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Foreigner Announces Farewell Tour Starting In 2023: Exclusive

"It's a very difficult decision to come to," founder Mick Jones tells Billboard.

By Gary Graff

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Forty-five years after it felt like the first time for Foreigner, the veteran rock troupe is planning to tour for the very last time.

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The band, formed during 1976 by British guitarist Mick Jones, will launch its Historic Farewell Tour next July 6 in Alpharetta, Ga., with 32 U.S dates running through Sept. 3 in Holmdel, N.J. Loverboy will be opening. More legs, both domestic and overseas, are on tap through the end of 2024.

“Foreigner is a completely revitalized band with a whole new energy that has won the hearts of our fans all over the world, and I want to go out while the band is still at the top of its game,” Jones, 77, tells Billboard . “I had the idea that was to become Foreigner back in 1974, and I was 30 years old at the time. By the end of our farewell tour, over 50 years will have passed, and that’s a long time to be on the road.”

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“We’re at an era in life where a lot of bands from the ’70s are right on the ragged edge of still being able to do shows. I see other musicians sometimes that I go, ‘Wow, that was disappointing,’ and I don’t want to be someone that other people say that about. I want to do this band the way it’s supposed to be, and when it’s not like that I don’t want to be doing it.”

Since its formation, Foreigner has released nine studio albums — five of them multi-platinum, plus the 1982 hits set Records — and sold more than 50 million records worldwide. It’s also notched nine top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including rock radio staples such as “Feels Like the First Time,” “Hot Blooded,” “Double Vision,” “Urgent” and the chart-topping power ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is.” More than two dozen members have been part of the roster over the years, and members of the first two lineups made a series of guest appearances with the current lineup during 2017 and 2018.

Foreigner has a number of concerts scheduled this month and also in the spring, prior to the farewell tour launch — including March and April residencies at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Hansen adds that while Foreigner is calling a halt to touring it may not go away entirely. “I’m sure there might be the odd or occasional things we do,” the frontman says. “You can never say never about things. But for me this (tour) is it. It’s not like one of these, like we’ve seen, ploys to get people out to shows.”

Both Hansen and Jeff Pilson, Foreigner’s bassist since 2004, say that Foreigner – whose last studio album, Can’t Slow Down , came out in 2009 — may release some new music in the near future, too. “There’s a whole bunch of stuff in different stages of completion, so that’s not outside the realm of possibility,” Hansen predicts. Pilson says that Jones has been writing material with Marti Frederiksen that he expects the band to work on at some point.

“There’s probably four I’m aware of that are close, and some other snippets,” Pilson says. “Chances are there won’t be a whole new (album). I can see some new songs being added to some kind of a package or some kind of a single. I definitely see some new material coming, hopefully within the next year. We don’t need new material, but it’s always nice to have.”

The full itinerary for the first leg of the tour: Thu July 6th Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre Sat July 8th West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre Sun July 9th Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre Tue July 11th Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheatre Fri July 14th Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP Tue July 18th Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre Wed July 19th St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Fri July 21st Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center Sat July 22nd Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Mon July 24th Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center Tue July 25th Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage Fri July 28th Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater Sat July 29th Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake Tue August 1st Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center Wed August 2nd Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Fri August 4th Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion Sat August 5th Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center Tue August 8th Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Wed August 9th Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion Fri August 11th Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion Sat August 12th Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Mon August 14th Austin, TX – Moody Center Wed August 16th Denver, CO – Ball Arena Fri August 18th Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheater Sun August 20th Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion Mon August 21st Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheater Wed August 23rd Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheater Thu August 24th Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre Weds August 30th Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theater Fri September 1st Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena Sat September 2nd Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview Sun September 3rd Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

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Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach, VA

Foreigner & styx with john waite - renegades and juke box heroes tour.

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Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek | Raleigh, NC

Styx & foreigner with john waite - renegades and juke box heroes tour.

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CHI Health Center Omaha | Omaha, NE

Denny sanford premier center | sioux falls, sd, styx & foreigner with john waite: renegades and juke box heroes tour, charleston coliseum | charleston, wv, foreigner: the farewell tour, peoria civic center | peoria, il, amsoil arena | duluth, mn, mayo clinic health system event center | mankato, mn, ford wyoming center | casper, wy.

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Nmsu pan american center | las cruces, nm, foreigner & loverboy, choctaw grand theater | durant, ok, foreigner - the farewell tour 2024, toyota center kennewick | kennewick, wa, the venetian theatre at the venetian resort | las vegas, nv, foreigner: feels like the last time farewell tour, the reno ballroom | reno, nv, hard rock live sacramento | wheatland, ca, latest setlist, foreigner on august 17, 2024.

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Founded and led by British musician Mick Jones, Foreigner is a British-American rock band formed in 1976 in NYC, U.S. They have collectively sold over a stunning 80 million records worldwide.

Fifty percent British and fifty percent American, the original lineup was comprised of Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, drummer Dennis Elliot, singer Lou Gramm, keyboardist Al Greenwood and bassist Ed Gagliardi. They called themselves Trigger but changed to Foreigner because the musical alias Trigger was already taken by another group. The band was picked up by John Kalodner at Atlantic Records and after a year of recording and remixing the debut album, “Foreigner” was released in March 1977. The album is punctuated by classic Foreigner singles like “Feels Like the Very First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” and “Long, Long Way from Home.”

Propelled by the success of their first album, Foreigner’s sophomore album “Double Vision” followed in 1978 to rave reviews. Singles like “Waiting For a Girl Like You,” “Hot Blooded,” and “Juke Box Hero” received significant airplay. Foreigner’s timeless hits are the perfect additions to soundtracks in the film industry. Songs have been featured in Hollywood box office hits like “Anchorman 2,” “Magic Mike,” and “Pitch Perfect.” The single “Dirty White Boy” (from their third album “Head Games” in 1979) was introduced to modern audiences in the video game “Grand Theft Auto V.” The film industry and video game industry have helped Foreigner’s music stay relevant and have boosted sales via internet downloads.

On 13 June 2013 Mick Jones and Lou Gramm were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Mick Jones admits his vision for the band was to “combine Blues and R&B and make it sound soulful and authentic.” He cites influences from English music as well as American country music as inspiration for Foreigner’s unique sound. Foreigner has toured with rock bands like Journey and Styx.

Live reviews

Foreigner, Europe and FM. This was quite simply a stunning concert. Three fantastic groups featuring three amazing vocalists with voices that you'd happily trade a major bodily organ for, whether it be for rocking the house or simply for serenading the knickers off of that special lady in your life! First up was FM. Now it turns out that I've seen FM before as support for Thin Lizzy back in 2011 and although I don't remember it well, I do remember being impressed despite never having heard of them. Nowadays, I know them due to their hit 'Crosstown Train', which received well deserved and extensive plays on Planet Rock. FM are a band with a extensive catalogue of truly great rock songs. They've been going 30 odd years apparently, who knew? Vocalist Steve Overland is a very impressive front man with a superb voice and I will definitely be looking at lot closer at their back catalogue. Next up was Europe. Everybody but everybody, knows 'The Final Countdown'. Now I admit I've always thought of it and indeed Europe as trashy and throwaway euro pop, but put it on and there's not many who wouldn't know it and whether they admit to liking it or not, they normally sing along because poppy or not, it's a great song which I've grown pretty fond of! That said, when Joey Tempest and the boys want to get heavy, they get as heavy as you want. 'The Last Look At Eden' album was a superb showcase of just how good a group they can be and certainly turned me round in my thinking. Add to that the fact that Joey Tempest probably (if I'm honest, despite my love of Foreigner) stole the show! He gave an electric performance and absolutely had the audience in the palm of his hand. At one point, he recalled a boat trip from Sweden to Hammersmith as a 16 year old to see Thin Lizzy and inserted a few lines of 'The Cowboy Song' into the track 'Superstitious'. That was me won over straight away! Unfortunately, it was a short set and although we got to hear classics like 'Rock The Night and the banging 'No Stone Unturned', I was disappointed not to hear the truly excellent 'Catch That Plane' and 'Not Supposed To Sing The Blues'. They closed up with 'The Final Countdown' and the place went absolutely mental! I would happily go to see them as a headliner. Finally came Foreigner who opened up with 'Double Vision'. Strangely, there was no sign of founder member and lead guitarist Mick Jones but it transpires that he'd been unable to play on some of the other tour dates due to ill health. The band played three more songs being 'Head Games','Cold As Ice' and 'Waiting For A Girl Like You' before the appearance of Jones. The rest was almost shared by the whole audience who without much coaxing were happy to sing along word for word with the band and who were obviously having a great time. Kelly Hanson is, like his predecessor Lou Gramm, a great vocalist and fits perfectly into the role of Foreigners lead vocalist as he sounds so much like Gramm. Hanson also said they'd been touring and the one country he mentioned was Israel which I was delighted to hear. They entertained the rockers like me with songs like 'Urgent' and 'Cold as Ice' whilst catering also to the couples and ladies with their trademark ballads like 'Waiting For A Girl Like You' and the soulful 'I Wanna Know What Love Is' which they performed beautifully along with a school choir. If you've never seen Foreigner, big mistake because they are a superb band with something for just about everyone!

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No band fills an arena quite like Foreigner. Foreigner’s distinctive blend of classic rock, pop, progressive and blues is enthralling. The band’s energy, exuberance and flair for performance create the perfect atmosphere for a night of wild dancing, singing and general excitement. Even hip young cynics cannot escape their infectious oomph.

Foreigner’s April 2014 performance at Manchester Apollo was no exception. Despite numerous line-up changes over the years, the band continues to bond seamlessly on stage. As current front man and ex-Hurricane singer, Kelly Hanson, hugged Tom Gimbel while belting lyrics into his microphone, it looked as though they’ve never been apart. And it was this show of affection that allowed Hanson to expertly generate audience participation. An arena full of people clapping along to ‘Juke Box Hero’ was a powerful sight (and sound) to behold.

But Foreigner are no one-trick pony. When the time came for ‘Waiting for a Girl Like You’ Hanson and keyboardist, Michael Bluestein, were able to mesmerise the audience into almost silence. The aura of romantic reflection was almost tangible. And even I, a notorious PDA-phobe, was secretly heart-warmed to spy couples here and there stealing a romantic moment. And anyway, Hanson and Bluestein soon enough burst into an impressive power ballad alongside the rest of the band and an impressive show of lights.

Foreigner’s Apollo performance coincided with impressive download records. By June the band had gained no less than six RIAA gold and platinum certifications. The rockers certainly proved that digital popularity and live success really can go hand in hand.

