Credit: Karsten StaigerOn Saturday in Sturgis, South Dakota, Foreigner played a special concert that saw the group’s current lineup joined by five former members: original frontman Lou Gramm, drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboardist Al Greenwood and multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, plus longtime bassist Rick Wills.
At the end of the show, Gramm and current Foreigner singer Kelly Hansen announced that four more reunion performances will take place this fall.
The concerts, dubbed “Double Vision: Then and Now,” are scheduled for November 9 in Los Angeles; November 10 in Rancho Mirage, California; November 30 in Atlantic City, New Jersey; and December 1 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Gramm and Foreigner band leader/guitarist Mick Jones came together for an exclusive joint interview with Forbes to talk about the special shows, as well as the possibility of them collaborating on new music.
The Sturgis concert was actually the latest in a series of shows featuring guest appearances by various ex-band members, which began last year in conjunction with Foreigner’s 40 anniversary.
On how he felt at the first reunion event, in July of last year in Wantagh, New York, Gramm says, “It was very exciting to play with the members of the original band, on the same hand, comfortably familiar too.”
As for Jones, he notes that these concerts have given him the chance “to honor the songs of the band, honor everybody’s contributions over the years.”
Meanwhile, Mick reveals that he and Lou are “contemplating work on a couple of songs that we wrote that are not quite complete or that we wrote 20 years ago and see[ing] what we can do with them. Hopefully towards the holiday season, first early part of next year, we can make that happen.”
Adds Gramm, “Now that’s exciting for me.”
Here are the details about the “Double Vision: Then and Now” concerts:
11/9 — Los Angeles, CA, Microsoft Theater*
11/10 — Rancho Mirage, CA, Agua Caliente Casino**
11/30 — Atlantic City, NJ, Hard Rock***
12/1 — Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Arena***
* = tickets go on sale August 17
** = tickets go on sale August 11
*** = tickets go on sale August 10.
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