After quitting Foreigner for the second time in 2003, original singer Lou Gramm rejoins the classic rockers this month for a new tour — including six stops in Florida.
And he’s doing it for his old bandmate, original Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones.
Jones formed the current version of Foreigner and toured with them for years, Gramm says. Now the guitarist is battling Parkinson’s disease and unable to perform.
“This Foreigner is Mick’s creation,” Gramm says in a phone call from his home in Bradenton, Florida. “He played with them for, I don’t know, 25 years or so. And he’s unable to play any more. He’s in the end stages (of Parkinson’s disease).”
Gramm knew Foreigner’s 50th anniversary tour was coming up, so he made the decision: He’d tour with the band.
And he’d do it for Mick.
“The last time I talked to him, I told him that I would go out with the band for the 50th anniversary,” Gramm says. “And that made him really happy. I think it’s an honor to go out anyway.
“So I couldn’t be happier. I’m doing it in the name of the band and for Mick… I think it’s the right thing to do, and I like singing those songs. And this version of Foreigner is very good.”
Lou Gramm and Foreigner will play six shows in Florida before moving on to Europe this summer. The tour visits St. Augustine (April 17), Clearwater (April 18), Estero (April 19), Orlando (April 21), Davie (April 22) and Key West (April 23).
The 75-year-old singer chatted recently with The News-Press/Naples Daily News about his new solo album, hitting those high notes, performing the entire Foreigner album “4” and how this tour could possibly be his last.
How Foreigner’s Lou Gramm keeps his voice strong
The News-Press: It’s great talking to you, Lou! I was going to ask you about your voice and how it’s holding up these days, but then I listened to your new solo album (“Released”). Your voice sounds great!
Lou Gramm: Thank you.
How do you keep your voice in shape?
No alcohol, no drugs and proper warm-ups before I go on stage.
What kind of warm-ups do you do?
I do scales. I do certain things that help me hit my high notes. I have a vocal coach who gives me exercises to strengthen my vocal cords and keep them pliable.
It makes such a difference. I didn’t have that when I was with Foreigner in the earlier years. And the more songs we had that we used to play — and the higher the key was — my voice took a beating after a while.
So you can still hit all those notes from from the ‘70s and ‘80s?
Yes, I can.
Touring with Foreigner
Let’s talk about your new solo album (“Released,” which came out in March). You’ve said this might be your last album, and that this might be your last tour, as well.
It’s possible. I mean, I don’t want to say something and then not have it happen. So I’m trying to be real careful about what I say.
But you know, I’ve been touring for 50 years or more. And although I enjoy performing, I don’t enjoy the crap with the airlines and all that stuff. So I’ve got some decisions to make.
What’s it been like performing with this version of Foreigner (which doesn’t include any original members)?
I like it. They’re great guys. They play the music the way it’s supposed to be played, and everything’s comfortable.
Didn’t you just start performing with them last year? I mean, this version of Foreigner?
I think it was the year before.
So what’s it been like? I mean, these are all different guys, playing the songs.
They love the music. They play the music right, and they’re very friendly, you know?
They stay very close to the parts that were on the albums. And so for the audience, it’s like hearing the record. That’s what I like, too. That makes it easier for me to sing.
Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliot skipping the Rock Hall
Let’s talk about Dennis Elliot, Foreigner’s original drummer. He lives here in Lee County, Florida, and he’s joined Foreigner onstage here before (at Barbara B. Mann Hall in 2024). Do you know if he’s going to be playing when you’re in Lee County at Hertz Arena?
I don’t. I know that Rick’s going to join us sometimes (Foreigner bassist Rick Wills). I’m not sure if Dennis is into it or not.
I know Dennis didn’t go to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction (in 2024), either. He said it was something to do with the scheduling.
That was really disappointing. Rick and Al (Greenwood, original Foreigner keyboardist) were there.
So that was disappointing, but it must have been a great day nevertheless, right?
It was fantastic, because we were eligible for 20 years. And every time the selection committee brought up the band for this selection, we were not part of it. So we were wondering if there was some sort of problem with the selection committee — that somehow they were blackballing us.
But you finally got there. What does that mean to you to be in the Rock Hall?
It means a great deal. It’s recognition on the highest level, I think.
Do you still see Dennis? Do you still talk to him?
I see him all the time, yeah.
How often do you see each other or talk?
Oh, I don’t know. Once every couple months.
I’ve been trying to get him to let me do a news profile on him for years, and he’s just not interested. He’s very private.
Yes, he is. He’s turned into an ornery old man.
Lou Gramm’s new album, ‘Released’
Let’s talk about your new album (“Released”). These were songs you wrote in the ‘80s?
They were written in the ‘80s for my solo albums, “Long Hard Look” and “Ready or Not.” And when you put an album together, you usually use 10 songs. … We didn’t have time to pick the best 10, so we picked the 10 that were finished.
Some of the ones that weren’t finished were really great song ideas. And they sat around for 25, 30 years. And about a year and a half, two years ago, I went back and listened to them and finished them.
Some of them needed a last verse. Some of them needed some harmonies. Some of them needed a lead guitar solo. So I finished them, and these are the songs on my “Released” album.
What made you to go back and revisit those songs?
Because, you know, every now and then I’d listen to my finished solo albums. And I’d enjoy myself. But something bothered me. I needed to go back and listen to the other songs that weren’t finished.
And once I did, I really got the urge to finish them. And as I started finishing them, I realized that these could be another album.
Playing the entire ‘4’ album with Foreigner
On this tour with Foreigner, you’re performing all of the album “4,” right?
Yes, that’s correct. And I’m going to see if we can do it in the same order that’s on the record.
How do you feel about doing that? I mean, that’s such a great album. “Jukebox Hero” is probably my favorite Foreigner song — probably a lot of people’s favorite.
You know, I love all of our albums, but I think that was the most interesting and best-written one.
Are there any songs on that album that mean more to you than others?
Yes, “Jukebox,” as well. It talks about the good and bad parts of being on the road with a rock-and-roll band, and it’s autobiographical.
For tickets and information on Foreigner’s Florida tour, visit foreigneronline.com/tour.
Charles Runnells covers arts and entertainment for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@usatodayco.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells)
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lou Gramm rejoins Foreigner for Florida tour. And he did it for Mick.
Reporting by Charles Runnells, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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