)
- Double Vision (1978) (Hot Blooded, Double Vision)
- Head Games (1979) (Dirty White Boy, Head Games)
- 4 (1981) (Jukebox Hero, Waiting for a Girl Like You, Urgent)
- Records (1982)
- Agent Provocateur (1984) (I Want to Know What Love Is, That Was Yesterday)
- Inside Information (1987) (Say You Will, I Don't Want to Live Without You)
- 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)