Foreigner‘s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year was the culmination of a nearly two-decade lobbying effort that roped in everyone from Mark Ronson and Slash to Dave Grohl, Jack Black, and Paul McCartney when they finally made the ballot this year. And when it actually happened, original singer Lou Gramm was ecstatic. “I’m thrilled that we’re finally a part of it,” he told Rolling Stone in April. “For a good number of years, we were not. I racked my brain trying to figure out why we weren’t even nominated. I just couldn’t come up with an answer…[But] justice as been done.”
But even then, Gramm had some concerns about how the night would go down, especially when he learned their time would be limited to 12 minutes, with half of that going to a tribute video.
“That’ll leave us with about six minutes left,” he said, “so I heard we’re going to play one song.”
He was talking about “I Want to Know What Love Is,” the 1984 global smash that forever defined the group as a soft-rock act to many listeners. “That’s a great song, but it’s not what we’re about,” he said. “It’s not something that’s suitable for being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
At the time, Gramm assumed that the original members of the band would be allowed to perform, even though a completely new group of musicians now tour as Foreigner. “If they want to attend that night, I would be okay with that,” he said of the touring act. “I have nothing against them. But I think the spotlight belongs on the original band that night.”
When the big night came, however, the current version of the group was onstage along with guests Slash, Chad Smith, Sammy Hagar, Demi Lovato, and Kelly Clarkson. Gramm came out midway through “I Want to Know What Love Is” to sing a few lines with Clarkson, while original keyboardist Al Greenwood and longtime bassist Rick Wills were reduced to background singers on the side of the stage.
New vocalist Kelly Hansen — who wasn’t inducted into the Hall of Fame — was given a spotlight moment of his own alongside Hagar. (Drummer Dennis Elliott bailed on the ceremony when he learned about this plan at the last minute; guitarist/band leader Mick Jones has been battling Parkinson’s disease for years and didn’t attend.)
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“We tried to be kind, courteous, and respectful to Lou,” a spokesperson for Foreigner tells Rolling Stone. “It is an unfortunate reality that with most older singers, their voices are not what they used to be. We believe that we owed it to the audience to have the fine songs that Lou helped create be presented in the best possible light.”
Gramm, 74, was a trouper that night and delivered a moving speech, not hinting at his feelings about the way Foreigner were inducted. But on a recent Zoom with RS, he shared his unfiltered thoughts about the Hall of Fame and the current lineup of Foreigner. He holds nothing back.
When we last spoke in April, you were under the impression Foreigner was going to have six minutes to perform, and they only wanted “I Want to Know What Love Is.” What did you hear from the Hall of Fame in the weeks and months that followed?
I was told that Sammy Hagar was going to sing “Hot Blooded,” Demi Lovato was going to sing “Feels Like the First Time,” and Kelly Clarkson was going to sing “I Want to Know What Love Is” with me. Kelly’s an awesome lady and sings like a bird. And it was a lot of fun to do that with her. But it’s the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What am I doing there singing a ballad?
To go back a bit, when you first learned you were getting in, you were under the impression the original band was going to get to perform.
I was under the impression right until the last couple of days.
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I presume Dennis, Al, and Rick thought that as well?
Dennis heard from somebody that the original band was not going to play, so he didn’t even show up at the induction because he was so angry that the new Foreigner was going to play, and not the original Foreigner. That was the whole point of us being inducted, so we could play, the original band with most of the original members, doing one or two songs. And we had the rug pulled out from under our feet. So Al and Rick were singing background vocals, standing in front of a mic, on “I Want to Know What Love Is.” And it was just not what I expected for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
When other bands get inducted with living members, they perform. That’s what happened with Kool and the Gang earlier in the night. Back in the day, Cream, the Police, Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads… They all got to play.
Do you think somebody in the Rock and Roll Hal of Fame told them what they were going to play? I don’t think so. And we didn’t know we weren’t going to be allowed to play until the last minute, and if we didn’t do things their way, we wouldn’t perform at all. That was not satisfactory. So we did it their way and did not like it at all.
How did you find this out?
I think it was Rick Wills. He mentioned that we weren’t playing live, and the current Foreigner was going to play instead. I went, “You got to be be kidding me.”
To be clear, no members of the current lineup were actually inducted?
Nope. They’re a good band and they’re getting accolades, but they’re not at that point yet. And having them back us up was uncalled for.
How did you feel about Chad Smith and Slash playing in the segment?
I thought that was very cool. But I’m not sure if it was the Hall of Fame that kept it under the lid that we aren’t playing, or it might have been Foreigner’s management that wanted it this way. Whoever is responsible, I’m not happy.
Watching from the audience, it was surprising to not see you onstage more — the guy that sang every one of their songs.
I’m a rock singer. I sang some very intense and rocking songs for Foreigner. There were huge hits. And they reduced me to “I Want to Know What Love Is.” That song’s been haunting me most of my career.
