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Foreigner

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Foreigner is a British-American rock band that was formed in New York in 1976 by the English guitarist Mick Jones. He searched for a long time for the right musicians and found them in Ian McDonald, formerly of King Crimson, the drummer Dennis Elliott and the keyboard player Al Greenwood, among others. After dozens of auditions the singer Lou Gramm from Rochester joined. Because half of the members were British and the other half American, they were partly foreigners in each country. That is how the band got its name.

Music and breakthrough

The debut album Foreigner was released in 1977, with Feels Like the First Time and Cold as Ice. After that came Double Vision (1978), with Hot Blooded, and Head Games (1979). The album 4 (1981) spent ten weeks at number one in the United States and contained Urgent, Juke Box Hero and the ballad Waiting for a Girl Like You. Agent Provocateur (1984) had the band's biggest hit, I Want to Know What Love Is, recorded with the New Jersey Mass Choir. Foreigner combined solid guitar riffs with keyboards, catchy choruses and Gramm's powerful voice.

Influence

Foreigner belongs to the bands that dominated American radio in the late 1970s and the 1980s with rock that was as much pop as rock. With I Want to Know What Love Is the group showed how a rock ballad with gospel influences can grow into a hit all over the world. In 2024 the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to I Want to Know What Love Is and follow how the song grows: from a quiet beginning with keyboards and vocals to an ending in which a gospel choir sings along. Notice how Lou Gramm and the choir then alternate.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsSoft rock and AOR