English/ American AOR outfit that has achieved massive popularity and worldwide album sales of over 30 million, whilst having released a string of highly credible Hard Rock albums FOREIGNER have also found it easy to attain hit singles at a reasonably regular rate. The band was founded in New York in 1977 by English guitarist MICK JONES. A noted session player, the man played previously with WONDER WHEEL, SPOOKY TOOTH, THE GLADIATORS, MOUNTAIN guitarist LESLIE WEST and PINK FLOYD man DAVE GILMOUR.

In putting FOREIGNER together, the guitarist assembled around him his fellow Englishman ex-KING CRIMSON guitarist / keyboard player Ian McDonald and ex-IF and FERRIS WHEEL drummer Denis Elliot together with Americans former BLACK SHEEP vocalist LOU GRAMM (real name Grammatico), bassist Edward Gagliardi, keyboard player Al Greenwood. Gramm's formative career included album recordings with POOR HEART in 1970.

FOREIGNER's self titled debut album catapulted the band to stardom shifting over four million copies. 'Rolling Stone' magazine readers voted them the best new band of the year. The second album 'Double Vision' was another enormous success, selling over eight million units in America alone and bolstering opinion that FOREIGNER were here to stay.

The band added English bassist Rick Wills in 1979 in time for the 'Head Games' album. The bass man's pre FOREIGNER history includes JOKERS WILD (Guitarist DAVE GILMOUR's pre PINK FLOYD outfit), KING CRIMSON, SMALL FACES, ROXY MUSIC, COCHISE, LITTLE WOMEN and FRAMPTON'S CAMEL. The same year found Jones, Gramm and Elliot appearing on Canadian Artist IAN LLOYD's 'Goosebumps' album.

Impetus was lost though with the Roy Thomas-Baker produced 'Head Games' which did not match its predecessors sales figures. Mick Jones and Greenwood aided IAN LLOYD, who was sharing producers with FOREIGNER at the time, on his '3WC' record. In 1980 McDonald and Greenwood departed, the latter to form SPYS with his erstwhile FOREIGNER colleague Gagliardi. The pair released two well crafted albums with SPYS, although neither were commercial blockbusters.

After a spell recording with ex-RAINBOW vocalist JOE LYNN TURNER on his 'Rescue Me' solo record, Al Greenwood created a new act after SPYS folded titled NYC in early 1988. Featured musicians were vocalist Jon Gorman, guitarist Tony Bruno, bassist Gary Taylor and drummer Chuck Bonfante. Bruno was a founding member of DANGER DANGER before joining SARAYA with Bonfante. The ex-FOREIGNER Greenwood, Gorman and Bruno camp evolved the band into GARBO TALKS later the same year.

Meanwhile FOREIGNER's '4' album shot the band back to the forefront selling a spectacular ten million copies. The ballad 'Waiting For A Girl Like You', 'Urgent' and the pumping 'Juke Box Hero' all scored high on Billboard. The album hit no. 1 in the USA and charted strongly globally. Whilst Junior Walker played saxophone on 'Urgent' on the album, FOREIGNER were joined on tour by ex-TYCOON man Mark Rivera.

Reminding the public of their earlier triumphs, the compilation 'Records' fared well, entering the US top ten. The success continued as a single lifted from the 'Agent Provocateur' album, the gospel tinged 'I Want To Know What Love Is' reached the coveted number 1 position in no less than thirteen countries.

LOU GRAMM opted for a solo album the following year entitled 'Ready Or Not'. The album sold well and spawned a brace of American hit singles. None too surprisingly bearing in mind the status of FOREIGNER this first effort of Gramm's succeeded in reaping healthy sales and radio play. However, a solo tour was interrupted by the need to concentrate on FOREIGNER's next album. With relations strained Gramm put in Japanese shows with the band before quitting upfront of a projected 1988 US tour.

