Foreigner are taking a page out of the book "written" by The Who, Judas Priest, KISS, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Scorpions, Elton John, Motley Crue, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne and many others who announced farewell shows and/or tours only to keep going.
With singer Kelly Hansen retiring following their summer tour, bassist Jeff Pilson tells Billboard they're no longer saying goodbye.
“There’s just a lot of forward movement, and the band is incredibly excited. What started off as being a farewell tour now ended up being Kelly’s last tour and (the band) moving forward.”
Taking over vocal duties will be their guitarist Luis Maldonado.
“Luis really had no intention of this,” says Pilson. “He was trying to talk Kelly into staying. And when it became clear Kelly really wants to live a life now … Luis just stepped up and, oh my God, that voice came through...
“It’s creating a unified front. We’re able to integrate everything, not only with [original singer] Lou [Gramm making guest appearances] but everything about Foreigner, into the present. Making this change, with Luis, with [founder and guitarist] Mick [Jones] and Lou’s endorsement and having the whole organization working more together, has been such a positive thing.”
Foreigner, with Kelly Hansen, will perform at Choctaw Theatre in Durant, Oklahoma on October 3rd and 4th.