Congratulations on 40 years of Foreigner. In concert, this band's musicianship is superb! Kelly Hansen sounds on pitch all the time - as does the rest of the band. The energy is positive, the band members all get showcased, and finally - FINALLY - Mick Jones comes out! I didn't know that he wouldn't appear until later and so I worried that he wasn't going to show at all. Maybe there was press about this and I missed it? No matter. I loved all the guitars - and the multiple keyboards and the sax player. Lots in the mix there. And it's great to see band members enjoying themselves - the waterworks via the drummer were really fun. But Kelly - darling, give a shout out to those die hard Foreigners fans who are of Mick's generation and still rocking - I am one - and as a horseback rider I could kick the ass of quite a few of the younger generation(s). But why would I? I rather sing along and dance. I am an artist, and , I love love love the high school choirs that participate. That keeps the spirit of the arts alive. So, gentlemen, thank you. And again. Keep up the great work; I hope to see you with Cheap Trick this summer!

Foreigner put on the best show we've seen in a long time! They were awesome. The sound and lighting were exceptionally well done. The guys performed with the stamina of twenty year olds!! My only complaint is that we spent a great deal of money to get second row seating with VIP passes, and within 20 minutes about 100 people from MANY rows back had rushed the stage and effectively blocked our view and pretty much ruined our experience as far as being able to enjoy being close to the stage. If we had known the venue would allow this to happen, we would have just bought cheap tickets and then rushed the stage with everyone else. Very disappointed with Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center. This should have never been allowed. Would I see Foreigner again? Hell yes! Would I spend lots of money to be front and center? Not on your life. I still managed to snag about three guitar picks...after the crowd in front couldn't catch them all...

I did not know what to expect with Kelly Hansen singing since the last time I saw Foreigner was back in the Lou Gramm days. I have to tell you, I was blown away. He absolutely nailed it on every level. Of all the bands out there that have adopted new lead singers during the current resurgence of 80's music, he is far and away the best. You really cannot tell the difference vocally between him and Gramm.

He was high energy and great with the crowd and the rest of the band fed off it and was as solid as ever. I saw them this time around opening up for Kid Rock, who was cool enough to pretty much give them the time that many headlining bands command. Kelly even sang Jukebox Hero from a raised platform in the middle of the crowd.

Great show, I highly recommend!!! Kelly's experience as front man of Hurricane really show's through and Mick Jones will always be the man.

I'll start by saying that I love the music of Foreigner. Having seen them 7 or 8 times since the 80's, this was definitely the worst show. Setlist was only 11 songs for a $90 ticket? Normally that would make for a pretty short concert with no opening band, so to stretch it out a bit, Kelly worked the audience by asking some questions and making a few jokes. The biggest let down was that their only remaining original member, Mick Jones, was nowhere to be found!! What happened?? No explanation, nothing I could find on any website. While Kelly is a good solid entertainer, we were essentially watching a tribute band last night. Arizona is a great place to pull a stunt like that however, the audience seemed oblivious to the poor quality sound, short setlist, missing member. The few folks I spoke to didn't even know who Mick Jones was.

I went to see Foreigner 40+ years ago when all the original members were there. I loved the band, Lou Gramm was fantastic! I was somewhat concerned that the music would not be the same or even close, but I was pleasantly surprised. The band gave us a great show - the sound was so close that I forgot at times that many of the members were not original. There was so much energy on stage that it transferred to the crowd and we had the best time!! Everyone was on their feet and dancing.

I took my daughter for her birthday (she wasn't even born when Foreigner came onto the music scene) and was surprised to find out she knew the lyrics to all the songs!

I encourage everyone to see them! You will not be disappointed! It was the best time I have had in many years!

GO SEE THEM IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE!

Dianne Glover

I cannot emphasize this enough...See this concert!

I had not seen Foreigner since the 80's and yes the lineup is vastly different but Mick Jones is still the man. He has assembled a group of musicians that absolutely rock the joint. And trust me sit as close as you can afford. I was in row 10, actually held up Kelly Hansen as he stood on the seat back in front of me, but this was nothing compared to the lucky souls in the first few rows, and it didn't matter stage left, right or centre. The interaction with the fans was incredible. People were encouraged to hammer on guitars and basses as the musicians lowered their instruments into the crowd. Too much fun!

Get drunk, buy the concert shirt, get the 40 in 40 CD or download, ($20 at the show) and prepare to be blown away!

Fantastic... Couldn't be more pleased with the singer, the band sounded great. Mick Jones, voice still sounds great as well.... Did all the best songs. Love that they had a local choir come and sing the chorus on 'I want to know where love is' during the encore. The place was packed, Lakeview Ampitheater .. felt bad that a bunch of ppl... we included, left as the encore started, hoping to beat the crowd and get home before midnight. They really need to do something about that so the bands don't think it's because of them. I would have loved to stay but would have been in line for 2 hours waiting to get out. Great show. I want to see them again, Maybe... Saratoga? Or Darien?

Despite Foreigner's age, line-up changes, and having just gotten over a 15 year hiatus, they still rocked. Plenty of energy, and one member of the band was a former founder of Dokken! They played a few new songs, which were surprisingly good, and I was surprised by how many of the other songs I recognized. Their set included all their best hits, "Double Vision", "Cold as Ice", "Feels Like the First Time", and they closed with "Jukebox Hero" in the encore. Also, their light show was one of the better ones I've seen, as it made use of an extensive series of color-changing poles - one of the more unique set-ups around.

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Foreigner is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 34 concerts across 1 country in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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Foreigner Kicks Off Farewell Tour: Set List and Interview

Foreigner kicked off their farewell tour  Thursday night with a hit-packed, 13-song set at Atlanta's Ameris Bank Amphitheatre.

"It was fabulous, a sold-out crowd in Atlanta for our first night - it couldn't have gone better," bassist Jeff Pilson tells UCR. "The show went off without a hitch. We had done a couple of days of production rehearsal, so everything was extremely smooth. The audience was fabulous. You could really kind of feel the emotions of people knowing that this is the beginning of our farewell tour."

As the result of a recent back injury, Pilson performed the show while seated on a stool, but that change ended up offering him a new perspective. "I got a bird's eye view of everything that I wouldn't ordinarily get," he says. "I think the beginning of the tour sort of put everybody in an emotional state that was really cool. We really connected with the crowd. I think people felt it last night, it was palpable."

Favorite Moments

When pressed to pick a favorite moment from the show, Pilson instead offers a wider selection. "When we get to that first chorus [of 'Feels Like the First Time'] and it just explodes, and the whole audience is right there," he says. "During 'Urgent' we got Michael Bluestein's keytar solo in there now, which is so fun and exciting. On 'Juke Box Hero' we do all this jamming, and then of course the feeling that you get when you play 'I Want to Know What Love Is,' when absolutely everybody in the audience connects and sings and you get that feeling right away. And that's when you say to yourself, 'I got a damn good job.'"

Watch Foreigner Perform 'Urgent' in 2023 (Keytar Solo at 4:44)

He's also proud of the massive 84-page tour book the band put together to commemorate the final tour. "It's absolutely incredible," he notes. "It's got interviews with all sorts of old members and new members - most all of them actually. It's really cool, we've been selling them like hotcakes because it's really good and has so much great information in it."

Foreigner's farewell tour continues Saturday in West Palm Beach, Florida. The last currently announced date is on Nov. 18 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania , but the tour is expected to continue into 2024.

Watch Foreigner Perform 'Feels Like the First Time' in 2023

Foreigner, Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, Atlanta, July 6, 2023 1. "Double Vision" - from Double Vision (1978) 2. "Head Games" - from Head Games (1979) 3. "Cold As Ice" - from Foreigner (1977) 4. "Waiting For A Girl Like You" - from 4 (1981) 5. "Dirty White Boy" - from Head Games (1979) 6. "When It Comes to Love" - from Can't Slow Down (2009) 7. "Girl On The Moon" - from 4 (1981) 8. "Say You Will" - from Inside Information (1987) 9. "Feels Like the First Time" - from Foreigner (1977) 10. "Urgent" - from 4 (1981) 11. "Juke Box Hero" - from 4 (1981) 12. "I Want to Know What Love Is" - from Agent Provocateur (1984) 13. "Hot Blooded" - from Double Vision (1978)

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FOREIGNER Announces Farewell Tour

Legendary rockers FOREIGNER have announced their farewell tour. The trek is set to launch on July 6, 2023, at Atlanta's Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, the area's largest outdoor venue. For the first leg of the U.S. Live Nation -produced tour, FOREIGNER will be joined by LOVERBOY , one of the 1980s biggest hit makers. The spectacular show will thrill audiences with stellar performances of more than 20 combined chart-topping songs. Tickets go on sale on November 18, 2022 at LiveNation.com. The full routing can be found below.

FOREIGNER will continue its long-term initiative with the Grammy Museum Foundation to invite choirs to open the show with a live a cappella "Pitch Perfect" performance of classic rock songs. FOREIGNER will join radio partners across the country to create a contest for local choirs to win donations to their music programs. One winning choir will be selected at each show, and that choir will receive a grand prize of new musical equipment. For more details, please go to foreignerchoirs.com.

FOREIGNER leader and founder Mick Jones said: "Many years ago, I wrote a song called 'Feels Like The First Time' , and today we are launching one last worldwide tour. We will be presenting a show that I know will have the same enthusiasm as our very first appearances. The tour will start this summer in America and we hope to get to every place that we have played over the last several years. While I'm sure our fans will have mixed feelings about the end of the road for the band, I know our shows are going to delight audiences everywhere."

Added FOREIGNER lead singer Kelly Hansen : "The time has come. We have more or less lived our lives on the road for almost eighteen years. We have always strived to give you our best and we intend to finish this the same way. FOREIGNER has a brilliant and increasingly demanding catalogue of songs to sing and I refuse to give them less than they deserve. So, we're going to finish strong. I want to make it very clear how grateful and appreciative we are to our audiences all over the world who have supported this band. I'm sure there may be occasions when we'll do some special appearances, but I think the time is coming for us to live off the road. Thank you all so much!"

Jones continues to elevate FOREIGNER 's influence and guide the band to new horizons with his stylistic songwriting, indelible guitar hooks and multi-layered talents while Hansen, one of rock's greatest showmen, has led FOREIGNER into the digital age inspiring a whole new generation of fans. Bassist Jeff Pilson , Michael Bluestein on keyboards, guitarist Bruce Watson , Chris Frazier on drums and guitarist Luis Maldonado provide an unprecedented level of energy that has resulted in the re-emergence of the astounding music that speaks to FOREIGNER 's enduring popularity. FOREIGNER has an extraordinary streaming and radio audience.

