Foreigner is an American rock band from New York City. Formed in 1976, the group originally included lead vocalist Lou Gramm, lead guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist Mick Jones, rhythm guitarist and woodwind player Ian McDonald, bassist Ed Gagliardi, drummer Dennis Elliott, and keyboardist Al Greenwood.
The band's current lineup includes Jones (the only remaining original member, however not touring), bassist and keyboardist Jeff Pilson (since 2004), keyboardist Michael Bluestein (since 2008), rhythm and lead guitarist Bruce Watson (since 2011), drummer Chris Frazier (since 2012), lead vocalist (and former guitarist and bassist) Luis Maldonado (since 2021), and guitarist and bassist John Roth (since 2025).
History 1976–1995 Foreigner was formed in April 1976 by former Leslie West Band guitarist Mick Jones on lead guitar, keyboards and vocals, with the original lineup also including former Black Sheep vocalist Lou Gramm on lead vocals, former King Crimson keyboardist and woodwind player Ian McDonald on rhythm guitar and woodwinds, bassist Ed Gagliardi, former Ian Hunter drummer Dennis Elliott, and keyboardist Al Greenwood. After two albums – 1977's Foreigner and 1978's Double Vision – Gagliardi left the band in April 1979 and was replaced by Rick Wills, formerly of Small Faces. Following the release and promotion of 1979's Head Games, McDonald and Greenwood were fired in September 1980. The group remained a quartet and released 4 in 1981. For the album's promotional tour, McDonald's vacated spot was taken by rhythm guitarist and woodwind player Mark Rivera, while Bob Mayo and Peter Reilich performed live keyboards. Foreigner's lineup remained the same for Agent Provocateur and Inside Information, before Gramm announced his departure from the band in May 1990 due to differences with Jones and to focus on his solo career.
Jones replaced Gramm with Johnny Edwards, formerly of Montrose, Buster Brown, King Kobra, and Wild Horses, who contributed to the group's next album, Unusual Heat. Keyboardist Jeff Jacobs joined after the album's release. The Unusual Heat touring cycle was the last for Elliott, who left the band in 1993. The drummer had ceased working with the group in 1991, with Larry Aberman filling in on tour, before Mark Schulman joined in early 1992 in time to perform on three new tracks for The Very Best ... and Beyond. The new recordings also marked the return of Gramm, who rejoined Foreigner in May 1992 after working out his differences with Jones during the Los Angeles riots; he also brought his own bassist Bruce Turgon to replace the outgoing Wills. For a tour in promotion of the compilation, Thom Gimbel joined on rhythm guitar and woodwinds, before Scott Gilman took over the following year when Gimbel returned to touring with Aerosmith. The group released and promoted its next album, Mr. Moonlight, in 1994.
1995 onwards After the end of the Mr. Moonlight touring cycle, Gilman left Foreigner and Gimbel returned in his place. Around the same time, in January 1995, Schulman was replaced by Ron Wikso on drums. The group continued touring, but did not release any new material before Brian Tichy replaced Wikso in April 1998. Schulman returned for a second stint in 2000, before Denny Carmassi took over in time for the group's 25th anniversary tour in 2002. After the tour ended in early 2003, Gramm and Turgon left Foreigner, and the band was put on hiatus for over a year. Jones, now the sole remaining original member of the group, reformed Foreigner for a one-off charity show in July 2004 with a lineup including Gimbel and Jacobs, plus lead vocalist Chas West, bassist Jeff Pilson and drummer Jason Bonham. Early the following year, the group reformed on a permanent basis, adding new frontman Kelly Hansen in place of West. The group's lineup remained stable until December 2007, when long-time member Jacobs left.
