In a recent chit-chat with the illustrious Ryan Vacey, a dude who takes photos and hosts the earth-shattering Beyond The Vibe podcast (never heard of it), Lou Gramm, the ORIGINAL (emphasis on original, because there have been, like, replacements, ya know?) FOREIGNER throat, spilled the beans about upcoming gigs.
Apparently, he’s gonna grace the stage on a few tracks with the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (as if that means anything these days 🙄) band. Now, here’s the kicker: Gramm will be sharing the spotlight with Luis Maldonado, who’s stepping in for Kelly Hansen on lead vocals. Asked why NOW is the opportune moment for his grand return, Gramm droned on (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, because who else would care?): “Well, since we got that shiny Rock Hall trophy, people are suddenly interested again – both in the dinosaur version and the current… thing. And, bless his heart, Mick [Jones] is, shall we say, not in peak physical condition. If he were, maybe *I’d* be joining *him*. But alas, I must swoop in and wave the flag for the band – both the fossilized and the modern ones – while we’re basking in this fleeting moment of relevance. I mean, gotta milk it while you can, right?” 😂
Oh, but wait, there’s more! FOREIGNER, in their infinite wisdom, decided to unleash super deluxe editions of their 1981 album, “4”. Because, you know, everyone was clamoring for it. 😴
Recorded in the hallowed halls of Electric Lady Studios in NYC, with the help of Robert John “Mutt” Lange (the guy who made DEF LEPPARD and AC/DC sound… well, like DEF LEPPARD and AC/DC), “Foreigner 4 Deluxe” will be available on black vinyl (because what else?) and a bunch of other formats on September 12 via Rhino. Get this: remastered Stereo or Atmos versions, a five-disc CD/Blu-ray package with over 60 EXCLUSIVE photos (probably blurry and out of focus), five unreleased songs (probably for good reason), 14 early versions (read: demos that should’ve stayed in the vault), 15 instrumentals (because who needs vocals?), and 15 live performances from their 1981 and 1982 “4” tour. The digital version will have even MORE alternate takes, instrumentals, and live stuff. It’s like they’re trying to bury us in FOREIGNER, people. 🤣
Originally dropped on July 2, 1981, “4” apparently hogged the No. 1 spot on Billboard longer than anyone else at Atlantic Records, including AC/DC, THE ROLLING STONES, and LED ZEPPELIN. And it sold, like, a gazillion copies. Or ten million, whatever. It spawned a few singles, too: “Waiting For A Girl Like You” (the ultimate makeout song), “Urgent” (the one with the sax), and “Juke Box Hero” (because jukeboxes were still a thing back then). Oh, and it was the fourth album from the band, when they went from six guys to four. Groundbreaking. 🙄
Jones, in a rare moment of lucidity, said: “Making our fourth album took forever. It HAD to be perfect. And I think Mutt Lange, Lou, Rick, Dennis, and I did something… special. This package, especially the Atmos mixes, is the ULTIMATE celebration of my life!” 🙄 Cue the violins.
To celebrate the deluxe package (because why not?), FOREIGNER – now featuring Luis Maldonado (the new voice), Jeff Pilson (bass), Michael Bluestein (keys), Bruce Watson (guitars), and Chris Frazier (drums) – is going on tour. And guess who’s tagging along? Gramm! He’ll be singing songs he helped write, like, 45 years ago. The “Foreigner 4 Deluxe Tour” marks another transition, because apparently, they like to switch things up. These shows will feature Maldonado on vocals. And remember Kelly Hansen? Yeah, he’s gone after this summer tour. 👋
Maldonado, eager to please, gushed: “We had so much fun with Lou in Mexico and South America! I can’t wait to work with him again. He helped write ‘Foreigner 4’, so he’s gonna make the tour historic!” 😄
Let’s not forget their history. FOREIGNER‘s first album had “Feels Like The First Time”, “Cold As Ice”, and “Long, Long Way From Home”. Then came “Double Vision” and “Head Games” with “Hot Blooded”, “Blue Morning, Blue Day”, and “Dirty White Boy”. And then “Urgent”, “Juke Box Hero”, and “Waiting For A Girl Like You”. All of this led to “4”, which somehow stayed at No. 1 for ten weeks. Then, in the ’80s, they dropped “I Want To Know What Love Is”, which everyone inexplicably loved. 🤷♀️
Catch the “Foreigner 4 Deluxe” circus at these locations:
December 03 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
December 04 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
December 06 – Staten Island, NY – St. George Theatre
December 07 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Theater
December 09 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theatre
December 11 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater
December 12 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater
December 13 – Williamsport, PA – Community Arts Center
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