With more Top 10 hits than JOURNEY and ten multi-platinum albums, FOREIGNER is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world with a formidable musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales, now exceeding 80 million. Responsible for some of rock and roll's most enduring anthems, including "Juke Box Hero" , "Cold As Ice" , "Hot Blooded" , "Waiting For A Girl Like You" , "Feels Like The First Time" , "Urgent" , "Head Games" , "Say You Will" , "Dirty White Boy" , "Long, Long Way From Home" and the worldwide No. 1 hit "I Want To Know What Love Is" , FOREIGNER still rocks the charts more than 40 years into the game with massive airplay and continued Billboard Top 200 album success. Streams of FOREIGNER 's hits are approaching 15 million per week.

A year and a half ago, Pilson said that he didn't know if FOREIGNER could continue once Jones has retired from performing with the band.

The only remaining original member of FOREIGNER , Jones suffered from some health issues beginning in 2011, eventually resulting in heart surgery in 2012. Ever since, it is never announced whether he will be appearing with the band for specific shows — it just depends how he is feeling.

Asked in an April 2021 interview with SiriusXM 's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" if he had ever spoken to Jones about whether he wants FOREIGNER to exist as a touring entity even after he decides to stop playing with the band, Pilson — who has played bass for FOREIGNER since 2004 — said: "We've never talked specifics, and honestly, I don't actually think [ Mick ] even thinks in terms of specifics, because I know his desire is to remain involved with the band until the end. The only thing, like I say, I'm aware of for sure is that he'd like to stay involved as long as possible, and he would like it if that was the end of the band when he leaves. Nobody's been specific."

Three years ago, Mick said that he didn't know what FOREIGNER would do if he ever retired from the group. "We haven't really made any definite plans, or a master plan, or whatever you call it," he said. "As long as I feel good and I can play like I need to… We have a great band with the new guys, and I certainly think they would be capable of carrying it on. Who knows? At this point, I'm living in the present and not thinking about that too much. But in time, obviously, it'll be something we have to talk about."

After singer Lou Gramm left FOREIGNER in 2003, Jones took some time off before regrouping a couple years later with an entirely new lineup, featuring Hansen and Pilson , among others.

In 2018, Gramm revealed that he was retiring from touring as a solo artist. The vocalist made the announcement just months after he participated in FOREIGNER 's "Double Vision: Then And Now" concerts, which featured current and original members of the band, including Jones , drummer Dennis Elliott , keyboardist Al Greenwood , bassist Rick Wills and guitarist/saxophonist Ian McDonald .

Gramm was the voice on FOREIGNER 's biggest hits, including "Feels Like The First Time" and "Cold As Ice" from the band's eponymous debut in 1977, and later songs like "Hot Blooded" and "I Want To Know What Love Is" .

FOREIGNER 2023 farewell tour dates:

July 06 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre July 08 - West Palm Beach, FL - iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre July 09 - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre July 11 - Nashville, TN - Ascend Amphitheatre July 14 - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP July 18 - Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theatre July 19 - St. Louis, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre July 21 - Indianapolis, IN - Ruoff Music Center July 22 - Tinley Park, IL - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre July 24 - Cleveland, OH - Blossom Music Center July 25 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage July 28 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Amphitheater July 29 - Burgettstown, PA - The Pavilion at Star Lake August 01 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center August 02 - Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health at Jones Beach August 04 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion August 05 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center August 08 - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek August 09 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion August 11 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion August 12 - Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion August 14 - Austin, TX - Moody Center August 16 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena August 18 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre August 20 - Phoenix, AZ - Ak-Chin Pavilion August 21 - Irvine, CA - FivePoint Amphitheatre August 23 - Wheatland, CA - Toyota Amphitheatre August 24 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre August 30 - Detroit, MI - Pine Knob Music Theater September 01 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena September 02 - Syracuse, NY - St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview September 03 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center

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Foreigner Announces 2023 North American Farewell Tour

The group’s Live Nation-produced outing in the U.S. will launch on July 6, 2023, at Atlanta’s Ameris Bank Amphitheatre.

Credit: Karsten Staiger

Iconic rock band Foreigner has announced its final tour, Billboard reports .

The group’s Live Nation-produced outing in the U.S. will launch on July 6, 2023, at Atlanta’s Ameris Bank Amphitheatre. During the first leg, Foreigner will be joined by Loverboy.

Tickets go on sale on November 18, 2022, at LiveNation.com . Check out all of the tour dates below.

“Foreigner is a completely revitalized band with a whole new energy that has won the hearts of our fans all over the world, and I want to go out while the band is still at the top of its game,” Jones, 77, told Billboard. “I had the idea that was to become Foreigner back in 1974, and I was 30 years old at the time. By the end of our farewell tour, over 50 years will have passed, and that’s a long time to be on the road.”

Related: Vote for Your Favorite Cassettes Turning 40 This Year

The band, formed during 1976 by British guitarist Mick Jones, will launch its Historic Farewell Tour next July 6 in Alpharetta, Ga., with 32 U.S dates running through Sept. 3 in Holmdel, N.J. Loverboy will be opening. More legs, both domestic and overseas, are on tap through the end of 2024.

With more Top 10 hits than JOURNEY and ten multi-platinum albums, FOREIGNER is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world with a formidable musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales, now exceeding 80 million. Responsible for some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems, including “Juke Box Hero”, “Cold As Ice”, “Hot Blooded”, “Waiting For A Girl Like You”, “Feels Like The First Time”, “Urgent”, “Head Games”, “Say You Will”, “Dirty White Boy”, “Long, Long Way From Home” and the worldwide No. 1 hit “I Want To Know What Love Is”, FOREIGNER still rocks the charts more than 40 years into the game with massive airplay and continued Billboard Top 200 album success. Streams of FOREIGNER’s hits are approaching 15 million per week.

Hear music from Foreigner and other rock bands from the ’70s and ’80s on Classic Rewind (Ch. 25) .

Foreigner’s Final Tour Dates

July 06 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre July 08 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre July 09 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre July 11 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheatre July 14 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP July 18 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre July 19 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre July 21 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center July 22 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre July 24 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center July 25 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage July 28 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater July 29 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake August 01 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center August 02 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach August 04 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion August 05 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center August 08 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek August 09 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion August 11 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion August 12 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion August 14 – Austin, TX – Moody Center August 16 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena August 18 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre August 20 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion August 21 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre August 23 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre August 24 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre August 30 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theater September 01 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena September 02 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview September 03 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

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Foreigner’s ‘The Historic Farewell Tour’ comes to Virginia Beach later this month

They’ve had nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Every week, they get close to 15 million audio and video streams.

And despite having formed nearly 50 years ago, they still consistently reach an audience exceeding 80 million radio listeners each month.

Foreigner is one of the most popular rock acts in the world and is coming to Virginia Beach — perhaps, for the last time.

The band will play at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach on Aug. 20 as part of its “The Historic Farewell Tour.”

Rock-and-roller John Waite — whose 1984 single “Missing You” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — will open the show and will be followed by the rock band Styx, before Foreigner takes over the stage and closes the night.

“People should expect a lot of great tunes that they already know performed at high energy with a crowd singing on their feet; it’s always an exciting, sort of festive, atmosphere,” said Michael Bluestein, the band’s keyboardist.

In an interview, Bluestein, who joined Foreigner in 2008, described the band’s farewell tour as bittersweet.

He’ll miss the music, but after 16 years of averaging 80 to 100 concerts per year, Bluestein added, he and his bandmates are looking forward to some respite from constant touring.

“We’re not disappearing,” he added, saying the band still plans on playing together. “But it’s just going to be a lot less.”

Foreigner was formed in 1976 by three Americans and three Brits, and their 1977 self-titled album produced the band’s first hits with “Feels Like the First Time” and “Cold As Ice.”

Foreigner remained popular through the 1970s and 80s, releasing well-known songs such as “Hot Blooded,” “Blue Morning, Blue Day” and “I Want To Know What Love Is.”

Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8138, [email protected]

When: 7 p.m. Aug 20

Where: Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach, 3550 Cellar Door Way, Virginia Beach

Cost: Start at $22

Details: foreigneronline.com

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Foreigner proves rock legend status at the band's Iowa State Fair 'Farewell Tour' concert

T hough Foreigner might be on their Farewell Tour, it felt like the very first time, as the band proved to the crowd of 11,141 on the second day of the Iowa State Fair that they will forever be one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

Foreigner, fresh off Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction , guided the audience through a nearly 50-year-long run in the industry. Their influence on the genre was palpable as they played hits like  "Hot Blooded," "Jukebox Hero," "Waiting for a Girl Like You," and "Cold as Ice," among others, throughout the hour-long set.

The show reminded concert-goers of what a true rock show can be like, transporting the audience back to 1976, when the band first took off with founding members Mick Jones, Lou Gramm, Ian McDonald, Al Greenwood, Ed Gagliardi, and Dennis Elliot.

While no original members were present at the show at the Grandstand, current touring members Kelly Hansen, Jeff Pilson, Bruce Watson, Michael Bluestein, Chris Frazier, and Luis Maldonado embodied rock 'n' roll from leather pants, swinging guitars across their bodies, bouncing from one side of the stage to other while under a technicolor light show.

Melissa Etheridge kicks off night with powerful performance

The high-energy show was opened by Melissa Etheridge, the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter best known for her distinctive style of guitar playing and raspy voice to bolster powerful lyrics. She opened the show by guiding the audience through her discography, featuring hits like "Come to My Window" and newer tracks like "A Burning Woman" from her latest release.

During her set, she gushed over the state of Iowa, telling the crowd that it is an honor to perform at the Iowa State Fair.

"It is such an honor to be in Iowa and play at the Iowa State Fair, especially on East Side Night," Etheridge said. "We had a day off here yesterday, and oh my gosh, you guys are so nice."

More: How many people attended the Iowa State Fair on opening day? Here's the total

Foreigner rocks the crowd with classic hits and unforgettable moments

The Iowa niceties continued when Foreigner took the stage. While the weather was cool on an August night in Iowa, the guitars and drums were hot as Foreigner opened with "Double Vision."

"Tonight, is a celebration because we are all still alive and still rocking," lead singer Harmon told the crowd.

