“Couldn’t get a ticket, it was a sold out show.” – Foreigner

(Photo Credit Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

It was indeed a sold out show a few weeks ago at The Walmart Amp in Rogers, Arkansas. It was one of many from a band that has been singing and performing for millions since their incarnation in 1976.

Foreigner has embarked on their “Historic Farewell Tour” (to run through 2024), and Rogers was just one of many stops for the rock legends. You never really know if a farewell tour is actually the farewell (see: Kiss, Motley Crue, and Ozzy for examples), but it seems about right for these guys. Guitarist and founding member Mick Jones is the only remaining touring member of Foreigner and he wasn’t even at this show. Kelly Hansen replaced the legendary Lou Gramm on vocals back in 2005, so they’re going on 18 plus years without their original lead singer.

The band’s most successful incarnation was the 80’s quartet featuring Gramm, Jones, drummer Dennis Elliott, and bassist Rick Wills. All four are still living so there’s always the possibility of some sort of reunion, but this seems a likely end for the group that produced 14 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hits and sold over 50 million records (whatever that means anymore). They scored one #1 hit with “I Want to Know What Love Is,” and another near-miss with the number-two “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” which spent a record-setting 10 weeks at the runner-up position. (Did any of you latchkey kids reading this post ever slow dance to either of these dishes of syrupy goodness? If you didn’t, go grab your significant other, and do so right now!)

“Heard the roar of the crowd, he could picture the scene
Put his ear to the wall, then like a distant scream”

My wife and I had the pleasure of taking in the limited show a few weeks ago, and I say limited because a storm was off in the distance and headed right for us. Due to the impending weather, Canadian rock band Loverboy (another band I haven’t ever seen in concert) cancelled as the opening act, so I was disappointed I didn’t get to see the aged red leather make an appearance (I did feature Mike Reno and his mates on this site many years ago as a backdrop for a family vacation spent at Dauphin Island, Alabama).

“In a town without a name, in a heavy downpour
Thought he passed his own shadow, by the backstage door
Like a trip through the past, to that day in the rain
And that one guitar, made his whole life change.”

As for Foreigner, they cut their normal set short by about five songs playing only seven (nine if you include the guitar and drum solos) of their normal 15 songs (once again two of the 15 are just a drum and a guitar solo).

We had great seats thanks to our friends, the White’s, so we soaked in all we could for approximately 60 minutes of music before we literally got soaked. They knew what they were doing at the Amp because immediately after their final song, “Hot Blooded,” it started raining lightly and was in full downpour mode just as we got to our car.

“Now he needs to keep on rockin’, he just can’t stop
Gotta keep on rockin’, that boy has got to stay on top And be a juke box hero, got stars in his eyes
He’s a juke box hero, got stars in his eyes”

(Photo creds: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Foreigner in 2023 features Jones (missing from the picture above), scarf-wearing lead singer Kelly Hansen, bassist Jeff Pilson, keyboard player Michael Bluestein, guitarist Bruce Watson, guitarist Luis Maldonado, and drummer Chris Frazier.

Original Foreigner was formed in New York City in 1976 by guitarist Mick Jones, Ian McDonald and original lead vocalist Lou Gramm.  Jones came up with the band’s name as he, McDonald, and drummer Dennis Elliott were British, while Gramm, keyboardist Al Greenwood and bassist Ed Gagliardi were American, meaning at least half of the band would be foreigners no matter what country they were in.

It would be the legendary Foreigner “4” album that would be my initial introduction as a 12 year old to the band when it was released in July of 1981. Produced at Electric Lady Studios in New York City by producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange (who else?), the album would spend ten weeks at #1 and include a host of hit singles including today’s featured song and video.

An 80’s juke box

If you love music and you grew up in the era of juke boxes, then I think we can all relate to the longing of one day becoming a juke box hero. Thank you Foreigner for an incredible run and for leaving us an enviable catalog of music to absorb. You will forever be “Juke Box Hero(es)” to thousands…

Thanks for reading.

sincerely,

the80s

Bonus video comes from their finale “Hot Blooded” just as the storm front makes its’ way in (as you’ll see in the video) courtesy of my iphone.

Also, cameo appearance by Arkansas Razorback football coach, Sam Pittman, #woopig, and a rockin’ appearance by my wife as well.