Foreigner Reveals New 40th Anniversary Reunion Plans:
Foreigner
Foreigner has determined the next 40th anniversary reunion for its original members -- and plans to preserve it for posterity.
Group founder and leader Mick Jones will be joined by original
frontman Lou Gramm, drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboardist Al Greenwood and
multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, along with the group's second
bassist Rick Wills, for a pair of shows on Oct. 6-7 at the Soaring Eagle
Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant Michigan (get tickets here). The concerts will be filmed for a TV special, DVD and live album, all expected to be released during 2018.
This
won't be the first reunion for the Foreigner alumni. Gramm, McDonald
and Greenwood joined Jones and the current Foreigner lineup for a
three-song encore on July 20 at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY, while
Elliott came on stage Aug. 2 in Tampa, Fla., and Wills had played with
the group in June 11 in Spain. Earlier this summer Jones told Billboard
that the success of those shows made another reunion -- and possibly
more -- inevitable.
"One thing for sure is all the musicians are getting on very well
together and it's just refreshing and we're really enjoying it," said
Jones, who repaired a fractured relationship with Gramm when the duo was
inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013. "Lou is good, and
he's kept his voice. Al and Ian are playing the same as they did 40
years ago, basically, and it's a hoot. It's great adrenaline and very
enjoyable. I think there's no bad apple anywhere in the whole thing, so I
can't see any big problems."
Gramm, meanwhile, confirms that the
feeling is mutual. "It's been exciting and certainly stirs up a lot of
memories," he says. "It's great to be back on stage with Mick again, and
the other members. There's been talk about this going on periodically
over the last for our five years, but I'm pleasantly surprised and happy
we can use this 40th anniversary to actually do it. It's certainly an
enjoyable experience."
Foreigner is currently determining what
songs the alumni will be playing, and it's expected that the current
members will collaborate on some of the material as well, as they did at
the other shows. "I think that was really kind of bridging the gap and
just felt like the right thing to do," Gramm says. "I anticipated that
it would (be weird), but it's not. They guys in the new band are
terrific, and they've helped out in a number of ways. I think they
respect the history, and I think they're enjoying the anniversary tour
as much as we are."
The Michigan shows may not be the last we see of the Foreigner alumni, either.
"Oh,
it's definitely crossed my mind," Jones said. "I think it's something
the fans would love. It'd be interesting, the contrast of the two styles
of the two bands. I think it would be appealing. It's not carved in
whatever things are carved in, but the thoughts are flowing around. But
I'm still not quite sure how to forecast it. A lot of goodwill has to be
flowing and I think it's started...so I can't see any big problems with
doing (more)."
Gramm, who's announced plans to retire from active
touring life this year, says he'd be up for more with Foreigner. "I
don't want to drag it out on tour buses and all that stuff, but the
occasional show here and there would still be a lot of fun, I think."
He's also hoping the reunion performances will rekindle his songwriting
relationship with Jones. "We've mentioned it," Gramm says, "And
depending on a number of things I think that could happen again. In what
capacity and for who I don't exactly know, but I'm not even concerned
about that end of it. I just want to write again and craft some great
songs. They could go to other artists as far as I'm concerned and I'd be
happy."
Foreigner currently has North American dates and a
concert in Mexico booked into mid-November, while a European tour begins
May 8 in Bulgaria.
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