A classic rock band’s original singer may appear at some of their upcoming concerts, including two stops in Upstate New York.
Lou Gramm, the original voice of Foreigner, hinted in a new interview that there’s a 50-50 chance he’ll join future tour dates. Foreigner is currently scheduled to perform Aug. 7 at the Erie County Fair in Hamburg and Sept. 20 at the Turning Stone Event Center in Verona.
Gramm told Ethan Dometrius he had “a lot of fun” performing with Foreigner at recent Latin American tour dates, where current guitarist Luis Maldonado took the lead on most songs. Maldonado is set to replace current frontman Kelly Hansen as Foreigner’s lead singer later this year, but Gramm said he “would love to” continue appearing as a guest with the current lineup.
“I’m enjoying it immensely,” Gramm told Dometrius. “And I’m also doing it to honor Mick, who also would be there if he was feeling well enough. So I’m waving the original Foreigner flag."
Mick Jones is the only original member still in the group but no longer tours due to Parkinson’s disease. Hansen and Maldonado are both expected to appear at the Erie County Fair and Turning Stone concerts with bassist Jeff Pilson, keyboardist Michael Bluestein, guitarist Bruce Watson, and drummer Chris Frazier.
Will Gramm also make an appearance?
“Well, I may do that. I’m sure we’re gonna talk about it at some point. And the prospect is good. I don’t wanna tour intensely all summer, but I talked to Foreigner management and they would like me to pop up for every other show or something,” Gramm told Dometrius.
Gramm, a Rochester native who currently lives in Webster, is already scheduled to perform with Foreigner on Sept. 5 to help launch a new musical, “Feels Like The First Time - The Foreigner Musical.” “Every other show” before and after Sept. 5 would include the Turning Stone concert, but not the Erie County Fair, according to the band’s current tour dates.
Gramm, 75, is the original voice of Foreigner hits like “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Hot Blooded,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” and “Cold As Ice.” Gramm reunited with Foreigner for their recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honor and with Jones in 2013 when they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also said he plans to appear with Foreigner at some shows next year, celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary.
Tickets for Foreigner’s Turning Stone concert are currently on sale at Ticketmaster. Tickets for the Erie County Fair go on sale June 6 at ecfair.org.