Jacobs was replaced for Foreigner's final shows of 2007 by Paul Mirkovich, who later made way for Michael Bluestein in early 2008. Bonham also left in August 2008, to be replaced briefly by Bryan Head and later by the returning Tichy. Foreigner released its first studio album in 15 years, Can't Slow Down, in 2009. After the subsequent touring cycle, Jason Sutter took over from Tichy in May 2010, although within a year he had been replaced by Schulman. During a tour in 2011, Jones was unable to perform a number of shows due to undisclosed reasons; he was replaced by Joel Hoekstra and later Bruce Watson for select dates, the latter of whom remained a full-time member of the group, playing lead and rhythm guitars. Schulman left again in August 2012, with Tichy filling in before Chris Frazier's arrival the next month.
In recent years, Foreigner has reunited on several occasions with numerous past members. In July 2017, Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood and Ian McDonald performed a three-song encore with the current lineup of the group. In October, the same three alumni returned to perform five songs and join the current lineup for an encore of two more, in addition to Rick Wills and Dennis Elliott. Late the following year, the reunions expanded into a series of four special shows featuring all aforementioned past members, dubbed "Double Vision: Then and Now".
In 2021, Thom Gimbel retired from the band and was replaced by former Train guitarist Luis Maldonado, playing rhythm guitar and bass, and Pilson also plays keyboards. In 2023, Foreigner started its farewell tour, with founding (and last remaining original member) Mick Jones again absent for health reasons. In May 2025, Kelly Hansen announced he would depart the band by the end of that year, having previously sat out on some legs of their farewell tour that year (Hansen will only be contributing to shows in the U.S. in 2025). Original lead singer Lou Gramm, and current guitarist and bassist Luis Maldonado rotated filling in as lead vocalist for international shows in 2025.
In November 2025, Winger and Starship guitarist and bassist John Roth was announced as new guitarist and bassist in place of Maldonado who became permanent lead singer.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMick Jones1976–present https://youtube.com/M6u29Yv2dOc?is=LFv7NCdTW16inWlQhttps://youtube.com/ysplLIQSSko?is=x4TM38EXb9ai4ZSPall Foreigner releasesJeff Pilson2004–presentall Foreigner releases from Extended Versions (2006) onwards, except Live at the Rainbow '78 (2019)Michael Bluestein2008–presentall Foreigner releases from Can't Slow Down (2009) onwards, except Live at the Rainbow '78 (2019)Bruce Watson2011–presentall Foreigner releases from The Best of Foreigner 4 & More (2014) onwards, except Live at the Rainbow '78 (2019)Chris Frazier2012–presentLuis Maldonado2021–present"Urgent (Spanish version)" and "I Want to Know What Love Is (Spanish version)" (2025)John Roth2025–present none
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsDennis Elliott1976–1993Lou GrammIan McDonald1976–1980 Al Greenwood1976–1980 Ed Gagliardi1976–1979 Rick Wills1979–1991Johnny Edwards1990–1992Unusual Heat (1991)Jeff Jacobs1991–2007Mark SchulmanThom Gimbelall Foreigner releases from All Access Tonight: Live in Concert 25 (2003) to Live in Concert (2019), except Live at the Rainbow '78 (2019)Bruce Turgon1992–2003Ron Wikso1995–1998drumsnoneBrian TichyCan't Slow Down (2009)Denny Carmassi2002–2003drumsAll Access Tonight: Live in Concert 25 (2003)Jason Bonham2004–2008all Foreigner releases from Extended Versions (2006) to Can't Slow Down (2009)Chas West2004noneKelly Hansen2005–2025 all Foreigner releases from Extended Versions (2006) onwards, except Live at the Rainbow '78 (2019)Paul Mirkovich2007–2008keyboardsnoneBryan Head2008drumsJason Sutter2010–2011Can't Slow Down ... When It's Live! (2010)
Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsRelease contributions Ian Wallace1977 drumsWallace performed alongside Elliott, who had broken his right hand, during select tour dates throughout 1977.Mark RiveraRivera, Mayo and Reilich all joined the touring group in 1981, Rivera and Mayo contributed to multiple studio albums. 4 (1981) Agent Provocateur (1984) Inside Information (1987)Bob Mayo1981–1988 4 (1981) Agent Provocateur (1984)Peter Reilich1981–1982keyboards noneLarry Oakes1988Oakes and Cortelezzi took over from Rivera and Mayo, who were temporarily unavailable, during a tour in 1988.Lou CortelezzisaxophoneLarry Aberman1991–1992drumsAberman filled in for Elliott following his departure in November 1991, before Schulman arrived the next year.Scott Gilman1993–1995Gilman replaced Gimbel after he returned to Aerosmith before moving onto his own projects, marking the return of Gimbel.John Purdell2000 Purdell, who produced several songs for the band, performed with Foreigner on the Jukebox Hero Tour 2000.Doug Aldrich2010 Aldrich performed with Foreigner on May 22, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Paradise, Nevada.Joel Hoekstra2011Hoekstra filled in for Jones, unavailable due to illness, during a 2011 tour with his other group Night Ranger.Ollie Marland2012keyboardsAfter taking a leave of absence due to cancer, Bluestein was temporarily replaced by Marland and then Hilland.Derek Hilland2012–2013Damon Fox2025Replaced Maldonado for the Latin American dates of their tour in April and May when he switched to lead vocals.Geordie Brownlead vocalsGuest vocalist on one song.