Hansen, a charming frontman, gave other band members time to shine during a midset instrumental break. Bluestein kicked it off with a synth piano break, and Frazier on drums got the audience to bang their heads along to a nearly five-minute drum solo before catapulting the band into an electrifying performance of one of the band's signature songs, "Jukebox Hero," to close out the set.

The band came back for an encore performance, taking the high-key show to a different note with the playing of the band's highest-charting song, "I Want to Know What Love is," the lead single from their 1984 album "Agent Provocateur." This song went on to become a massive hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and topping various other charts internationally.

More: 2024 Iowa State Fair daily guide

"I Want to Know What Love Is" remains one of Foreigners' most iconic and enduring songs. It is known for its powerful vocals, emotional lyrics, and gospel-inspired backing vocals, which the band was in tune with.

"We are going to sing this next song together," Hansen said. "That’s right, together.”

Halfway through the song, 18 ninth graders from Johnston High School joined the band on stage to sing along. The students landed the gig through a KIOA Radio contest held in April. They initially submitted a rendition of "Hot Blooded," and the performance earned them a spot on the stage with rock icons.

"The reason why we have these talented, beautiful young people on the stage was to set her aside is to remind everybody about the lack of funding for school music," Hansen said. "Music and the arts can take you all over the world, forwards and backward in time. It can take you to faraway galaxies, and that makes for a well-rounded human being."

Hanson and the band thanked the students for their time and for being a part of the evening and encouraged everyone to continue supporting the arts before discussing what was next for the band.

More: Butter sculpture and biggest pumpkin: Our favorite Iowa State Fair photos from Day 2

What is next for Foreigner?

In 2023, the band embarked on their "Farewell Tour," which marks the foreseeable end of live shows for the band after decades of touring. Harmon promised that the band isn't going to disappear off the face of the earth but will be doing other projects after the tour ends, simply saying,

"I've got bigger fish to fry,"

But the band expressed gratitude and sincere thanks to the fans in the crowd for supporting them throughout the years before closing the night with the powerful guitar riffs and driving rhythm of "Hot Blooded" before bowing off the stage.

Foreigner's "The Farewell Tour" ends in October with a three-day Las Vegas residency at the Venetian.

Next up at the State Fair Grandstand is rapper Jelly Roll for a sold-out performance on Aug. 11 at 8 p.m.

More: Which shows are sold out for the 2024 Iowa State Fair? See how ticket sales are going.

Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_ .

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Foreigner proves rock legend status at the band's Iowa State Fair 'Farewell Tour' concert

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Foreigner Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

• Foreigner ( British/American rock band )
• Foreigner ( ambient folk )

Renegades & Juke Box Heroes Tour

Upcoming shows.

• Date and Venue Doors Scheduled
• Aug 26 2024 CHI Health Center Omaha Omaha, NE, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 28 2024 Denny Sanford Premier Center Sioux Falls, SD, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 30 2024 Washington State Fair 2024 Puyallup, WA, USA  –  Find tickets Doors 6:30 PM  –  Scheduled: 7:30 PM Tickets 6:30 PM 7:30 PM
• Oct 02 2024 Ford Amphitheater Colorado Springs, CO, USA  –  Find tickets Doors 5:45 PM  –  Start time: 8:47 PM (Est.) Tickets 5:45 PM 8:47 PM Estimated
• Oct 04 2024 Ozarks Amphitheater Camdenton, MO, USA  –  Find tickets Doors 6:00 PM  –  Scheduled: 7:00 PM Tickets 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Oct 08 2024 Rio Rancho Events Center Rio Rancho, NM, USA  –  Find tickets Doors 7:00 PM  –  Start time: 10:02 PM (Est.) Tickets 7:00 PM 10:02 PM Estimated
• Oct 25 2024 The Venetian Theatre Las Vegas, NV, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times

Foreigner at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

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Foreigner at The Orion Amphitheater, Huntsville, AL, USA

• Double Vision
• Cold as Ice
• Waiting for a Girl Like You
• Dirty White Boy
• Feels Like the First Time
• Piano/Drum Solo
• Juke Box Hero
• I Want to Know What Love Is
• Hot Blooded

Foreigner at The Wharf Amphitheater, Orange Beach, AL, USA

Foreigner at wisconsin state fair 2024.

• Long, Long Way From Home

Foreigner at Iowa State Fair 2024

Foreigner at missouri state fairgrounds grandstand, sedalia, mo, usa, foreigner at bank of new hampshire pavilion at meadowbrook, gilford, nh, usa, foreigner at maine savings amphitheater, bangor, me, usa, foreigner at xfinity center, mansfield, ma, usa, foreigner at the pavilion at star lake, burgettstown, pa, usa.

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Most played songs

• Cold as Ice ( 1421 )
• Feels Like the First Time ( 1379 )
• Double Vision ( 1343 )
• Hot Blooded ( 1342 )
• Juke Box Hero ( 1315 )

More Foreigner statistics

A-Meezing Coverband Trace Adkins Amason Jimi Anderson’s Legends of A.O.R. Anthem Anthems Of Rock Anthony B The Aquabats! Tina Arena Barenaked Ladies Barilari Barilari & JAF Lou Barlow Shirley Bassey Joey Belladonna Big & Rich Birds of Tokyo Matt Black The Body Alfie Boe Bon Journey-Journey & Bon Jovi Tribute The Bottle Rockets Breaking Benjamin Jon Brion Ane Brun Davide Buffoli Chris de Burgh Jimmy Burns Jonathan Byrd Mariah Carey Dana Carvey The Celibate Rifles Celtic Thunder Cherwood Cold as Ice David Cook Terry Crawford Dandelion Revenge The Darcys Andy Davis Def Leppard Dirty White Girls Double Vision The Drifters DSB Dreams2Reality Johnny Edwards Egg Babies Orchestra Embrace Eva Under Fire

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Artists covered

100 Proof (Aged in Soul) The Beatles The Crickets Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup Lou Gramm Led Zeppelin Shadow King John Stafford Smith & Francis Scott Key Steely Dan Bruce Turgon Betty Wright

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Gigs seen live by

7,389 people have seen Foreigner live.

wpfaff9328 ktwood Jason5000 tj_giant brenster Rmartin77 jyorski metalheadbrian karmadr Dexterow5303 DEA1442 dethorder dirkdiggler13 K880 storrez dyjodapa Kcbesh Magjohns63 foghornfarms haonk DJJAMES0410 nhwildbill DebStebbins2015 Zeeman Hapsml Mattfromvermont Awheelden Petro83 Hootchietoad bobcat letsgopats6789 Ablincoln1206 Craignb 207Concerts EricFetha davidmainer Ryderbj6 clifford696 plumerjr songguy TageRyche silveroak23 bbuz_99 TJBatson joann119 tvacchino go_john hazMatt Rawhyd Krob111

