Founded and led by British musician Mick Jones, Foreigner is a British-American rock band formed in 1976 in NYC, U.S. They have collectively sold over a stunning 80 million records worldwide.
Fifty percent British and fifty percent American, the original lineup was comprised of Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, drummer Dennis Elliot, singer Lou Gramm, keyboardist Al Greenwood and bassist Ed Gagliardi. They called themselves Trigger but changed to Foreigner because the musical alias Trigger was already taken by another group. The band was picked up by John Kalodner at Atlantic Records and after a year of recording and remixing the debut album, “Foreigner” was released in March 1977. The album is punctuated by classic Foreigner singles like “Feels Like the Very First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” and “Long, Long Way from Home.”
Propelled by the success of their first album, Foreigner’s sophomore album “Double Vision” followed in 1978 to rave reviews. Singles like “Waiting For a Girl Like You,” “Hot Blooded,” and “Juke Box Hero” received significant airplay. Foreigner’s timeless hits are the perfect additions to soundtracks in the film industry. Songs have been featured in Hollywood box office hits like “Anchorman 2,” “Magic Mike,” and “Pitch Perfect.” The single “Dirty White Boy” (from their third album “Head Games” in 1979) was introduced to modern audiences in the video game “Grand Theft Auto V.” The film industry and video game industry have helped Foreigner’s music stay relevant and have boosted sales via internet downloads.
On 13 June 2013 Mick Jones and Lou Gramm were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Mick Jones admits his vision for the band was to “combine Blues and R&B and make it sound soulful and authentic.” He cites influences from English music as well as American country music as inspiration for Foreigner’s unique sound. Foreigner has toured with rock bands like Journey and Styx.
Neal Francis
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