Session ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsIan Lloydbacking vocalsDavid Paich1977–1978string arrangementsDouble Vision (1978)Hugh McCrackenLarry FastsynthesizersThomas Dolby1980–19814 (1981)Michael Fonfara1980–1981 keyboard texturesJunior Walker 1980–1981 saxophone Robert John "Mutt" Lange1980–1981backing vocalsAlannah Currie 1983–1984Agent Provocateur (1984)Joe LeewayDon HarperJennifer Holliday New Jersey Mass Choir of the GMWA Wally Badarou analog and digital synthesizersBrian Eddollssynthesizers Dave Lebolt Jack Waldman 1983–1984 Tom Bailey Kevin Jones 1987SynclavierInside Information (1987)Sammy Merendinoelectronic percussionPeter-John VettesekeyboardsRichard Cottle 1990Unusual Heat (1991)Tommy Mandel Terry Thomas Tony Beardelectronic percussionFelix KrishbassRachele Cappelli backing vocalsAngela Cappelli Lani GrovesVaneese Thomas Tawatha Agee1993–1994Mr. Moonlight (1994)Robin Clark Paulette McWilliams Randy CantorBilly Bremner additional guitarsLuis Enriquespercussion Duane Eddy 1993–1994 lead guitar Marti Frederiksen2009Can't Slow Down (2009)Russ Irwin keyboards Ryan Browndrums Jason Paigebacking vocalsSuzie McNeil
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesApril 1976 – April 1979Lou Gramm – lead vocals, percussion Mick Jones – lead guitar, keyboards, backing and lead vocals Ian McDonald – rhythm guitar, saxophone, flute, backing vocals Ed Gagliardi – bass, backing vocals Dennis Elliott – drums, percussion Al Greenwood – keyboards, synthesizersForeigner (1977) Double Vision (1978) The Very Best ... and Beyond (1992) Classic Hits Live (1993) 40 (2017) Live at the Rainbow '78 (2019)April 1979 – September 1980Lou Gramm – lead vocals, percussion Mick Jones – lead guitar, keyboards, backing and lead vocals Ian McDonald – rhythm guitar, saxophone, flute, backing vocals Dennis Elliott – drums, percussion Al Greenwood – keyboards, synthesizers Rick Wills – bass, backing vocalsHead Games (1979) The Very Best ... and Beyond (1992) Classic Hits Live (1993) 40 (2017)September 1980 – May 1990Lou Gramm – lead vocals, percussion Mick Jones – lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, backing vocals Dennis Elliott – drums, percussion Rick Wills – bass, backing vocals4 (1981) Agent Provocateur (1984) Inside Information (1987) The Very Best ... and Beyond (1992) Classic Hits Live (1993) 40 (2017)Summer 1990 – July 1991Mick Jones – lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, backing vocals Dennis Elliott – drums, percussion Rick Wills – bass, backing vocals Johnny Edwards – lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitarsUnusual Heat (1991)