Foreigner on the web

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st. petersburg ballet company: spring show 2024, st. petersburg college community connections concert: coreystrong, palladium chamber series: mile-end trio, mira showcase concert spring 2024, the pinellas youth symphony 66th season finale concert, zach bartholomew with poet gloria muñoz, the palladium at spc, front end design conference 2024, tfo chamber concerts: mendelssohn’s octet for strings & more, brigham young university-idaho presents: night at the swing club, four by four 2024, daniela soledade & nate najar: the girl from ipanema – sold out, steps ballet ensemble: sleeping beauty, mackle shaw duo: music for harp & percussion, tampa bay blues fest kickoff party: blood brothers, tedxst petersburg college, steeln’ peaches: peakin’ at the palladium – an allman brothers revue, mjr latin project: st. petersburg jazz festival presented by emit, alexis cole & helios jazz orchestra: st. petersburg jazz festival – sold out, semyon slepakov: from boston to new york, palladium chamber 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experience, hot tonic celebrates bacharach, palladium chamber series: vaughan williams piano quintet, tfo chamber concerts: rachmaninoff’s symphonic dances & more, rangeelo raas round 7 garba-raas competition, nicole henry: i wanna dance with somebody – the songs of whitney houston, mayor kenneth t. welch: state of the city, pinellas all-county dance concert, classic black, almost abba w/ special guests the shee gees, willy porter, ticket to the moon: elo tribute, la granja en vivo (the farm live), john lamb’s 90th birthday celebration, an evening with bonnie prince billy, sal valentinetti, palladium chamber series: the chamber players perform schumann & brahms, roy book binder & rev. billy c. wirtz, alex harris live an evening of soul, nellie mckay, steve luongo project: a classic rock experience, gaspar the musical, selwyn birchwood & damon fowler: acoustic “songs and stories”, tfo chamber concert: holiday brass, clara’s new york city christmas, nate najar’s jazz holiday, an italian christmas night: andrea del principe, ballet academy of st. petersburg: clara’s christmas dream, second time arounders marching band: holiday spectacular, st. petersburg ballet presents the nutcracker, the motowners christmas kickoff concert, mira showcase concert, pinellas youth symphony holiday concert, kyle schroeder feat. andy snitzer: meeting my saxophone hero, henry rollins: good to see you tour, dailey & vincent, palladium chamber series: the ehnes quartet, tampa bay symphony: passion & power, 31st annual tampa bay times festival of reading – sold out, intern john’s find your happy, michael j. ross & company, featuring fred johnson, sauce boss gumbo blues, auschwitz survivor, helga melmed, shares her story, a night of classic burlesque, vol. 5 – circus edition, brian culbertson: the trilogy tour, indi-ed’s annual comedy show 2023, la luchaween 2023, stretch’s rubberband: overjoyed – stevie wonder tribute, jamie perlow & helios jazz orchestra, ona kirei: full, new luna, oh what a night a musical tribute to frankie valli and the four seasons, mark moultrup and john lamb: stories, mi primer million con andres gutierrez, st. pete opera: g. f. handel’s alcina, judy carmichael & nate najar, the james suggs quintet, spc bands: community connections concert, simon lasky in concert, hot tonic orchestra, america’s test kitchen hosted by wedu – sold out, blues beatles, jeremy carter group presents frequencies, to laugh, to laugh, l’chaim, st pete baroque, jose ramirez fall tour kickoff, daniela soledade: deco tropical, the petty experience – sold out, watkins glen summer jam anniversary concert, bk jackson’s “party in the bay” w/ adam hawley & vip pre-show, spotlight tampa bay, girls night out comedy, road to nowhere, al downing birthday celebration, brandon robertson quintet, evolution of drag – drag through the decades, trace zacur quintet presents “night moves” – sold out, damon fowler – sold out, doug macleod, jeremy carter & james suggs “then & now”, backtrack blues band album release, nate najar’s swing guitars, seals & crofts 2: presented by st. petersburg concert association, a night of classic burlesque, vol. 4 – night two – sold out, a night of classic burlesque, vol. 4 – night one – sold out, the zachary bartholomew trio, sages: deal maker, queer-e-okee with carson kressley, “night doves” presented by atlas modern ballet and camp, dancebox studio, donald harrison quartet – postponed, st. petersburg opera: rossini’s l’italiana in algeri, kafkasso show, gulf coast dance presents: inspired to dance, ballet academy of st. petersburg presents sleeping beauty, fred astaire dance: best of broadway, sunlit after dark, milena pajaro-van de stadt & paul nemeth: palladium chamber series, st. petersburg ballet company’s spring dance concert, sinatra songs: bryan j. hughes & the crew – sold out, tampa bay symphony: tchaikovsky’s pathétique, spc presents: mira’s live music showcase, pinellas youth symphony finale concert, sunscreen film festival – chicks making flicks power brunch, projectalchemy’s jazz theory, the florida orchestra: bruckner’s seventh, spc bands: composers series, carol chambers, tommy prine – sold out, akademy presents the great debate, jazz at the ballroom presents accentuate the positive, gulf coast dance theater: alice in wonderland, tampa bay blues festival kick off party: tommy castro & the painkillers, mile-end trio: palladium chamber series, kristy parton & helios jazz orchestra, chuchito valdes trio – sold out, the florida orchestra: beethoven’s symphony no. 4, st. petersburg opera: beethoven’s fidelio, the florida orchestra: the sorcerer’s apprentice & more, women of jazz xvii – sold out, listening room festival showcase, spc bands: a trip around the world, time for three: palladium chamber series, maxim galkin – sold out, cowboy bebop live, a night of classic burlesque, vol. 3 – sold out, nina on my mind, the tamburitzans present phoenix: a new dawn, tampa bay symphony: 6th annual international composition competition finals, alexis cole & helios jazz orchestra: st petersburg jazz festival – sold out, the juilliard string quartet: palladium chamber series, one city chorus with special guests diversity: the voices of sarasota, whitney james’ jazz valentine – sold out, the florida orchestra: pictures at an exhibition revisited, unapologetically american comedy tour, tampa bay symphony: innovation and freedom, pinellas all county orchestra concert, 7 bridges: the ultimate eagles experience, diego figueiredo & ona kirei, roy book binder, ed woltil and kirk adams, viscera dimension, the comics of late-night tv, broadway’s best hits, shelly berg & laurence hobgood, the chamber players celebrate 10 years: palladium chamber series, chuck owen & resurgence with special guest kate mcgarry, holidays around the world with orilla, prisma pink floyd experience, taylor dayne live at the palladium, gulf coast dance theater: clara’s new york city christmas, gulf coast dance theater: clara’s new york city christmas – livestream, songs & stories: selwyn birchwood & damon fowler – sold out, second time arounders holiday spectacular, the nutcracker, mira: young talent showcase, southern hospitality: a southern super group, “o give thanks” a community in gratitude, por h ó por b, helios jazz orchestra w/ sonja spence, the allen carman project feat. gumbi ortiz, tampa bay times festival of reading, ann hampton callaway: fever the peggy lee century, steven wright: live in concert – sold out, tampa bay symphony: heroes and villains, intern john’s lost, a night of classic burlesque, vol. 2 – sold out, mountainfilm on tour st. pete, la luchaween 2022: a spooky evening of music & film hosted by eugenie bondurant, stretch’s rubberband presents “overjoyed” a stevie wonder tribute – sold out, the stylistics, anthill cinema, st. petersburg opera: puccini’s tosca, jose ramirez: major league blues – postponed, helios jazz orchestra & sonja spence – postponed, gbo florida west coast classic – canceled, kyle eastwood’s “cinematic”, greg koch featuring the koch marshall trio, trace zacur: no genre, no rules, wmnf’s 43rd birthday bash featuring the bright light social hour, the simon lasky group, ballet magnificat deliver us, the octet presents majors & minors, a song for you: a tribute to donny hathaway and roberta flack, girls night out, daniela soledade: “pretty world” album release w/ roberto menescal & antonio adolfo, eric darius unleashed album release party w/ special vip pre-show, jeremy carter’s rubber band: night at the movies, boho sideshow and dean johanesen & the 24-hour men, damon fowler & friends, sunflower soul: charitable concert in support of ukraine, a night of classic burlesque – sold out, alastair greene, nate najar & friends swing into summer, the mountain goats, tiglff: an afternoon with suzanne westenhoefer, ona kirei album release, wahh world fusion band, michael kelly: the pleasing recollection, professor pennygoode’s mighty flea circus, wmnf presents: a juneteeth celebration, one night only: jeremy carter and james suggs, sandra bernhard: an exclusive st. pete pride performance, st. pete pride: queer-e-okee with carson kressley, bryan j. hughes: cole swings cool – sold out, st. petersburg opera: donizetti’s la fille du régiment, gulf coast dancenter: nature’s beauty, gulf coast dancenter: nature’s beauty – livestream, halie loren in concert, fred astaire dance, judy carmichael with nate najar – sold out, ballet academy of st petersburg presents coppélia, tampa bay symphony: brahms’ magnificent first, st. petersburg ballet company: spring dance concert, palladium chamber players: edward arron and jeewon park in recital, pavlo in concert, frank t. williams iii all county jazz concert, beacon 2022, la fiesta: a tribute to chick corea, the florida orchestra: soundwaves – vienna 1921, 4th annual akademy great debate, united states coast guard band, an evening with david amram, jack kerouac house, david amram meet and greet at the kerouac house, tampa bay blues fest kickoff: ronnie earl, palladium chamber players: the chamber players w/ natalie hoe & jessica guideri, the florida orchestra: soundwaves – tfo winds and brass, spc community concert band & wind symphony: campus connections concert, listening room festival – ten year anniversary, your songs: a tribute to sir elton john, women of jazz xvi, gulf coast dance theater: alice in wonderland 2022, gulf coast dance theater: alice in wonderland 2022 – livestream, the bald eagle – book launch and signing, palladium chamber players: the original palladium chamber players, cher, elton, streisand, bocelli – vegas’ edwards twins, spjf: chris dingman trio, spjf: emma hedrick w/ helios jazz orchestra, spjf: radiojazzhead, spjf: best of blue note with james suggs & austin vickrey sextet, spjf: o som do jazz w/ rafael pereira, jose valentino ruiz & andrea moraes manson, tampa bay symphony: love and more, chris macdonald’s memories of elvis, the mersey beatles: all the hits, nicki parrott, rossano sportiello, and ed metz, take me home: the music of john denver, diego figueiredo trio, the florida orchestra: soundwaves – bach and beyond, damon fowler and friends, st. petersburg opera: g. f. handel’s semele, palladium chamber players: mile-end trio with guest violist derek mosloff, fred moyer jazz trio, al downing jazz 50th anniversary celebration with danny bacher, dave meder: songs and stories trio, the florida orchestra: holiday brass, a blues christmas with tc carr and friends, nate najar’s jazz holiday, 1781 tribute: a revolutionary concert, palladium chamber players: mile-end trio plays schubert and arensky, st. petersburg ballet: the nutcracker, synia carroll & helios jazz orchestra, mira creative career summit & emerging artist exposition, gulf coast dance theater: 2021 winter gala and act 1 of cinderella, gulf coast dance theater: 2021 winter gala and act 1 of cinderella – livestream, o give thanks – a community in gratitude, a truefire evening with livingston taylor – sold out, kat edmonson in concert, social venture partners: fast pitch, gin blossoms, tampa bay symphony: international festival, shaun martin & john c. o’leary iii: an intimate evening at the piano, intern john’s what’s next, bee gees now, a little hocus pocus: an interactive tribute show, the mersey beatles, acme jazz garage: sharkskin, dean johanesen trio: speakeasy swing night, an intimate evening with latimore, st. petersburg opera: mozart’s così fan tutte, mayor’s art forum, james suggs band: a tribute to louis armstrong, the mushroom brotherhood, spc jazz band & concert band, valerie gillespie salutes cole and cole, girls night out – comedy, the florida orchestra: inside the music: vivaldi’s four seasons, helios jazz orchestra & scotty wright, sages: denying gravity – a fall prevention play, dylan leblanc, nate najar’s jazz samba celebration, ward smith and friends: standup comedy, victor wainwright and the train, the duane eubanks quintet: things of that particular nature, kick the bucket list: the world according to aarp, bryan j. hughes: a duke ellington celebration, la lucha’s 80s jazz party, jose ramirez band, richard gilewitz and tim may, feelin’ good: celebrating nina, moonflower: the spirit of santana, latin jazz fest: tabajara belo & o som do jazz, latin jazz fest: gumbi ortiz & new groove city, latin jazz fest: mjr latin project & friends, damon fowler group: alafia moon – sold out, selwyn birchwood band, st. pete opera: pagliacci – sold out, st. pete opera: pagliacci – limited availability, st. pete opera: pagliacci, ballet academy of st. petersburg: the four seasons, bob dylan’s 80th birthday bash, gulf coast dancenter: 10th annual spring recital, fred astaire tampa bay: dance fantasy, this bird has flown – a jazz tribute to the beatles, st. pete opera: the return of grand opera, daniela soledade and nate najar, beacon: an evening of dance, tampa bay symphony: more chamber delights, la lucha, w/ james suggs and ken peplowski, the damon fowler group, jeremy carter’s soul of jazz, about the palladium.

Whether in the main concert hall, Hough Hall with its unsurpassed new sound system, or kicking back in the intimate Side Door Cabaret, the historic Palladium Theater is consistently ranked as one of Tampa Bay’s best, most affordable venues for classical, jazz, blues, theatre, opera, Celtic, comedy, dance, educational, literary, community events, and more. The Palladium, located in downtown St. Petersburg’s cultural center, is part of what makes Tampa Bay great.

Artists In Residence

Daily Southtown | Styx, Foreigner reunite for the Renegades &…

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Daily southtown | styx, foreigner reunite for the renegades & juke box heroes tour.

The co-headliners along with special guest John Waite perform Aug. 24 outdoors at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park.

“I just expect a great evening of fun where the soundtrack to all of our glorious, misspent youth will be aired live, played by the musicians that wrote (the songs) originally,” said James “JY” Young, whom many call the godfather of Styx.

