'We're on a continuous tour,' says Hansen in a call from his hotel in Hollywood, Fla.Īfter taking a break for the holidays, the band has just finished a run of acoustic shows that coincided with the release of the group's 'In Concert: Unplugged' and is again on tour with the regular electric show. Everyone gets along, and “there's no ego issues or problems” that get in the way of performing.Since Kelly Hansen joined Foreigner as the group's new lead singer, things haven't slowed down. Hansen said it’s a delight to tour with Foreigner’s current lineup. His appearance on tour isn’t a guarantee, and he performs at about 50% of their live dates, according to the band’s publicist, John Lappen. Jones is the only original member who remains in the band, but has been dealing with health issues. Americans Lou Gramm, Alan Greenwood and Ed Gagliardi rounded out the band, which has gone through several lineup changes over the years. “I really care about doing a good job, and so you do have to go to some lengths to make that happen.”įoreigner was founded in 1976 by guitarist Mick Jones, along with his fellow British countrymen Ian McDonald and Dennis Elliott. “I want to do this at my highest level possible,” he said. That, eating well and taking care of his body gives him the stamina to stay on the road, and be able to deliver a solid performance.
“Well, I try to limit the number of interviews,” Hansen said, laughing.īut on a more serious note, he tries not to speak a single word on off days, in order to protect his voice. Taking care of his health is paramount, he said, as is his voice. They tend to hover around 110 shows every year, still a heavy workload when stuffed into an eight-month time frame. In 2006, they played 140 shows, which he admits was too much. Hansen, 60, said it gets a little more difficult each year to maintain a pace that sees the band play more than 100 dates a year. The band is setting a grueling pace during “The Greatest Hits of Foreigner” tour, with shows nearly every other day. “I think that there is a real feeling of genuine fun and relief, being able to go out and go to a live show and see a live band, and have a good time.” “The crowds have been awesome,” Hansen said. The members started with a few small shows to “make sure the gears were greased,” Hansen said, before embarking on a months-long tour that will run into 2022, when they head to Europe.Īnd much like the band members, concertgoers have been waiting for more than a year to get back in the stands. The band, performers of songs including the worldwide hits “I Want To Know What Love Is,” “Cold As Ice” and “Hot Blooded,” among numerous other radio-friendly hits, got together at the end of February to shake off the dust. “So far, it’s been going really, really well.” “It came to a point where we said it's time, it's time for us to try to get out there and see if we can do it,” Hansen said in an interview. For Kelly Hansen, the band’s lead singer since 2005, they’re more than ready to get back on the road. GRAND FORKS - After taking a hiatus in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, legendary rock band Foreigner is taking its catalog of chart-topping hits on tour.
0 kommentar(er)
