In a recent interview with Billboard, Foreigner’s Kelly Hansen shared his thoughts on reconciling with Lou Gramm and the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Hansen discussed the excitement surrounding the induction, emphasizing that while current Foreigner members won’t be honored, they are thrilled for Mick Jones, Lou Gramm, and the other original members:
“I think that the original guys in this band really deserve this recognition. In so many ways they didn’t get recognition back in the day. It was somewhat of a faceless kind of thing; there wasn’t a David Lee Roth out there or a Jimmy Page or a Keith Richards public persona out there; they were a lot more about the music rather than showing off their personalities. I think they made a musical mark, so to be recognized for the music is a really great thing.”
Hansen also expressed his willingness to support any plans for the original lineup to play together:
“I know everyone has all kinds of ideas. I’m here to humbly assist in any way I can.”Styx’s Tommy Shaw added his own excitement for the induction:“It’s fantastic. You like to see your friends get in — (Peter) Frampton this year, too.”Lou Gramm’s Long Silence with Bandmates
In February, Lou Gramm appeared on ‘Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk’ and discussed Foreigner’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination. When asked if he had spoken to Mick Jones about the nomination, Gramm revealed they hadn’t talked in 11 years. Their last interaction was at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction in 2012 or 2013, where Gramm felt he was friendly towards Jones, but the feeling wasn’t fully reciprocated. He didn’t expect to hear from Jones afterward.
Gramm was also asked about performing with Kelly Hansen and the rest of Foreigner during their 40th anniversary tour in 2017 and 2018, events he didn’t seem to recall clearly.
Mick Jones on Moving Forward
Mick Jones, speaking two months ago about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, expressed no hard feelings towards Lou Gramm and was open to Gramm attending the ceremony. He explained:
“On a personal level, I have no hard feelings toward Lou. We did perform together at the 40th anniversary concert. It has been so many years now since Lou left Foreigner; I like to think that those ill feelings are in the past. There is power in letting go of hard feelings and getting on with your life.”
