Lou Gramm Shares Insights on His Decision to Leave Foreigner for Good

It was in 2003 when Lou Gramm, the iconic founding vocalist of Foreigner, made the significant choice to depart from the band permanently. During a candid conversation with SiriusXM’s Classic Rewind, he opened up about the circumstances that ultimately led to his exit from the beloved rock group. This decision was not made lightly, as Gramm was in the midst of his second tenure with the band, reflecting a deep connection with both the music and the fans.

“In the late ’90s, early 2000s, Mick [Jones] and I began writing. And we put some really, really good ideas together,” Gramm recalled, as transcribed by Blabbermouth. “I think we had about seven songs complete, and we were hopeful to finish with about three or four more songs and put out a new Foreigner album.” This creative collaboration was meant to reignite the band’s presence in the music industry after nearly a decade of not releasing a new album.

Despite not putting out a new album, Foreigner was actively touring during this period. It was while on the road that Gramm ultimately decided his journey with the band had reached its conclusion. He reflected on a significant performance: “We were playing something called ‘Night of the Proms’ [in October 2002] in Brussels, Belgium. It was at a massive indoor tennis arena, capable of hosting multiple games simultaneously, with a capacity of 80,000 people. After that series of shows, I left the band…. I just had enough.” This moment marked a pivotal change in Gramm’s career.

The crux of Gramm’s decision, he explained, stemmed from a deteriorating relationship with band leader Mick Jones. Gramm noted, “[Mick is] the founder of the band, he’s the leader of the band, but he wasn’t necessarily doing the job the way he used to do it, and he was suppressing a lot of my creativity.” He expressed the frustration of being reduced to just a vocalist, despite his extensive contributions to the band’s hits over the past two decades. “To be reduced to just a non-creative part, just the singer, didn’t sit well with me,” he admitted, highlighting the importance of artistic input and collaboration in his career.

Lou Gramm Reflects on His Bold Decision to Leave Foreigner Without Regrets

After their performance in Belgium, Lou Gramm returned to America with the rest of the band. Shortly thereafter, he made the difficult decision to inform the management of his departure, officially exiting the group in early 2003. “’Why? What could be wrong? Everything’s going so good?’” Gramm recalled the management’s response. He clarified his position, stating, “It’s not going good. I’m being shut out creatively, which is extremely important to me. I’m not just a singer. I’m a songwriter. I always have been, even before Foreigner.” His decision to leave was driven by a deep commitment to his craft and a need for creative freedom, and he has since expressed that he has never regretted this pivotal choice.

Following Gramm’s departure, Kelly Hansen was brought in as Foreigner’s new frontman, a role he has held since 2005. Meanwhile, Gramm remained estranged from the band for over a decade, during which time he focused on his solo projects and personal endeavors. However, he later reunited with Foreigner for a few performances during their 2017 40th anniversary tour and made a memorable appearance with the current lineup when the band was inducted into the prestigious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.