Foreigner’s Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame nomination looks like the primary time certainly for the veteran rock band.
The group’s look on this 12 months’s poll is its first ever, regardless of being eligible since 2002. With worldwide document gross sales of greater than 80 million and 9 prime 10 hits on the Billboard Scorching 100 (together with “Feels Just like the First Time,” Chilly As Ice,” “Scorching Blooded,” “Pressing” and “I Wish to Know What Love Is”), Foreigner has lengthy been thought-about one of many Rock Corridor’s greatest snubs by critics and commentators in addition to followers.
“I deeply recognize the popularity from the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame (nominating) committee,” Mick Jones, who based Foreigner throughout 1976 in New York, tells Billboard by way of electronic mail. “It’s great that Foreigner has maintained its presence all these years and introduced the music to our followers. Getting this information is an unimaginable endorsement of what now we have achieved over time.” Jones and authentic Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm had been inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2013.
Phil Carson, an government at Atlantic Information when it signed Foreigner and the band’s supervisor since 2004, calls the nomination “fabulous” — and overdue. “Oh, in fact it’s been irritating, and I do know that lots of the nominating committee members have put Foreigner on the record, however we simply by no means acquired in,” Carson says, noting that the late Rock Corridor co-founder Seymour Stein was an ardent supporter. This 12 months, Carson says, “the same old suspects who’ve at all times been in our court docket voted, and I assume there was simply that little bit of additional credibility of people who encompass Foreigner, encompass Mick, helped.”
For the reason that launch of the Foreigner debut in 1977, the group has logged six multi-platinum albums and 22 songs on the Billboard Scorching 100, together with one chart-topper in 1985 (“I Wish to Know What Love Is”). The band, which has gone by lineup modifications all through its profession, went on hiatus through the early 2000s however re-formed throughout 2004 with Kelly Hansen as frontman and former Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson. A number of of the unique and principal members have participated in sporadic reunions and visitor appearances, whereas founding bassist Ed Gagliardi handed away in 2014 and multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald died in 2022.
Jones has stopped touring with the group attributable to well being causes however continues to supervise and take part in its operations.
Foreigner followers have waged campaigns to get the band onto the Rock Corridor poll for a few years, although Jones has stayed out of the fray whereas quietly lamenting the snub. He beforehand advised Billboard that, “I’m not fascinated about it a lot. I do know we’re getting numerous assist from numerous locations; clearly the followers who’re form of, ‘Let’s induct Foreigner to the Corridor of Fame’ and all these sorts of issues. And many different individuals appear to assume we ought to be in there. I feel it’s right down to the panel and no matter temper they occur to be in and no matter fashion of music they award…. However I’m fairly pleased with what I’ve achieved and the songs communicate for themselves. Whether or not it occurs or not, I’m nonetheless a contented man.”
Carson says Foreigner will promote the nomination by way of its web site and social media to encourage followers to take part within the public vote. The present incarnation of Foreigner, in the meantime, launched a farewell tour final 12 months that may resume with a second leg this 12 months. It’s scheduled to complete in North America through the summer time of 2025, however Carson says demand from different territories could push the top date into 2026.
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