Credit: Karsten StaigerDuring the course of Foreigner‘s 40th anniversary tour this year, key former members Lou Gramm, Dennis Elliott, Al Greenwood, Ian McDonald and Rick Wills played with the band at select shows, either individually or in various combinations. Now, all five musicians will be on hand to perform with their old group’s current lineup at Foreigner’s October 6-7 stand at Michigan’s Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, which will be captured for a TV special, album and DVD that will be released next year.
Founding Foreigner guitarist and leader Mick Jones says, “Playing alongside Lou, Dennis, Al, Ian and Rick again certainly brought back some special memories and we decided it would be the ultimate celebration to join together on one stage, and give the fans the best possible farewell to our 40th Anniversary.”
Gramm, Greenwood and McDonald previously reunited with Foreigner for a three-song encore at a July 11 show in Wantagh, New York, while Wills appeared at a June 11 concert in Spain and Elliott hit the stage on August 2 in Tampa, Florida.
Gramm, Foreigner’s original frontman, recently announced plans to retire from regular touring at the end of 2017, but he tells Billboard that he’s really enjoyed reuniting with Jones and his other former band mates and would like to continue to make occasional guest appearances with the band. He also says he hopes the reunions might spark some new songwriting collaborations with Jones.
“We’ve mentioned it,” Gramm reveals, “And depending on a number of things I think that could happen again. In what capacity and for who I don’t exactly know, but I’m not even concerned about that end of it. I just want to write again and craft some great songs.”
You can check out all of Foreigner’s upcoming shows at ForeignerOnline.com.
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