KELLY HANSEN (FOREIGNER): “When You Want To Put A Different Song In [The Setlist], You’re Taking A Hit Out”

FOREIGNER (Live at the Maverick Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, July 30, 2021)
Photo: Jerry Alperin

Waiting For a Tour Like You

Do Foreigner even need an introduction? Their career spans 45 years (so far). “Juke Box Hero,” “Hot Blooded,” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” and “Waiting For a Girl Like You” are just a few of their hit songs that still dominate the radio waves, appear in popular commercials, and are woven into our pop culture well after they were originally released. While members of the band have changed over the years, lead guitarist and founding member Mick Jones remains the backbone of Foreigner.

On June 24, 2021 the band returned to the road after being sidelined due to world events. The tour is expected to span 121 dates through 16 countries over the next year. Kelly Hansen has been the lead singer for Foreigner since 2005. I had the chance to speak with him while he was crisscrossing the US.

Highlights Include

  • Discussion of Foreigner’s return to the road after lockdown
  • Touring challenges in the post covid era
  • Can fans expect Mick Jones and Lou Gramm appearing at any shows
  • What Kelly did while touring was on hold
  • Kelly’s love for cooking and his appearance on Food Network’s Chopped in 2015
  • Foreigner’s perspective on releasing new music
  • Does Kelly have any other music ventures
  • How his early 80s band Hurricane prepared him for touring/performing with Foreigner
  • … and much, much more!

Foreigner is

Mick Jones – Guitar
Kelly Hansen – Vocals
Jeff Pilson – Bass
Michael Bluestein – Keys
Bruce Watson – Guitar
Chris Frazier – Drums
Luis Maldonado

About George Dionne 288 Articles
George was a contributor here at Metal Express Radio, reviewing albums and conducting interviews, out of Massachusetts, USA. George has contributed to numerous music related websites and blogs, and even managed his own from 2004-2009. George's first assignment was covering a live show by the mighty GWAR. By contrast his later assignments featured Judas Priest, Van Halen, and Bon Jovi. George was also the front man for the South Eastern Massachusetts cover band Sound Tower from 2009-2015.  Sound Tower played 300+ shows across MA and had two original songs on the Cape Cod radio station PIXY 103. George enjoys a good whiskey, scotch, and/or bourbon and fights crime in his spare time.

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