A classic rock band is reuniting with its original lead singer as its current frontman faces international “issues.”
Lou Gramm will tour as a “guest” with Foreigner in Latin America this spring while vocalist Kelly Hansen sits out.
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Gramm is the original voice of Foreigner, heard on hits such as “Hot Blooded,” “Cold As Ice” and “Feels Like the First Time.”
“Some issues have forced me to limit appearances outside of the USA this year, and this means, unfortunately, I will miss Foreigner’s South American run,” Hansen said in a statement sent to MassLive Friday. “However, our incredible bandmate Luis Maldonado has been recording some of our hits in Spanish and he will be handling most of the vocals along with Lou Gramm who will be guesting with Foreigner for those shows. I know they will smash it!”
Hansen did not elaborate on the “issues” he’s dealing with, but a rep for Foreigner similarly told Ultimate Classic Rock that Hansen won’t perform in Canada with Foreigner this fall because “circumstances prohibit Kelly from spending too much time outside of the U.S.”
“We had a great start to our touring year with a sold out run in Florida, and I am so looking forward to continuing my journey with this incredible band,” Hansen wrote in the statement. “We will be headlining the pre-race concert at the Long Beach Grand Prix on April 12 and continuing through the year with over sixty more shows.”
Hansen, 63, has been Foreigner’s lead singer since 2005.
Geordie Brown, who played the male lead in a 2018 workshop production of “Juke Box Hero, the Musical,” will replace Hansen on the band’s new Canadian tour dates this fall.
Brown performed “Hot Blooded” with Foreigner during the band’s 2019 appearance in Halifax and was also at Foreigner’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2024. Brown will also reprise his role in “Jukebox Hero” for its upcoming 2026 run.
“I count myself so fortunate that they’re bringing me along on this next chapter with the musical, and this Canadian tour,” Brown said in the statement, according to Billboard Canada. “Right now, I’m most looking forward to our Halifax show, for my hometown crowd.”
Gramm left Foreigner in 1990 and again in 2002, but has periodically reunited with the band including at their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in October. He also made a surprise appearance at a Foreigner concert in Florida earlier this month.
Gramm announced his retirement from touring last year. His final concert is expected to be a hometown show with the Lou Gramm All-Stars at Batavia Downs on Aug. 1.
Guitarist Mick Jones is the only original member of Foreigner still with the band, though he no longer performs due to Parkinson’s disease.
Foreigner will tour through Latin American from April 28 to May 10. The band’s upcoming tour dates include an Aug. 5 show at South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset and Sept. 21 at The Big E.
Fans can shop for tickets online using reliable third-party ticket sellers like StubHub, VividSeats and SeatGeek.