When the bands hit the road together in 2014, they released “The Soundtrack of Summer” tour companion album. Their “Renegades & Juke Box Heroes” limited-edition companion album has been available at concerts, which began June 11 and continue through Aug. 28.

The vinyl features Foreigner’s “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “Juke Box Hero” and Styx’s “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights),” “Come Sail Away,” “Too Much Time on My Hands” and “Renegade.”

“I’ve always been a fan of their music,” said Young about Foreigner, which began its farewell tour in 2023 and will be inducted Oct. 19 into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“We’ve been making records since 1972. That’s a long time, and they signed their first deal right around the same time we did so it’s worked out beautifully well.”

The current Styx lineup includes Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards) and Will Evankovich (acoustic and electric guitars, vocals).

The band, which has roots in Chicago’s Roseland community, added Lawrence Gowan’s brother Terry Gowan (bass, vocals) in May after bassist Ricky Phillips announced in March on Facebook that he was departing Styx after 20-plus years of touring and recording with the group.

“At this stage we’re grateful for where we’re at and how we got here and that our bandmates are still capable of doing what they need to do,” said Young, who grew up in Little Flower parish and graduated from Calumet High School in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham community.

“I’m going to do this until the day I drop. I don’t know how many more years that will be. I love being on that stage. I look forward to it. It brings me to full speed emotionally and physically and mentally when I’m out there.”

The Recording Industry Association of America certified Styx’s “The Grand Illusion” (1977) and “Pieces of Eight” (1978), which were both recorded at Paragon Recording Studios in Chicago, and “Paradise Theatre” (1981), which was recorded at Pumpkin Studios in Oak Lawn, triple platinum.

“It’s very humbling to think that something that you sat around and created decades ago can still have a profound impact on someone’s life,” Young said.

“I’ve always wanted to be a successful rock and roller, and that I accomplished.

“We’ve got a lot of talent here and we’ve done our best to make magic with it, and we’re grateful for all the fans who have supported us.”

J essi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

Styx and Foreigner

When: 6:45 p.m. Aug. 24

Where: Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park

Tickets: $31 to $174-plus

Information: 708-614-1616; livenation.com

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What is the anthem of Rochester? And why it's 'Juke Box Hero.'

In the basement of a small New York state home, a young Lou Gramm set up drums, guitar, amp and keyboard. There, he began crafting one of the most iconic songs in rock music history: "Juke Box Hero."

"Standing in the rain, with his head hung low," Gramm rattled off during a phone interview with us. "Couldn't get a ticket, it was a sold-out show." Memories of rocking a Rochester stage, perhaps?

Gramm, a Gates native, is going into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Foreigner , and local fans seem both pleased and relieved. Before the October ceremony in Cleveland, people have been talking about this “hometown hero” and his rise to stardom.

We also heard an interesting theory from executive editor Michael Kilian: Foreigner’s song “Juke Box Hero” is "the anthem of Rochester.” Is it true, we wondered?

Lou Gramm is the most famous rocker from Rochester, by far.

Foreigner is the most popular Rochester-connected band that hit the biggest, the longest.

The slice of American music they primarily represent — white, classic rock, boomer, middle-class — is promoted by fans from an influential era, ones who spent money on music and the things associated with it. Foreigner has sold more than 80 million records worldwide, according to some reports.

Can one song truly even capture and represent an entire city?

Being born in Buffalo two decades after "Juke Box Hero's" release, this bold "anthem of Rochester" hypothesis left me skeptical. I had never heard this statement from anyone my age. Much of Rochester listens to hip-hop, Spanish and R&B music.

This Foreigner song is the furthest from that.

Just like that, my editor and I, like detectives, were on the hunt to test the hypothesis and solve the mystery: Is Juke Box Hero Rochester’s definitive anthem?

Lou Gramm's iconic rock anthem: Analyzing the evidence

Put his ear to the wall, then like a distant scream. He heard one guitar, just blew him away.  

A criminal justice class called, “Investigations,” that I took my senior year of college set me up for this moment — to pursue this mystery. As any good sleuth knows, the first step in any investigation is to analyze the evidence.  

In this case, key evidence included the song itself. I put on my detective hat and pressed play.  

The song follows a boy standing outside a sold-out concert he couldn’t get tickets for. He hears the sounds of a guitar through the shut door, which changes his life forever. Once he has his own guitar, the determined boy moves into a life of stardom, playing at concerts like the one he once couldn’t get into.  

A real “rags-to-riches story,” as Mark Kaidy would put it. He is the owner of Hi Fi Lounge in Brighton.

Owning a music and audio store means you must be well-versed in rock bands, but Kaidy’s introduction to Foreigner came well before he opened shop. He remembers the band being played “like crazy” throughout his high school days in west Brighton. It was as if Foreigner was part of the atmosphere, he said.

In the music video for "Juke Box Hero," a curly-headed Gramm stood center stage. It was 1981. The steady heartbeat of drums in the song’s intro filled the concert venue while fans began screaming. Their applause quickly transformed into another instrument, matching the beat of the music.

Could this song be a musical representation of Gramm’s life growing up in Rochester before reaching superstardom? Maybe that’s why this community feels connected to it.

Kaidy considers Foreigner to be the only rock band from Rochester to “make it big,” which he thinks explains their popularity here. “They were our Hometown Heroes, you know, as well as jukebox heroes,” he said.  

His tiny music shop is always stocked with their albums.

Foreigner's 'Juke Box Hero' still resonates with fans

Like a trip through the past, to that day in the rain. And that one guitar, made his whole life change.

Out of all the songs in Foreigner’s discography, what makes "JBH" so captivating?  

Alayna Alderman, the vice president at the store Record Archive, says it captures the imagination. She has seen a lot of bands and musicians take off from Rochester. "It's a song of hopes and dreams."

My editor and I went to House of Guitars on Titus Avenue in Irondequoit to look for more clues. It was our first time visiting the western New York treasure. We walked up the steps of the big brick store, to be greeted by hundreds of guitars inside lining the walls, and headed downstairs to meet one of the owners, Armand Schaubroeck .

Read This Next: Music stars go out of their way to gawk at stuff inside this New York store

He is a longtime friend of Gramm's. Could he help explain why and if this song is considered the Rochester anthem?

Surrounded by hundreds of thousands of records, it was like we were transported into a different reality. One where the only thing that mattered was music. I loved it there, and I knew my mom would too.  

Weaving in and out of the aisles full of records, we ran into a musician named Mike Collato. He remembers listening to Gramm and one of his early bands, Black Sheep , thinking it was cool that this singer was a local like him.

At 57, Collato vividly remembers when Juke Box Hero was released.

It was his sophomore summer at Rush-Henrietta Senior High School. He and his friends were all sitting around the pool waiting for Foreigner's album “4” to come out. When it did, he said they all ran to the very place we were standing in now, House of Guitars.

There they could find the soon-to-be iconic gray album with the word FOREIGNER in dark red and an arresting image of a countdown clock.

Collato's eyes and face lit up with passion talking about the song; it was like he was that teenage boy again listening to it for the first time. Maybe this really is the song of this city, even if it holds that value only for some people.  

“Their music transcends different classes,” Collato said, talking about his generation. “You know how school is. Everybody liked Foreigner, everybody. There is not one group of kids that hung out together that did not like it or wasn't singing it.”

I couldn’t imagine how cool it must've been to see a guy from your hometown rise to fame in the way that Gramm did . How could they not relate to Juke Box Hero? It must’ve felt like it was written for them.  

We continued scoping out the store looking for clues.

Scott Flanagan, 46, a Rochester native who moved to Orlando and came back to visit, was shopping with his 17-year-old daughter, Kayla, and her friend.

Flanagan said he also bought the “4” album at House of Guitars when it was released. He remembers watching the band perform at the store. "This music, I grew up on it. I was raised on it. I pass it on to her,” Flanagan said.

Kayla has her own experience with "Juke Box Hero." It’s the only Foreigner song that she knows — familiar with it from playing the video game Guitar Hero.

Standing in that music store, it was clear that this song has touched generations.

Armand Schaubroeck, owner and co-founder of House of Guitars, found us combing through records. He led us up some stairs to a line of rooms used for music lessons and recording studios. Sounds of a saxophone filled the hallway as we spoke.

Schaubroeck told us how he and his brother opened the business in their mother’s home and how music has always touched his life. He said he thinks Juke Box Hero was a good fit for Rochester, especially at the time it came out, because it was a song people could directly relate to.

Once again, there was this universal theme of the underdog that seemed to follow us throughout our entire investigation into the popularity of the song. What about Gramm? Schaubroeck had a relationship with the singer and the band, so we asked for his feelings about the Rochester relationship with Foreigner.

“They look at him like a local boy all the way,” he said. “They saw him grow up, you know.”

Our conversation confirmed the bond Gramm, the song and the band had with this city. Maybe not all of Rochester considered "Juke Box Hero" their anthem, but it was obvious that the ones who did felt that way for a reason.

The missing piece: Lou Gramm himself

Yeah, he's gotta keep on rockin', just can't stop. Gotta keep on rockin', that boy has got to stay on top.

His reputation in town is that he is patient and generous with his time. Still, I was pleasantly surprised when his tour manager said Gramm was up for a phone conversation. It was finally time. The missing piece to the puzzle, the one who could maybe help solve the mystery, was going to call my cell!

I didn’t have much hope that he would want or even have the time to speak with some girl in Rochester about "Juke Box Hero." I know he’s spent a lot of time in his career answering questions about it.

Gramm shared that while writing about the youth waiting outside a show in bad weather, he thought about the Rochester War Memorial, an arena where Foreigner had performed many times.

Many of his fans would also think of the War Memorial while listening to the opening of the song. But in an interview that Dan Rather did with Gramm and Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones, Jones said the song was inspired by a fan outside a show in Ohio that they took pity on.

A soggy fan in Cincinnati. Rochester's War Memorial. Both things can be true.

“The visual picture to me sounds like Rochester,” Gramm said. Rochester is what he was picturing in his head as he wrote the opening words, he said.

How do you feel that many people in Rochester consider you the city’s own Juke Box Hero, I asked him? Flattered, he said. He has always loved hearing that comparison.

Has the meaning of the song to him changed today compared to when he first wrote it? 

“As the band achieved a greater modicum of success, it really took on the form of what I intended that song to be, you know,” Gramm said. “It’s just a rock anthem .”

At this moment, it seemed as if the mystery and questions I had about the allure of the song were answered. Not only does the song carry a universal theme many in the world can relate to but also it paints a picture of Rochester. One that possibly only Rochesterians and Gramm could see clearly.

