LIMERICK, PA. (Chipster PR/ www.foreigneronline.com) - If you turn a radio on right now and start flipping through stations, chances are you will hear one of the countless classics by Foreigner.
The band, best known for all-time rock favorites including "Feels Like the First Time," "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," "Double Vision," "Head Games," "Urgent," "Waiting For a Girl Like You," "I Want to Know What Love Is" and a truckload more of hits over nearly three decades, returns revitalized in 2005 with new members and a major summer tour.
Foreigner founder/songwriter/lead guitarist/keyboardist/producer Mick Jones has assembled an exciting lineup featuring Jason Bonham on drums, bass guitarist Jeff Pilson (ex-Dokken, ex-Dio) and vocalist Kelly Hansen (ex-Hurricane) joining forces with longtime keyboardist Jeff Jacobs and rhythm guitarist/saxophonist Tom Gimbel.
(Listen to Kelly's vocal on some Foreigner hits https://www.wma.com/announcement29)
Jones set Foreigner aside in 2003 after completing a series of special performances with symphony orchestras in Europe.
"After that, I decided to concentrate on spending time with my family, especially my children," Jones says. "It was good to take a step back and assess the situation, but I really missed playing live on stage."
The band is something I'm very proud of, and obviously I'm very attached to it," Jones says. "There's a certain uniqueness to Foreigner."
Jones, who has also written award-winning songs for movies and has production credits on such blockbusters as Van Halen's 5150 and Billy Joel's Storm Front, was certain he wanted to carry on the Foreigner name and tradition. Foreigner has sold in excess of 70 million albums worldwide, but it was Jason Bonham's excitement that helped seal Jones' decision to hit the road with his band.
"I've known Jason since he was about 18 and he got in touch with me through our mutual friend Phil Carson, who I knew when he was an executive at Atlantic Records, Foreigner's original label," says Jones.
"Jason is a huge fan of Foreigner and he said he would love to join the band if I reformed it. He prompted me to bring back Foreigner with some fresh blood to recognize and expand upon the body of work the band had done. I spoke with Jeff Jacobs and Tom Gimbel and they were enthusiastic about it too. Jason still calls me about once a week with a suggestion about an old song we should play or with an idea for a new song! His energy is very inspirational."
Jeff Pilson, who had appeared alongside Jason Bonham in the Warner movie ‘Rockstar,' soon came on board, and Hansen was the final piece of the puzzle. He joined Foreigner earlier this year.
"I didn't make a big fuss about looking for a singer, but word got around the industry and soon I started receiving demos," Jones says. "Tom Gimbel had actually heard about Kelly Hansen. Kelly sent me a demo with his voice on a few of the classic tracks, and the songs immediately took on a new life. He sang incredibly well, and made the decision easy."
Any band with a lot of hits finds it a challenge to put together a set list, and Foreigner's run of smashes makes it even trickier for Jones and his cohorts. He said all the beloved songs will be performed in concert, and die-hard fans will often be treated to long-absent favorites like "At War With the World," "Say You Will" and "Woman in Black." Also, Foreigner will pay tribute to Bonham's father, the late John Bonham, by performing "Whole Lotta Love" and possibly more Led Zeppelin highlights.
Jones feels this summer tour with the new lineup will get the creative juices flowing and likely lead to some collaborative songwriting while on the road. At the end of the year, a special concert loaded with special guests is planned for public-television broadcast and DVD release.
Then, after this warm-up, Foreigner will ultimately move forward and record an album of fresh songs for release in 2006.
"We're starting with a clean slate. I feel like fresh ideas are coming back," Jones says. "It's a new beginning."
Foreigner is scheduled to appear on the nationally syndicated radio show Rockline on July 13.
For all the latest news and updated tour date information, visit:
Current tour dates include:
Thursday, June 2nd Patchogue, NY Patchogue Theater
Friday, June 3rd Hartford, CT Webster Theater
Saturday, June 4th Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theater
Monday, June 6th Verona, NY Turning Stone Casino
Tuesday, June 7th Alexandria, VA Birchmere
Saturday, June 11th Atlantic City, NJ Trump Marina Casino
Sunday, June 12th Dewey Beach, DE Bottle & Cork
Saturday, June 18th Des Moines, IA Waterworks Park
Tuesday, June 21st Del Mar, CA San Diego County Fair
Wednesday, June 22nd Livermore, CA Wente Vineyard
Thursday, June 23rd Santa Rosa, CA Luther Burbank Center
Friday, June 24th Green River, WY Flaming Gorge Days
Saturday, June 25th Reno, NV Silver Legacy Hotel & Casino
Wednesday, June 29th Glen Allen, VA Innsbrook Pavilion
Thursday, June 30th Hilton Head, SC Sea Pines Resort
Friday, July 1st Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues
Saturday, July 16th Jefferson, WI Jefferson County Fair
Sunday, July 17th Chicago, IL House Of Blues
Wednesday, August 3rd Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheater
Friday, August 5th Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
Saturday, August 6th Sterling Heights, MI Art & Jazz Festival
Sunday, August 7th Hinckley, MN Grand Casino
Tuesday, August 9th Lewiston, NY Artpark
Wednesday, August 17th Grants Pass, OR Josephine County Fair
Thursday, August 18th Silverton, OR The Oregon Gardens
Tuesday, August 30th Lincoln, NE Nebraska State Fair
Friday, September 9th Marion, OH Popcorn Festival
Saturday, Sept. 10th Grand Junction, CO Country Jam USA
Sunday, Sept. 11th Littleton, CO Hudson Gardens
Friday, Sept. 16th Hutchinson, KS Kansas State Fair
Saturday, Sept. 17th George, WA The Gorge
Sunday, Sept. 18th Escondido, CA Harrah's Casino
Friday, Sept. 30th Bloomsburg, PA Bloomsburg Fair
Saturday, October 1st Mahwah, NJ Bergen County Perf. Arts Ctr.
Sunday, Oct. 2nd Baltimore, MD Rams Head