Did you think about not showing up?
It crossed my mind. But I’m a bigger man that that. But Dennis Elliott didn’t make it to the whole thing because of that reason.
A story spread through the press that he wasn’t going because his wife wasn’t allowed to walk the red carpet.
I heard that too. She couldn’t walk the red carpet with him. Nobody’s wife or girlfriend was allowed in the dressing room for the whole night.
Rick plays bass on the original recording of “I Want to Know What Love Is.” Some would argue he should have been allowed to play his parts.
Al and Rick were pretty upset. They were both ready to play. I think that the new Foreigner were given the chance to play behind all of us was a last minute decision.
[A spokesperson for Foreigner sent us this written statement from Greenwood and Willis:
“Mick Jones, Dennis Elliott and we were consulted weeks ago on the idea to have the current Foreigner play our songs at our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. This is the band that has carried the Foreigner flag so well at shows all over the world for the last twenty years and its always a pleasure to join with them at many events every year. We were in full agreement that our songs would be best presented by the band that performs them now, especially in the company of Demi Lovato, Sammy Hagar, Kelly Clarkson, Slash, and Chad Smith. Lou recorded his vocals for all our albums over forty years ago. They were difficult songs to sing then, and Lou set a very high bar. We were in full agreement that our music and legacy would be best served by the amazing superstar artists that agreed to perform our songs with Foreigner at the Rock Hall event. We are grateful to the show’s producers for making our part of the evening’s event so truly memorable and we are proud to join with all those who have gone before us as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alumni.”]
Kelly Hansen sang a bit of “Hot Blooded” with Hagar. How did you feel about that?
Totally uncalled for. I’ve heard interviews with TV news channels where Kelly was telling the interviewer how he wrote “Juke Box Hero,” how he started it, what the first words were he wrote, how he got the feel locked in, and how he knew it was going to be a big hit. He’s taking credit for something he had nothing to do with.
[We ran Gramm’s statements by Hansen via e-mail. “I challenge anyone to find an unkind word I’ve said about Lou or any original member of this band,” he wrote in response. “I’ve spoken loudly and often about his and the band’s accomplishments and the respect I hold for them. Also, all of my interactions with Lou and the band have always been at least friendly, at best, a blast. I also challenge anyone to find anything about me describing remotely in any way about having written any part of ‘Juke Box Hero,’ a song that was written in 1980, far before I joined in 2005. I challenge you, find it. It simply doesn’t exist. As always, I’ve loved what these guys have done in regard to Foreigner, so I am sad and confused to hear these comments. Hopefully it’s purely a misunderstanding. My door is always open.”]
When you guys stepped up to the podium alongside Mick’s daughter, the original band was there for all to see.
Yeah. It’s just a strange set of circumstances. There should have been everybody there that could have been there. I understand Mick was not in the type of health that would allow him even to go there, let alone speak. It would’ve been a not very nice experience for him or for us. But we understood his situation. I had no understanding or acceptance of what Dennis did.
How did you feel the next morning? Did any part of you wish you’d done what Dennis did and not showed up?
No. We were all asking him. I said, “Dennis, although it didn’t turn out the way you hoped it would, other than Ian McDonald and Mick not being there, we are the band. We need to show some solidarity and some oomph.” And I said, “It’s very sad you didn’t see to show up, Dennis.” And then I passed the phone to somebody else. I didn’t have anything else to say.
At the end of the day, despite what happened that night, you’re still in the Hall of Fame.
Yes. There’s certain things I wish would’ve gone different at the induction, but by and large, it feels good to be part of this.
You told me in April you were retiring from the road by the end of this year. Is that still your plan?
I’m going into the first couple of months of next year, and then I’ve got a finished date.
Are you going to do a farewell show?
I think so, yeah. I’ve also got a new album coming out in February or March. It’s all new songs, really good ones. I think it’s catchy and will be a home run.
Any chance you change your mind and keep touring next year?
If the album goes into the Top 20 or so, and there’s a lot of noise about the album and we see the benefits of more touring to promote the album, I think we’ll go a little bit longer, but I don’t want to go all the way to the end of next year. I’ve had enough. I’ve been doing this for 54 years.
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The current lineup of Foreigner added more dates to their farewell tour. How do you view that?
It’s very disrespectful, and not right to do that. Our fans have been extremely loyal to us for years and years and years, and the little screw-ups at this point of our career are not going to build any goodwill… The whole thing is just a mess. I can’t wait until it’s over, honestly.
Do you think that’ll happen anytime soon? The Who, for example, first said farewell in 1982.
Well, [Foreigner] said next year is their farewell tour, but they said that before already. It’s just a pile of crap to get people to buy more records because it might be their last one. But I do want you to know that Mick and I are on very good terms. I have spoken to him over the last few months congratulating him for being inducted into the Hall and such.