Gramm thinks part of the appeal lies within the composition and structure of the song. It starts softly with an undercurrent to it , he said, building and building until it becomes “full-on hard rock.”  

“When we do the song, as soon as we get to the chorus, I mean I’m singing 'Juke Box Hero' along with the guys on stage, but the whole audience is singing it, too,” Gramm said. “It makes my hair stand up on my neck when I hear that on stage, it’s very powerful.”

In YouTube comments on a Gramm "Behind the Music" interview, one fan sums up the opinion of many: "In his Foreigner prime, Lou was as great as any other hard rock singer was and should get more recognition."

Gramm feels ready to say goodbye to the touring part of his career (he has said this before). It is a grind. He still plans to make music.

What’s next for this Hero? Spending more time in the city he considers home.

“I love the musical aspect of the city,” Gramm said. “There's always interesting and good places to play, and with the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, there's always interesting concerts, whether it's classical music or blues or rock or jazz or whatever.”

“I think the city has a lot of character and a lot of class." 

Spending time connecting with Lou Gramm fans

Gramm gave a live performance of the song of Rochester at the Iron Smoke Distillery’s “Rock to Remember 2024 Fundraiser” in July. Heavy clouds covered the sky and the drumming of pouring rain could be heard for miles, but inside, everyone was happy and warm.

The boy who once hung his head low in bad weather because he couldn’t get a ticket was going to be center stage again for this night.

It was as if the fans were reliving their youth through his presence. Some brought old photos of themselves at Foreigner’s previous concerts; others brought their copy of "4" for him to sign.

For Linda Critelli and Dave Brown, this was a full-circle moment.

The pair said they have both been longtime fans of Gramm and Foreigner. Critelli had graduated from Gates Chili High School a few years after Gramm and “Juke Box Hero” was the “theme song” of the school at the time, she said. Wearing their Foreigner guitar T-shirts, the two sat on the couch next to Gramm for a picture and she had Gramm sign her shirt. They plan to suit up in this same attire for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in October.  

It was time for Gramm to take the stage. The thud of the drums started and the crowd buzzed. As he got closer to the chorus, the audience bobbed their knees and fist-pumped to the beat.

“...And be a Juke Box Hero,” Gramm sang into his microphone.

“Got stars in his eyes,” the crowd sang back in response.

The final analysis

As our reporting journey was winding down, I began to realize that the truth to this mystery is all about perspective. Sure, there are plenty of regular people in Rochester like one of the people we talked to for this story, Adrien Moses Clark, a tattoo artist who owns the AOK shop. He wouldn’t consider this song the definitive “Rochester anthem.” He is right. The song speaks to a defined audience.

“I think Rochester is very diverse in its music tastes and it might be kind of hard to find one anthem that really speaks to enough folks to call it the anthem of Rochester,” Clark said.

For those who do see "Juke Box Hero" as leading their city identity playlist, this investigation led me to understand their reasons.

This song. This singer. This band. It gave people in Rochester hope during tough times.

They related to the opening lyrics. It reminded them of standing in gloomy Rochester weather waiting to see a show at the War Memorial, musician Collato said.

“It meant to us that hey, you know, we had dreams — if we wanted to make it, let's try to make it."

— Madison Scott  is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who writes about Rochester, Canandaigua, missing people and music (when she gets a chance). She can be reached at  [email protected] .

Which song represents Rochester?

If not "Juke Box Hero," what song do you think represents Rochester? Please email Madison Scott at [email protected] with your full name and thoughts. Thanks for reading.

LAST SEASON'S SHOWS

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Hayden Coffman

21+ | doors at 7:00 pm | $21+.

Bayboro Brewing // St. Petersburg, FL

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Zombie Bands Attack! These Touring Groups Don’t Have a Single Original Member

By Andy Greene

Andy Greene

As Trey Anastasio told us recently, keeping a rock band together is an extraordinarily difficult task. “Picture who your best friends were when you were 18,” he said. “And imagine you got trapped in a van with them for 40 years…. It just builds up, and personalities clash. I’m talking real loathing, like, ‘Don’t put a gun in the room.’ It’s really crazy.”

Anastasio’s band Phish is one of the few acts in rock history to keep their classic lineup together decade after decade. Most groups have at least one major absence due to some combination of retirement, illness, death, personality conflicts, or prolonged legal battles. Even the once unbreakable U2 recently wrapped up their Las Vegas run at Sphere with a replacement drummer because Larry Mullen Jr. has been sidelined with a back injury. They still have 3/4 of their lineup standing strong. The Rolling Stones are at 3/5 (or 2/5 if Ronnie Wood is still the new guy to you), Journey are at 2/5, the Who at 2/4, the Eagles at 3/5 (or 1/5 if we’re just counting OGs), and so on and so on.

But what happens when the last legit band member shuffles off? Some groups simply cease to exist, but many others carry on with newbies and pretend they are something more than sanctioned tribute groups. The most recent example is the Four Tops after the loss of Abdul “Duke” Fakir, but they aren’t alone. Here’s our rundown of bands that continue to tour without a single classic-era member. (And while there’s no singular definition of “classic era,” we chose to consider members who were active while the band was still scoring hits.) 

What happened? From the day Foreigner formed in 1976, guitarist Mick Jones was at the helm. He was their primary songwriter, and the one who hired/fired the others. When original singer Lou Gramm left the band for a second time in 2003, Jones was the last original member left. He led a new incarnation of the group until health problems gradually reduced his role within the group, finally forcing him off the road a couple of years back.

Credibility? It’s pretty minimal. Former Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson has been in the group the longest at this point, followed closely by frontman Kelly Hansen. But they both joined in the 2000s, long after the last hit was recorded. They do a very nice job playing the classics, and they’re in the middle of a successful summer tour right now, but this is a glorified cover band. 

Potential Reunion? It’s happening Oct. 19 when Foreigner are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. Nothing has been 100 percent confirmed, but all signs point to Jones, Gramm, drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboardist Al Greenwood, and bassist Rick Wills getting their “Double Vision” on one last time. The event falls shortly before the end of Gramm’s solo farewell tour, meaning this is the end of authentic Foreigner. Fake Foreigner, however, will likely tour forever — even though they claim they are on their own farewell tour at the moment. 

The Platters, Drifters, and Coasters

What Happened? Lumping these three Fifties R&B vocal groups into one entity may seem like a gross injustice since they are distinct groups with their own unique histories. But, sadly, the original members didn’t own the rights to their own group names, and they were forced to helplessly watch imitators flood concert stages all over the world pretending to be them. Savvy promoters often hired a single elderly member in an attempt to make audience members feel they were seeing one original. These groups formed 70 years ago, and the real members are no longer with us in every single case.

Credibility? Thanks to decades of legal battles, the heirs of the original members finally have the copyrights. That hasn’t stopped shady promoters from throwing fake versions onto the stage, meaning you should do your research before buying tickets. And even then you’re seeing skilled singers carry on the legacy of these groups, not the real deals.

Potential Reunion? Nil.

The Four Tops

What Happened? The original Four Tops lineup of Levi Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton remained intact from their formation in 1953 all the way through 1997 when Payton died. It was a 44-year run with few precedents in music history. (During that same time, a small army of men came and went from the Temptations.) But Stubbs retired from the group in 2000 after suffering a stroke, and he died in 2008. And when Benson died in 2005, Fakir was suddenly leading a new version of the band by himself. He died July 22, 2024.

Credibility? Lawrence Payton Jr. has been touring in his father’s place for many years. And the other three members were handpicked by Fakir himself. There may not be a single vocalist in the group that sang on any of the Four Tops’ original recordings, but this incarnation still has more credibility than the Platters, Drifters, or Coasters combined.

Potential Reunion? Only up in heaven. 

The Grass Roots

What Happened? The history of the Grass Roots is so complicated and confusing that it would take a three-hour PowerPoint just to scratch the surface. Simply put, they were originally the creation of P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri at the height of the folk-rock craze in 1965. But once the group’s original demo tape found traction, a totally different group was hired to become the Grass Roots. It was that version of the band that recorded hits like “Let’s Live for Today” and “Midnight Confessions.” But by the late Seventies, it was just lead singer Rob Grill and hired hands. Once he died in 2011, only the hired hands remained.

Credibility? Guitarist Dusty Hanvey, keyboardist Larry Nelson, and drummer Joe Dougherty have been touring in the Grass Roots since the Eighties. But none of them play on a single Grass Roots studio record. They are very good at playing the hits, and they logged many years with Grill at the helm. It makes them leagues more credible than a bunch of random bozos playing the songs, but they still ain’t the real deal. (Disregard the confusing fact that the most famous version of the band was also just people pretending to be the Grass Roots.)

Potential Reunion? Guitarist Creed Bratton and keyboardist/guitarist Warren Entner from the “Let’s Live for Today” incarnation are still with us. Bratton found fame decades later as Creed from The Office , and he still devotes much of his time to music. Entner has a much lower profile. But they don’t own the name rights. If you want to see an authentic member of the Grass Roots sing their songs, go see Bratton in concert. You’ll have a lot of fun. 

Lynyrd Skynyrd

What Happened? The short answer is time, illness, and one of the most horrific plane crashes in rock history. That 1977 accident killed frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines. The surviving members came back together with Johnny Van Zant, younger brother of Ronnie Van Zant, singing lead. But the surviving members died one by one over the years, until guitarist Gary Rossington was the last one left. He died in 2023.

Credibility? The current incarnation of Skynyrd has a much greater claim to legitimacy than many of the other groups on this list. A big reason is the tireless work of Johnny Van Zant over the past four decades. He sings his heart out every night in a voice eerily reminiscent of his late brother. There’s also guitarist Rickey Medlocke, who played drums very briefly in the group before they found success in the early Seventies and returned to the fold as a guitarist in 1996. One could even argue that Skynyrd shouldn’t be on this list because Medlocke is still a member. But he left before the band recorded the first album. He seems to fall one tiny degree short of counting as an actual OG, but good people can disagree on this.

Potential Reunion? The entire original lineup of the band is now dead, but drummer Artimus Pyle joined in 1975 and plays on several of their most famous songs, including “What’s Your Name” and “That Smell.” He’s the only living former member of the band who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His return would give the group a bit more credibility, but it’s pretty unlikely. Relations between the two camps are pretty strained. 

