Watch FOREIGNER Reunite With Original Members At Michigan Concerts

October 9, 2017

Original FOREIGNER members Lou Gramm (vocals),Dennis Elliott (drums),Al Greenwood (keyboards),Ian McDonald (multi-instrumentalist) and FOREIGNER's second bassist, Rick Wills, rejoined the band's founder Mick Jones (guitar) on stage for a two-night special event on October 6 and October 7 at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Michigan for the ultimate toast to forty years of rock and roll. This special event was recorded for a forthcoming 2018 TV special, DVD and accompanying album release.

Jones, Gramm, Greenwood, Elliott, McDonald and Wills ran through a five-song mini set consisting of "Feels Like the First Time" — which Jones dedicated to late original bassist Ed Gagliardi — "Double Vision", "Blue Morning, Blue Day", "Long Long Way From Home" and "Dirty White Boy". The musicians later joined FOREIGNER's current lineup to play "I Want to Know What Love Is" and "Hot Blooded".

Fan-filmed video footage of the October 7 performance can be seen below (recorded by Ronald Mark).

Although there have been previous partial FOREIGNER reunions earlier this year — in Florida, Spain and at Jones Beach in New York — the Michigan concerts marked the first time all of the musicians were together onstage at the same time.

Prior to the October 6 concert, Jones said: "Playing alongside Lou, Dennis, Al, Ian and Rick again certainly brought back some special memories and we decided it would be the ultimate celebration to join together on one stage, and give the fans the best possible farewell to our fortieth anniversary."

Gramm told Billboard that FOREIGNER's current linup is "great." He added: "They made us feel very welcome and no attitudes or anything. It really felt like we all belonged onstage."

Gramm and Jones's June 2013 performance of "I Want To Know What Love Is" and "Juke Box Hero" at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York City marked the first time the pair performed together in a decade after Gramm left FOREIGNER for a second time. Kelly Hansen has fronted the group since 2005. Jones is the sole remaining founding member in FOREIGNER's current lineup.

FOREIGNER recently completed a fortieth-anniversary U.S. tour with support from CHEAP TRICK and JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE.

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