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Classic rock band plays first concert with new lead singer

Guitarist Luis Maldonado on stage as the band Foreigner performs on the "Fox & Friends" Summer Concert Series at FOX Studios on July 22, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)Getty Images
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It feels like the first time for a classic rock band.

Foreigner kicked off its South American tour dates Monday with Luis Maldonado as the new lead singer. The guitarist and vocalist, who has been a member of the group since 2021, stepped up while frontman Kelly Hansen is unable to perform international concerts due to “residency issues.”

Ultimate Classic Rock reports Maldonado, who has been recording Foreigner hits in Spanish, handled most of the lead vocals in Mexico City. Lou Gramm, the original voice of Foreigner, joined the band on stage for four songs, including a duet of “I Want to Know What Love Is” with Maldonado singing the first verse in Spanish.

Maldonado and Gramm are expected to share singing duties for the rest of Foreigner’s Latin American run, which continues through May 10.

Foreigner’s touring lineup typically does not include any original members. Hansen, the band’s lead vocalist since 2005, performs with Maldonado, Jeff Pilson, Michael Bluestein, Bruce Watson, and Chris Frazier. Co-founding guitarist Mick Jones is still a full-time member, but no longer performs due to Parkinson’s disease.

Hansen has not elaborated on why he is unable to perform shows outside of the U.S., but upcoming shows in Canada will feature guest vocals from “Juke Box Hero, the Musical” star Geordie Brown. Brown played the male lead in a 2018 workshop of the Foreigner musical, which is expected to go into production next year.

Foreigner’s upcoming U.S. tour dates include two Upstate New York concerts on Aug. 7 at the Erie County Fair and Sept. 20 at the Turning Stone Event Center in Verona. It’s unclear if Gramm, a Rochester native who currently lives in Webster, will appear at either show.

Lou Gramm of Foreigner performs onstage during the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony streaming on Disney+ at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Gramm previously said he would retire this year, but recently said that he now plans to perform with Foreigner in 2026 to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary. Gramm left Foreigner in 1990 and again in 2002, but said their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honor softened his past frustrations. Gramm made a surprise appearance at a Foreigner concert in Florida last month before agreeing to more shows.

“It’s a hackneyed sentiment, but it’s true — life’s too short,” Gramm told Billboard. “And a lot of the things that are blown up and made big deals about are easy enough to get over and humble yourself and reach out a little bit, ‘cause what you’ve been mad about for the past 20 years is not a monumental thing.”

Jones and Gramm, who are also in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, formed Foreigner in 1976. The band released nine albums featuring hits like “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Hot Blooded,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” “Juke Box Hero” and “Cold As Ice.”

Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hanson early in the band's set at Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Drummer Chris Frazier early in Foreigner's set on the Chevy Park stage at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Bass player Jeff Pilson early in Foreigner's set on the Chevy Park stage at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hanson early in the band's set on the Chevy Park stage at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner keyboardist Michael Bluestein during the band's set at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner keyboardist Michael Bluestein during the band's set at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner frontman Kelly Hanson takes a breather between songs at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner frontman Kelly Hanson leads the band in 'Cold As Ice' at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner frontman Kelly Hanson takes a bow between songs at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Guitarist Luis Carlos Maldonado switched to bass during 'Cold As Ice' at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Guitarist Bruce Watson during the opening song. Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hanson shows us the lining of his vest during the opening song. The band played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner keyboardist Michael Bluestein during the band's set at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hanson works the crowd. The band played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Bass player Jeff Pilson and guitarist Bruce Watson during the opening song. Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

The king of the Foreigner crowd. Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hanson likes what he saw after taking the stage. Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Drummer Chris Frazier counts off the first song of Foreigner's set. The band played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hanson early in the band's set on the Chevy Park stage at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Bass player Jeff Pilson greets the crowd as Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

An enthusiastic crowd greeted Foreigner on Sunday night at Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Foreigner played Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

An enthusiastic crowd greeted Foreigner on Sunday night at Chevy Park at the New York State Fair on Sunday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

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