The history continues: Foreigner will keep going on

Foreigners declared their intention to retire in 2022. They now claim that they won’t. Bassist Jeff Pilson claims in a recent interview that the band decided to stick together after finding a new lead singer inside their ranks.

There’s just a lot of forward movement, and the band is incredibly excited. What started off as being a farewell tour ended up being Kelly’s last tour and [the band] moving forward. Jeff Pilson

Encouraged by being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024, Foreigner has kept adding dates to their final tour. However, Hansen declared last month that the North American leg this summer will be his final one.

This catalog of songs, it’s extremely challenging for a rock tenor vocalist like myself to sing. I never would have thought in a million years I’d be singing these songs in the keys at this age, and I don’t know how much longer I can do that at the level I need to. Being the voice of Foreigner has been one of the greatest honors of my life. But it’s time to pass the mic. Kelly Hansen

Pilson is the member of Foreigner with the longest tenure, having joined the band in 2004. He claims that the choice to carry on performing and recording is completely supported by founding guitarist and band leader Mick Jones, who is currently off the road after disclosing a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis last year. Lou Gramm, the founding lead vocalist, has also pledged to assist in any way he can and has started making cameos at recent performances.

Luis really had no intention of this. He was trying to talk Kelly into staying. And when it became clear Kelly really wants to live a life now…Luis just stepped up and, oh my God, that voice came through. Making this change, with Luis, with Mick and Lou’s endorsement and having the whole organization working more together, has been such a positive thing.

Jeff Pilson