Blood, Sweat & Tears

What Happened? Blood, Sweat & Tears were one of the most popular groups of the late Sixties and early Seventies, scoring big hits like “Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” and “And When I Die.” They won Album of the Year at the 1970 Grammys over the Beatles’ Abbey Road , the first Crosby, Stills, & Nash record, and Johnny Cash’s At San Quentin . Their popularity took a big dip when they went on a U.S. Department of State-sponsored tour of Eastern Europe in the summer of 1970. Their lineup also changed quite a bit, with singer David Clayton-Thomas sticking around the longest. When he left in 2004, the group no longer had any authentic members.

Credibility? A truly astonishing number of musicians have played in Blood, Sweat & Tears over the past few decades. They were even fronted by American Idol ‘s Bo Bice at one point. Their current singer is The Voice contestant Keith Paluso. Original guitarist Steve Katz played with them a few times between 2008 and 2010, and founding bassist Jim Fielder performed with the band in 2022. But 99 percent of the time that you’re seeing Blood, Sweat & Tears, it’s an entirely new set of musicians with no connection to the classic band.

Potential Reunion? Clayton-Thomas has kept a very low profile since Covid hit. It’s within the realm of possibility he could unite with fellow Blood, Sweat & Tears alumni like Fielder, Katz, organist Al Kooper, and drummer Bobby Colomby for a tour. But it’s unlikely, since they’re all nearing 80 or slightly past it and no longer care to tour. For better or worse, they’ve passed the baton onto a new generation of the band. 

Iron Butterfly

What Happened? The classic Iron Butterfly quartet of Erik Brann, Ron Bushy, Lee Dorman, and Doug Ingle recorded the psychedelic mega-hit “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” in 1968. They splinted apart almost immediately after that. Drummer Bushy stuck around the longest, but he retired from the road in 2012 and died in 2021. ( Ingle died in May.) The longest-serving member of the current band, singer-guitarist Eric Barnett, joined in 1995. The others signed up in the 2000s.

Credibility? The best thing they can say is that Barnett spent many years performing with original members, including “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” singer/organist Doug Ingle. The others logged at least a little time in the band with Bushy. That gives them more cred than an Iron Butterfly tribute band, but not a ton.

Potential Reunion? It’ll require some very powerful smelling salts.

Molly Hatchet

What Happened? Southern rockers Molly Hatchet filled the void left behind by Lynyrd Skynyrd when they entered the scene in 1978. In the early Eighties, the band scored big hits with “Flirtin’ With Disaster,” “Bloody Reunion,” and “Satisfied Man.” But the founding members all faced significant health problems in the years that followed. When guitarist Steve Holland died from Covid in 2020, the complete original lineup was gone.

Credibility? Keyboardist John Galvin joined in 1983 and played on some of their latter hits. Guitarist Bobby Ingram came onboard in 1987, just as they were starting to transition into a legacy act. The other members were hired in the 2000s. The presence of Galvin and Ingram does grant them a degree of authenticity, but nearly every song in their set was recorded after they joined. 

Potential Reunion? The complete classic lineup is dead. A handful of Nineties members remain, but their return wouldn’t mean all that much. For all intents and purposes, the current Molly Hatchet are as close to a reunion as is possible. 

What Happened? Rickey Medlocke formed Blackfoot with his buddy Greg T. Walker in 1969, a couple of years before Medlocke joined a pre-fame Lynyrd Skynyrd. He recommitted to the band after leaving Skynyrd and helped them establish a foothold as one of the premier Southern rock bands of the late Seventies and early Eighties. They are best remembered today for their hits “Railroad Man,” “Highway Song,” and “Fly Away.” The band dissolved in the early Nineties, a few years before Medlocke joined Skynyrd, where he remains to this day. In 2012, Medlocke put together a new version of the band. And in 2021, he put yet another slate of musicians on the road as Blackfoot.

Credibility? The living members are not thrilled about Medlocke controlling the band’s trademark. They even toured briefly under the moniker Fired Guns. That band didn’t have the name, but they did have a much more legit claim to the Blackfoot legacy. The current incarnation has very little beyond the blessing of Medlocke.

Potential Reunion? There’s bad blood between Medlocke and the others, so it’s hard to imagine this ever happening.

The Ventures

What Happened? Prior to the Beatles, instrumental rock bands were the rage in America. Few were as popular as the Ventures. Led by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, they landed massive hits on the charts like “Walk Don’t Run” and the theme to Hawaii Five-O . Along the way, they inspired a generation of young guitarists to first pick up an instrument. Bogle died in 2009, and Wilson followed in 2022. The current version is led by guitarist Bob Spalding, who has been playing with the band since 1980.

Credibility? Spalding spent many years touring with Wilson, Bogle, and classic-era members Nokie Edwards and Mel Taylor. He’s the closest thing to an original Venture still involved in the music industry. Any incarnation of the Ventures with him in the lineup is more than a cover band, even if he didn’t play on the classic recordings of the Fifties and Sixties.

Potential Reunion? Every single person who played on “Walk Don’t Run” is no longer among the living. Four-star retired Gen. George T. Babbitt Jr. did briefly play with the band in 1959, shortly before they cut “Walk Don’t Run.” If he feels inclined to sit in with the group one night at age 82, it would be a reunion of sorts. That’s about the best they could offer.

The Spinners

What Happened? The Spinners formed in 1954, but thanks to a disastrous stint on Motown in the Sixties, they didn’t find their footing until the Seventies when they had an impressive run of hits, including “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” “Then Came You,” and “One of a Kind (Love Affair).” They had difficulty adjusting to the Eighties despite their amazing work on the Spaceballs soundtrack, but continued to tour heavily. By the time they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, baritone singer Henry Fambrough was the last remaining original member. He died a year later. 

Credibility? Co-lead tenor Charlie Washington has been with the group since 2007. He’s now the member with the longest history in the act. Most of his bandmates spent at least a little time working with Fambrough, so there’s some form of connective tissue to the past. But it’s pretty thin.

Potential Reunion? Vocalist John Edwards was with the band from 1977 to 2000, when he was sidelined by a stroke. G.C. Cameron’s history with the band stretches back to 1967, and he sang lead on “It’s a Shame” and “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.” He came back for a short time in the 2000s but has been absent ever since. Both singers could get with the current group at some point, but don’t hold your breath. 

The Kingston Trio

What Happened? The Kingston Trio introduced folk music to suburban America in 1958 when they brought the traditional song “Tom Dooley” to Number One. They followed it up with a long string of hits, including “A Worried Man,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” and “Reverend Mr. Black.” As soon as the Beatles landed at JFK, their act seemed hopelessly passé. They took a break in 1967 before partial reunions became a mainstay on the oldies circuit. Original member Bob Shane secured the name rights in the Seventies and stuck with the group until he suffered a heart attack in 2004. He died in 2020, and there are now no original members still alive.

Credibility? The name rights are now owned by Josh Reynolds, son of original member Nick Reynolds. He puts a group on the road that does a fine job of honoring the legacy of the original band, but there’s no real connection to the classic lineup beyond a business one.

Potential Reunion? The “Tom Dooley” lineup of Dave Guard, Nick Reynolds, and Bob Shane are all gone, so it’s not possible.

The Four Freshmen

What Happened? Back in 1948, there were indeed four young singers in the harmony group the Four Freshmen: Hal Kratzsch, Dan Barbour, Ron Barbour, and Bob Flanigan. “Bob and the Freshmen were my harmonic education,” Brian Wilson recalled decades later. “My dad took me to see them in 1958. I was blown away by their sound. Seeing that show inspired me to create the music I did with the Beach Boys.” Ironically, it was the Beach Boys and other modern groups of the Sixties that turned the Four Freshmen into yesterday’s news. But they never stopped touring and recording. The original four members retired long ago. The last two of them died in 2011.

Credibility? Bass singer Bob Ferreira joined the current band in 1992. The others joined in the 2000s. In Wilson’s memoir I Am Brian Wilson , he recalls meeting them backstage at one of their recent shows. “I told them how I first heard them on a demonstration record at a department store,” he wrote. “It wasn’t those Four Freshmen, of course, but I liked pretending. It was a kind of time machine.” If they’re good enough for Brian Wilson, they’re good enough for us.

Potential Reunion? This is a group that formed in the friggin’ Forties. It’s a miracle they exist in any form right now. But a reunion of the OGs isn’t possible in this world.

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RIDE ON TOUR

Friday, october 11 at 7pm.

America: Ride On Tour 2024

Friday, October 11 at 7pm

Tickets go on sale Fri, 5/10 at 10am

Member Presale begins Wed, 5/8 at 10am

Limited VIP Packages Available

Tickets available on Ticketmaster

Or call (727) 300-2000

Tickets for this performance go on sale to the public on Friday, May 10 at 10am. Interested in reserving your seats before the public? Members of Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts have access to an exclusive presale starting Wednesday, May 8 at 10am. Call (727) 300-2000 to reserve your seats and to learn more about the perks of membership!

The iconic multi-platinum-selling group America will celebrate their 54 th anniversary with a series of tour dates in 2024. Known for their timeless magic and powerful performances, the Grammy Award-winning perennial classic-rock favorite will draw on their deep catalog of hits including signature song “A Horse With No Name,” a Number One hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1972.

On their way to becoming a global household name, America’s journey found them exploring a wide variety of musical terrain. Their best-known tunes, which also include “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People,” and “Sister Golden Hair” were cornerstones of 1970’s Top 40 and FM rock radio. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners would discover there was always much more to America than surface perceptions. The combination of melodic pop rock and folk-jazz elements, slinky Latin-leaning rhythms and impressionistic lyric imagery contrasted well with other more traditional country-rock leanings and highly personal lyrics.

America’s albums–six certified gold and/or platinum, with their first greatest hits collection, History, hitting four plus million in sales–displayed a fuller range of the trio’s talents than did their singles. Their material encompassed an ambitious artistic swath; from effects-laden rockers to oddball medleys to soul-bearing ballads, America displayed a flawless blend of disparate genres and styles as wide-open as the great American plains.

From their formative years, America has been a band capable of transcending borders with its uplifting music and positive message. Embracing a rainbow of divergent cultures, America’s audiences continue to grow, comprising a loyal legion of first, second and third generation fans, all bearing testament to the group’s enduring appeal.

VIP PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• One (1) Premium Reserved Seat
• Meet & Greet with Dewey Bunnell
• Individual Photo Opportunity with Dewey Bunnell
• One (1) AMERICA T- Shirt
• One (1) Commemorative VIP Laminate, Signed by Dewey Bunnell