A classic rock singer is going on tour to celebrate his first new album in 17 years.
Lou Gramm, the original voice of Foreigner, released a collection of 10 new songs, “Released,” on March 27. It’s Gramm’s first full-length record of original music since The Lou Gramm Band’s self-titled LP in 2009.
Gramm announced 10 tour dates in support of “Released” beginning in May. No concerts are currently scheduled in Upstate New York, where Gramm was born and currently lives. His current closest show is May 30 at American Music Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
“Released” features previously unreleased songs originally written for other solo albums in the 1980s or Gramm’s side project Shadow King in 1991. Lead single “Young Love” features his former Black Sheep bandmate Bruce Turgon (who also played bass in Foreigner for about a decade) and Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell, while the whole album includes Gramm’s current solo group with his brother Ben Grammatico on drums, Jeff Jacobs on keyboards, Scott Gilman on sax, Tony Franklin on bass, and Gary Hoey on guitar.
“These are powerful, heartfelt songs with a great vintage sound taken right from my old multitrack tapes. This new album was a long time coming and it’s a real nostalgia trip,” Gramm said in a statement. “When I pulled these songs out of the vault, I knew I had to finish them for my fans around the world so they can experience what I did when I first heard them after all these years.”
“It means a lot to me to finally see this album released, to be taken back in time when I hear this music again, to remember working with all these great musicians, and to feel that my catalog is now complete.”
Gramm was the original lead singer of Foreigner, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group known for 1970s and ‘80s hits like “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Hot Blooded,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” and “Cold As Ice.” Gramm, a Rochester native who currently lives in Webster, N.Y., co-founded the band with guitarist Mick Jones; they were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame together.
Gramm left Foreigner in 1990 and again in 2003, opting for a solo career. He released two solo albums, “Ready or Not” in 1987 and “Long Hard Look” in 1989, featuring songs like “Midnight Blue” and “Just Between You and Me.” He also performed with Black Sheep and Poor Heart; released albums with Shadow King (with Campbell) in 1991 and The Lou Gramm Band in 2009; and shared reissues and compilations of previously released material (like 1993’s “A Foreigner in a Strange Land (The Early Years)” and most recently “Questions and Answers: The Atlantic Anthology 1987-1989″ in 2021).
The 75-year-old singer has reunited with Foreigner as a guest vocalist at some concerts, including upcoming 50th anniversary shows. The current lineup features singer Luis Maldonado, bassist Jeff Pilson, keyboardist Michael Bluestein, guitarist Bruce Watson and drummer Chris Frazier; former lead singer Kelly Hansen stepped down in October after 20 years with Foreigner.
Jones is the only original member that’s still officially in Foreigner, though he hasn’t performed live since 2022 due to his battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Gramm told Ultimate Classic Rock in October that he plans to retire soon, but has already booked a 2027 cruise performance with Foreigner.
“I’ve been doing this over 54 years,” Gramm told UCR. “I just feel like there’s some other things that I want to do. I want to spend more time with my children — my older children and my younger child — and spend more time playing with my cars while I’m still capable of driving.”
“I’ve done all there is to do I feel. And being in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are huge milestones for me. You know, I think in this business, you just know when it’s time.”