A classic rock band’s lead singer is shining more light on why he won’t appear on some upcoming tour dates.
Foreigner vocalist Kelly Hansen revealed Friday that “residency issues” are preventing him from touring outside of the U.S. Original Foreigner singer Lou Gramm will fill in for Latin American concerts while Broadway star Geordie Brown, who played the male lead in a 2018 workshop production of “Juke Box Hero, the Musical,” will replace Hansen at Canadian shows.
“We had a great start to our touring year with a sold out run in Florida, and I am so looking forward to continuing my journey with this incredible band,” Hansen said in a statement. “However, some residency issues have forced me to limit appearances outside of the USA this year and this means that I will miss some international shows.”
“Foreigner’s upcoming South American run will feature our incredible bandmate Luis Maldonado who has been recording some of our hits in Spanish and he will be handling most of the lead vocals along with Lou Gramm who will be guesting with Foreigner for those shows. I know they will smash it!”
Hansen, a California native who has been Foreigner’s frontman since 2005, did not specify what his “residency issues” are. A rep for the band told Ultimate Classic Rock earlier this week that “circumstances prohibit Kelly from spending too much time outside of the U.S.,” but did not elaborate.
Hansen, 63, is still expected to perform at more than half of Foreigner’s 60-plus concerts scheduled in 2025, including an Aug. 7 show at the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, N.Y. International tour dates he’ll miss include tour dates in Mexico and South America between April 28 and May 10, plus a Canadian trek in October and November.
Maldonado will handle lead vocals for the Canadian concerts, Hansen said, but Brown will “sing a few songs in our set” to help promote “Juke Box Hero,” a new musical featuring Foreigner songs. Brown starred in the musical’s original workshop productions in Calgary and Edmonton, plus a sold-out run in Toronto.
“I know Luis and Geordie will do a great job on this leg, and I can’t wait to hear how it goes!” Hansen said.
Gramm, a Rochester native who currently lives in Webster, N.Y., is the original voice of Foreigner hits like “Hot Blooded,” “Cold As Ice,” and “Feels Like the First Time.” He left Foreigner in 1990 and again in 2002, but has periodically reunited with the band including at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in October and a recent surprise appearance at a concert in Florida.
Foreigner's Mick Jones and Kelly Hansen perform on stage during The Juke Box Heroes tour at the St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse, June 19, 2018. Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.comMichael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syr
Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones is the only co-founder that is still a member of the band, though he no longer tours due to Parkinson’s disease. Jones, 80, and Gramm, 74, were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.
Gramm is currently set to retire this year. His final concert is expected to be a hometown show with the Lou Gramm All-Stars at Batavia Downs on Aug. 1.