Foreigner is a rock and roll band formed in New York in 1976 by Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, Dennis Elliott, Al Greenwood, Ed Gagliardi and Lou Gramm. Despite accusations of formulaic commercialism, Foreigner's heavy metal with keyboard flourishes has racked up sales of over 30 million records worldwide to date. The band is led by British journeyman rocker Mick Jones (member of Nero and the Gladiators, Spooky Tooth, and The Leslie West Band) who in early 1976 met with ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald and formed Foreigner with four other musicians who were all unknown at the time to create a sextet.
The band's debut album sold more than four million copies in the U.S. and stayed in the Top Twenty for a year with such hits as Feels Like the First Time, Cold as Ice, and Long Long Way From Home. Their sophmore effort, Double Vision, topped their previous selling 5 million records and spawned Hot Blooded and title track Double Vision. The third album Head Games was also successful due to the thunderous Dirty White Boy and another title track hit Head Games. 1980 brought personnel changes so that now that band was a quartet and Rick Wills now played bass and Gagliardi and Greenwood went to the failed band "Spys".
Foreigner's next album, 4, was their biggest hit containing Jukebox Hero, Waiting for a Girl Like You and Urgent. Their next album Agent Provacateur gave them their only #1 hit, the gospel inspired ballad backed by the New Jersey Mass Choir "I Want to Know What Love Is." The band released several more albums with mediocre success and in the late 80's Jones and Gramm each put out solo efforts but by 1993 the two reunited and reformed Foreigner and produced a new album. The reformed band is still together and touring throughout the U.S. recently with Journey. The band was called the 86th Greatest Artist of Hard Rock in a VH1 special, are a staple of classic rock stations and still contain legions of fans who admire and adore their innovative arena rock anthems that have had a major effect on music and culture in America.

Members

Current Members
Mick Jones: guitar, piano, keyboards, background vocals (1976-)
Jeff Jacobs: piano, organ, keyboards, background vocals (1993-)
Thom Gimbel: saxophone, guitar, background vocals (1995-).
Former Members
Lou Gramm: lead vocals, percussion, background vocals (1976-90; 1992-2002).
Bruce Turgon: bass guitar, background vocals (1993-2002).
Denny Carmassi: drums (2002).
Mark Schulman: drums, background vocals (1993-95; 2000-2002).
Brian Tichy: drums (1998-2000).
Ron Wikso: drums (1995-1998).
Rick Wills: bass guitar, background vocals (1979-1992).
Johnny Edwards: lead vocals, guitar (1990-1992).
Dennis Elliot: drums (1976-1991).
Ian McDonald: guitar, keyboards, saxes, flutes, b. vocals (1976-1980).
Al Greenwood: keyboards, synthesizers (1976-1980).
Ed Gagliardi: bass guitar, background vocals (1976-1979).

DVD's

Foreigner(Concert) 2001
4(Concert) 2001

Discography

Foreigner (1977)(Feels LIke the First Time, Cold as Ice, Long Long Way From Home)

Double Vision (1978) (Hot Blooded, Double Vision)

Head Games (1979) (Dirty White Boy, Head Games)

4 (1981) (Jukebox Hero, Waiting for a Girl Like You, Urgent)

Records (1982)

Agent Provocateur (1984) (I Want to Know What Love Is, That Was Yesterday)

Inside Information (1987) (Say You Will)

Unusual Heat (1991)

The Very Best of(1992)

The Very Best And Beyond(1992)

Classic Hits Live/Best of Live(1993)

(1994)

Mr. Moonlight (1995)

I Want To Know What Love Is(1998)

The Platinum Collection(1999)

Rough Diamonds #1(1999)

Hot Blooded and Other Hits(2000)

(2000)

Complete Greatest Hits(2002)

The Definitive(2002)

See also

Best selling music artists

External links

Foreigner Web Site

Inside Information: The Foreigner Files Web Site