Original Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm rejoined his old band for a special performance at the group’s concert on Saturday, March 15, at the BayCare Sound venue in Clearwater, Florida. Gramm appeared at the end of the show to perform the Foreigner classics “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “Hot Blooded” with current lead singer Kelly Hansen.
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Fan-shot footage of both performances has been posted on YouTube.
After Gramm was welcomed to the stage, Hansen commented to the audience, “This one was No. 1 around the world. A little-known secret, when Lou recorded his vocal on this song, he recorded it completely on his own and produced it himself. And it’s one of the most recognizable and iconic in rock history. And we’re gonna do it together, and I’m just beside myself.
Hansen and Gramm then traded off lead vocals on “I Want to Know What Love Is.” Foreigner also was joined by a high school choir from nearby St. Petersburg, Florida, on the choruses.
Gramm and Hansen then rocked out together on “Hot Blooded” to bring the show to a raucous conclusion. For part of the performance, Lou also kept the beat on a cowbell.
At the end of the performance, Hansen gave another shout-out to Gramm, who bowed to the audience. The crowd responded by yelling, “Looouuuu!!!!”
Gramm co-wrote “Hot Blooded” with founding Foreigner guitarist and main songwriter Mick Jones. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. “I Want to Know What Love Is,” which was written by Jones, is Foreigner’s only single to top the Hot 100. It spent two weeks at No. 1 in February 1985.
About Gramm’s Other Most Recent Performance with Foreigner
Gramm last performed with Foreigner’s current lineup when the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in October 2024. None of the current members of the group’s touring lineup were inducted into the Rock Hall, but the musicians served as the backing group for Gramm and other guest singers when Foreigner was honored at the ceremony.
Gramm sang “I Want to Know What Love Is” at the ceremony with Kelly Clarkson. Two other ex-Foreigner members who were inducted into the Rock Hall that night, bassist Rick Wills and keyboardist Al Greenwood, also took part in the ceremony.
The only original Foreigner member who still is in the group is Jones. Mick has not performed with the band since 2022, though, because of ongoing health problems, including heart issues and Parkinson’s disease.
Last Year, Gramm Discussed Possibly Performing with Foreigner Again
After the Rock Hall ceremony, Foreigner announced it was extending its farewell tour into 2025. The band also revealed that Wills and Greenwood would be joining the group at as special guests during its fall 2024 Las Vegas residency. In addition, Foreigner announced that some former members would appear on select other dates of the band’s tour without specifying which members.
Around the same time, Gramm revealed in a SiriusXM radio interview with Eddie Trunk that he was negotiated with Foreigner to make some guest appearances with the band. Lou also complained that Foreigner’s management weren’t allowing him to choose which songs he’d perform with the group.
He told Trunk, “Every song I suggested that I would like to do, [the manager] told me he didn’t think so” and “only what I couldn’t sing, and then I would just have to pick from what’s left.”
Gramm’s and Foreigner’s Upcoming Tour Plans
It’s not known whether Gramm will join Foreigner at any future concert.
Last year, Lou announced that he planned to retire from touring at the end of 2024. He apparently had a change of heart, because he currently has 10 concerts lined up in 2025. Most of the shows are with his group the Lou Gramm All Stars.
Foreigner, meanwhile, has nearly 40 confirmed concerts for 2025. Next up for the band is a brief tour of Latin America running from an April 28 show in Mexico City through a May 10, performance in São Paulo, Brazil. Foreigner then will play a variety of shows in the U.S. in Canada, mapped out from a June 11 concert in Highland, California, through an October 10-11 stand in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