Having already gained a production credit in 1988 on the Atlantic issued, self-titled debut album from DEAR MR. PRESIDENT Jones embarked upon production duties for VAN HALEN's '5150'. The record proved a major seller and MICK JONES also used opportunity to issue his solo album 'Mick Jones' in 1989 pulling in his superstar friend BILLY JOEL as co-producer. Also lending a hand were Pop icon Carly Simon, BAD COMPANY's Simon Kirke, JOE LYNN TURNER, MOTT THE HOOPLE's Ian Hunter and FOREIGNER cohorts Rick Wills and Dennis Elliot.

LOU GRAMM responded with a further solo effort 'Long Hard Look' which saw a songwriting collaboration with ex-DIO and WHITESNAKE guitarist Vivian Campbell and his former BLACK SHEEP colleague bassist before officially leaving the band in 1990 to create SHADOWKING with Campbell, Turgon and drummer Kevin Valentine.

On a trip to Los Angeles Jones met up with ex BUSTER BROWN, RONNIE MONTROSE and KING KOBRA singer Johnny Edwards. STAN BUSH had been in the frame at one point having been working with Jones on another project but this liaison was never cemented. Also involved in auditions for the vacancy was former AIRRACE / MAMA'S BOYS singer Keith Murrell. Although FOREIGNER were interested in the Englishman prior commitments to CLIFF RICHARD of all people negated any union.

At the time Edwards was working towards recording an album for Atlantic with former BUSTER BROWN bandmate James Kottak in WILD HORSES. Jones persuaded Edwards to return to New York with him that afternoon to work on material. The end result was that Edwards was swiftly tempted away from WILD HORSES and into FOREIGNER to supersede Gramm for the Terry Thomas produced 'Unusual Heat' album, a hugely underrated record as it turned out. Perhaps inevitably, Edwards would not stay in the band for long. Bassist Rick Wills, who performed on the album, opted for life in BAD COMPANY.

Although recording a commendable album for Atlantic, SHADOWKING only ever played one gig (an 'American Dream' show at the Astoria in London) before Campbell joined DEF LEPPARD and the group fragmented. At a meeting in Los Angeles, in the shadow of the ongoing riots, Gramm and Jones settled their differences.

By 1994 Jones and Gramm reunited in a new look FOREIGNER which also included SHADOWKING associate Bruce Turgon on bass, ex-BILLY JOEL keyboard player Jeff Jacobs and former SIMPLE MINDS and BILLY IDOL drummer Mark Schulman.

A new FOREIGNER album, 'Mr. Moonlight' produced by the veteran AOR producer Mike Stone, emerged later that year. Interestingly European versions differ from the American release in that the former have Mark Schulman on the cover whilst the American market CD has Mr Schulman, who had left the band, edited out. The European version also has a completely different track running order whilst the Japanese version is different still being the only format to feature the exclusive track 'Crash And Burn'.

As a diversion to his FOREIGNER commitments, Schulman busied himself with a side project named CLOCK, included in its ranks being DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell and NO SWEAT keyboard player Paul J. Smith. Schulman bailed out of FOREIGNER to tour with SIMPLE MINDS in 1995.

Between 1995 and 1998 FOREIGNER had Ron Wikso employed on drums, although for a Summer 1998 tour ex PRIDE & GLORY and SLASH'S SNAKEPIT drummer Brian Tichy was touring with FOREIGNER as Wikso joined BON JOVI guitarist RICHIE SAMBORA on the road. FOREIGNER's progress was halted dramatically though when on the eve of a projected tour of Japan Gramm was diagnosed as suffering from a brain tumour. It took the singer over a year to recover from surgery.

1999 had FOREIGNER, fronted by Gramm once more, back out on the road in America this time as co-headliners with multi-platinum soulmates JOURNEY. Tichy even managed to perform with both bands as mid way through the dates he stepped in to substitute for JOURNEY's drummer Deen Castranovo who had sprained his wrist. A very limited edition album 'Rough Diamonds', all copies autographed by Jones & Gramm, was on sale only at these shows.

Jones also found time to add guest guitar to the SCORPIONS 1999 album 'Eye II Eye'. FOREIGNER were out on the road again in mid 2000 although with Mark Shulman on the drums as Tichy had joined OZZY OSBOURNE's band.

