Foreigner scored more hits than just about any other rock band from their era. But they were never a favorite of critics, and they had to wait 22 years to enter the Hall of Fame after they first reached their period of eligibility. Original frontman Lou Gramm feels the massive success of their 1984 ballad “I Want To Know What Love Is” played a big role in shaping their reputation.
“I love the song, but it pigeonholed us into something that we were not,” he told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “I knew that influenced [bandleader] Mick [Jones] enough that you could find a soft, smushy ballad on every album after that.”
Foreigner splintered apart in subsequent years, and the current touring lineup doesn’t have any members from the original band. None of them were inducted by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but they did accept drummer Dennis Elliott, bassist Ed Gagliard (who died in 2014), Gramm, keyboardist Al Greenwood, Jones, guitarist/keyboardist Ian McDonald (who died in 2022), and bassist Rick Wills.
Here are speeches from Jones’ daughter, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Gramm, Wills, and Greenwood.
Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Daughter of Mick Jones
Hello, Cleveland, sorry that’s what my father would say. Or no he would say more like, ‘Hello Cleveland!’ Well, that’s what he would say countless times when we would find ourselves in tunnels, backstage in cities all over the world — all of it were not Cleveland. And I would laugh anyway, even though I didn’t get his Spinal Tap reference that was lost on me back then. Also, I think it was lost on me the significance that my father with his Les Paul in hand, was about to step on stage and ignite the passion of 20,000 fans.
So now, huge benchmark for me, I get to say it on the stage. You know, at the Rock Roll Hall of Fame in this city. Although, of course, I wish it were him, and he wishes he could be here now. And I’m just going to say he’s in New York, and he’s watching from home. Love you, daddy.
So, I’m just going to say a quick few words. I’m going to speak his words: Rock and roll was the first thing that grabbed me. My escape. I practiced for hours listening to Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, trying to figure out their riffs. Never stopping. Music was the only thing I wanted to do. There was no plan B. I just wanted to write songs, and write them, not just play them. So, I learned to speak through song. By the time Foreigner came together, it was clear what I wanted it to be. It was about creating music that would last, and I think that we managed to capture that thanks to my brothers in song — my brothers in song and rock and roll — who helped build this legacy from the very first single: Lou, Dennis, Al, and of course, Rick Wills and Ian and Ed, who sadly are no longer with us.
Our incredible manager, Bud Prager, our Atlantic Records family who took us to the highest of heights. Thank you, Kelly, Jeff, Michael, Chris, Bruce, and Louis for keeping Foreigner alive for the last two decades. And a special thanks to my dear friends, Phil Carson and Stewart Young, and the whole management team who worked tirelessly, tirelessly to keep the wheels turning. I want to thank the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for this giant honor, especially Rick Krim, for nominating us and my old friend John Sykes.
I’m lucky to have a partner and a family that understand my passion making this possible. I thank my children, my wife Ann — they’re everything to me. But above all, above all, what’s most important is that we wouldn’t be here without the fans. So I want to thank the fans, the listeners, the dreamers who made this journey possible. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this incredible odyssey. Rock and roll is forever. Thank you.
Lou Gramm
Thank you. First, I’d like to thank all of my former bandmates: Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, Al Greenwood, Dennis Elliott, Ed Gagliardi, and Rick Wills for 30-plus years of great music and a wild ride. Now, right from the start, Mick and I hit it off in our first songwriting session. The chemistry for many of our biggest hits was the Jones-Rick Gramm collaboration. Although the band went through some changes as time went on, I believe the original band encompassed what Foreigner was all about. As I think back about those times, I’m convinced that Ian McDonald and Ed Gagliardi, who have passed on to a better place, were pivotal players and personalities in Foreigner’s early success.
Lastly, I’d like to close by thanking my friend and songwriting partner Mick Jones, along with the many triumphs and accolades we didn’t always agree about, Foreigners musical directions, but all told we were very fortunate to have been in Foreigner together, and our music continues to stand the test of time.
Rick Wills
I love these guys and I love the guys who are doing what we did — and they’re still doing it today, 47 years later. It’s amazing. So, I want to thank you all, and thank the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for giving us this opportunity to finally be Rock and Roll Hall of Fame people. Thank you!
Al Greenwood
Wow, and a very, very special thanks to Mick Jones, the founder, the visionary and the creative force behind Foreigner. We wish that you were here with us tonight. And to all of our fans who have been with us for 47 years, spanning generations: We love you all and we thank you.
Leave a Comment