During mid 2001 it emerged that Jones was acting as producer and songwriter for a new MEAT LOAF album. FOREIGNER meantime were honoured with the by now compulsory tribute album as Escape Records assembled the cream of their AOR roster to pay homage. Included acts were ALLIANCE, HEARTLAND and RADIO SILENCE.

Interestingly, a further tribute outing emerged with strong FOREIGNER connections as it was revealed that the AEROSMITH homage 'Sweet Emotion - Songs Of Aerosmith' featured LOU GRAMM on vocals on for 'Back In The Saddle' and FOREIGNER drummers Mark Schulman and Brian Tichy laying down persussion on most tracks. The entire affair was to cap it all produced by FOREIGNER keyboard player Jeff Jacobs.

LOU GRAMM, besides guesting on the album 'Welcome To The Revolution' from Christian Rockers LIBERTY N' JUSTICE, would be back on the road in a solo capacity during 2003, summer shows seeing Gramm fronting up a band comprising guitarist Rocket Ritchotte, bass player Bruce Turgon and keyboard player John Purdell. Sadly Purdell, taken ill suddenly, passed away on the 11th July. The musician had been suffering with cancer.

In mid 2004 MICK JONES was reported to be re-assembling FOREIGNER. Summer gigs had Jason Bonham on drums, son of legendary LED ZEPPELIN drummer John Bonham and himself a veteran of VIRGINIA WOLF, AIRRACE, BONHAM, THE QUIREBOYS and UFO. For a one off charity event held in Santa Barbara on 25th July the band employed DOKKEN, WAR AND PEACE and DIO bassist Jeff Pilson. Stepping in on vocals would be KELLY KEELING, known for his accomplishments with such Hard Rock names as MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, BATON ROUGE, BLUE MURDER, GUITAR ZEUS, GEORGE LYNCH and JOHN NORUM.

The band's 2005 line-up would shape up to include Mick Jones, Jeff Pilson on bass, Jason Bonham on drums, Chas West on vocals of BONHAM, LYNCH MOB and HOLLYWOOD ALLSTARS on vocals with JEFF JACOBS on keyboards. However, within days of this announcement it seemed the HURRICANE credited Kelly Hansen was in line for the vocal position, duly securing the vocal spot. In June the Recording Industry Association of America revealed FOREIGNER had sold over 36 million albums in the USA.

Jason Bonham took a break from the band to film a VH1 television series in February 2006 entitled 'Supergroup', a reality show also starring TED NUGENT and Scott Ian of ANTHRAX on guitar, Evan Seinfeld of BIOHAZARD on bass plus vocalist SEBASTIAN BACH. Meantime, FOREIGNER issued a live album, oddly titled 'Extended Versions', recorded the previous November in Las Vegas. FOREIGNER toured relentlessly across the USA throughout the year, hooking up with STYX along the way. In October 2006 Hansen vocalised on cover versions of the JOURNEY classics 'Wheel In The Sky' and 'Separate Ways' featured on the Cleopatra Records homage collection '80s Metal Tribute To Journey'.

FOREIGNER formed up a triple header with STYX and ASIA for US touring throughout June 2007. In mid 2008 Rhino Records released a double CD set entitled 'No End In Sight: The Very Best Of Foreigner' to coincide with the beginning of summer shows with BRYAN ADAMS. Alongside original recordings of the songs that made the charts over the period from 1977 to 1995 this set hosted new material including the newly recorded song 'Too Late' and an acoustic version of 'Say You Will'.

On June 17th 2008 FOREIGNER released their newly recorded song 'Too Late' as a single. Produced by Marti Frederiksen and Mick Jones, the release marked the band's first single in more than a decade, and the first original song by theline-up that had remained stable for the previous three years.

September 2009 witnessed the release of a brand new studio set through Rhino Entertainment entitled 'Can't Slow Down'. This three disc set, produced by Mark Ronson and Marti Frederiksen and made exclusively for sale through Walmart stores, also featured live cuts and re-recordings of classic tracks. A U.S. tour opened on 30th July in Morristown, New Jersey.