Nearly 5 months after Kelly Hansen introduced he was stepping down as lead singer of FOREIGNER, he carried out his closing two reveals with the band this previous Friday (October 10) and Saturday (October 11) at Arduous Rock Stay at Etess Area in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey.
Throughout FOREIGNER‘s efficiency on the Could 20 season finale of NBC singing competitors “The Voice”, Hansen introduced his departure with a “passing of the torch” to the band’s guitarist Luis Maldonado.
Jeff Pilson, bassist and musical director for FOREIGNER, addressed Hansen’s exit throughout final night time’s live performance in Atlantic Metropolis, telling the gang earlier than a efficiency of the traditional FOREIGNER music “I Need To Know What Love Is” (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “You  simply noticed, we’re very prepared for the long run however very excited concerning the future. However earlier than we do, earlier than we get there, let’s acknowledge tonight. This can be a huge night time for us, and in some ways it’s extremely particular for me personally as a result of I have been with this man for 20 years. And often I discuss what a tremendous singer he’s, ‘trigger he’s. I discuss what an unimaginable performer he’s, as a result of he actually, actually, I believe, is one of many best performers in rock. However what I might like to speak about proper now briefly is about what a terrific human being he’s.”
Pilson continued: “You guys know the way nice he sings and performs, however what you do not know is how humorous he’s, how a lot he performs my straight man once I prank all people, which I do as a lot as I can. You do not know concerning the in jokes that we’ve all the time. I imply, this band has its personal language. And Kelly and I’ve 20 years of it. A lot of the remainder of the band has near that. So we’re a brotherhood, we’re a household, and we’re a extremely fortunate household as a result of we have got Lou [Gramm, original FOREIGNER singer] and [original FOREIGNER keyboardist] Al [Greenwood] and [classic-era FOREIGNER bass player] Rick [Wills] and all people who oftentimes comes out and hangs with us and is a part of our household. However tonight we’re saying a really loving goodbye to somebody who has made such a distinction with this band, and he is been so essential in serving to take it to the place it is proper now. So please assist me — a really emotional me, a really emotional all of us — say, one final time, thanks to the person that I am about to introduce, Mr. Kelly Hansen.”
Kelly then stepped as much as the entrance of the stage and advised the viewers: “Thanks. Thanks very a lot. I simply wanna take a few minutes… And I needed to convey my telephone out with me so I may have a look at my notes. If I can, I might wish to get all of the bandmembers up right here. I simply wanna do one group hug. Secondly, I simply wanna thank the crew. There are lots of individuals who, day-after-day, drive lengthy hours in the midst of the night time to get right here very early within the morning to arrange this gear, to arrange these lights to make us look and sound nearly as good as we presumably can. And I simply wanna take a second to thank all the crew, a lot of whom have been with us a extremely very long time. And I thanks guys. After which, after that, I wanna thank the administration of this band.
“So while you’re in a band, you desire a supervisor, or managers — Phil Carson and Stewart Younger are our managers — and also you need managers who push to get issues for you versus a man who would not push to get issues for you,” Hansen continued. “Phil Carson‘s over right here. He is English. And plenty of instances we have clashed as a result of he needs to do some loopy bullshit factor and I’ve to name him out and I’ve to say, ‘No, we will not do it.’ And he is nonetheless right here. This man is a fucking juggernaut and he is 80 years previous and he is a motherfucker. Together with Merrie Hart and Stewart, they’ve simply executed wonderful issues for this band over 20 years.
“Nonetheless on my record — you guys,” Kelly added, referring to the gang. “If I may even string collectively the variety of instances that I’ve had experiences with followers — or I do not wish to name you guys followers; I wish to name you guys individuals who love music, recognize music. My entire life, since I used to be 17, it has been nice individuals who come to reveals. Thanks for that.
“I’ve an entire bunch of pals who assist me. I’ve many pals who’ve traveled a protracted solution to be right here tonight, and I wanna say thanks to all of them, as a result of when it comes right down to it, it is family and friends — it is family and friends, actually.
“And one last item: I wanna thank my spouse. [She] modified my life. I obtained married for the primary time at 59 years previous.
“In order that’s my record,” Kelly concluded, whereas preventing again tears. “And simply thanks, guys, for being right here. Thanks, guys. And I am talking collectively to not solely you guys who’re right here tonight, however whoever is perhaps viewing this on the Web someday later. Thanks all for your entire assist.
“I have been on this enterprise, I believe, about 48, 49 years. I put in my time. I spent 20 years with this implausible band singing a catalog of songs {that a} singer could not dream of. And thanks.”
Hansen advised Folks that he began enthusiastic about leaving FOREIGNER throughout COVID when he spent greater than a 12 months at house, away from the touring life-style.
“I began to have the sense of being house,” he defined. “I began to say, ‘Wow, that is one thing I have never had in my life for a really very long time. I had this sense of what it is wish to be house and likewise with a way of, I really feel I’ve some type of stability financially and in any other case, the place I may begin enthusiastic about making a selection that is completely different than what I am doing. Though I like what I do, I have been on this enterprise practically 50 years, and I put in my time.”
He added: “I believe that People, in a manner, have a piece ethic that claims, work until you die, and I assumed to myself, I’ve traveled the world, I’ve seen loads of locations, I’ve seen loads of cultures and I’ve skilled how different individuals in different nations method dwelling and the model of dwelling. I mentioned to myself, I need to get pleasure from and reside my life. I’ve many different passions and pursuits.”
Looking forward to what his like post-FOREIGNER may appear to be, Hansen mentioned: “I actually am not troubled by dwelling a smaller life. I actually am not. I imply, I’ve lived, my entire life has been loud music and vibrant lights and loads of shit and I spent loads of my time attempting to keep away from fucking landmines, and I do not need to have to try this. I simply need to reside my life with my pals and my household and simply dig it.”
This previous Could, Kelly advised Terrie Carr of WDHA-FM 105.5 FM about his resolution to retire from FOREIGNER: “Properly, let me simply be clear — for me, it is gonna cease. I am doing all of the reveals by way of the tip of the summer season, after which our rhythm guitar participant [Luis Maldonado], who’s very proficient man, nice singer, nice musician, he is been within the band nearly 5 years, he will be the brand new lead vocalist of the band. So I am stepping away. I am passing the mic. So this will probably be my final 12 months because the lead singer of the band, however I am gonna do all of the reveals by way of the summer season.”
Requested by Carr when he knew that “that is gonna be it for me”, Hansen mentioned: “Properly, I introduced the thought of me lastly letting go to [FOREIGNER‘s founding guitarist] Mick Jones in 2022. So we talked about it, and he was very supportive. He did not need me to go away. And we have executed so many nice issues collectively. However I felt like [since] I have been on this enterprise nearly 50 years, I have been within the band 20 years and I am singing a catalog of songs that each singer could not even dream of getting. However it’s a really demanding catalog of songs, and it would not get simpler. I imply, the music demand by no means adjustments, however as you age, you alter. And I do not wanna be on the market doing these songs lower than the very best I can or that the songs deserve. So what we determined to do was once we began type of placing issues in movement, it made all of the sense on the earth to go contained in the band to a man who’s been with the band nearly 5 years, who’s a tremendous vocalist, and have him be the singer. And it simply all made sense to do it that manner. After which we had been speaking about how we had been gonna make this transition, and ‘The Voice’ known as us they usually mentioned, ‘We would like you to play on our finale present.’ And I had the thought. I known as my supervisor, I mentioned, ‘Why do not we do the handoff reside on ‘The Voice’?’ And he thought that was a terrific thought, and ‘The Voice’ simply thought that was a terrific thought. And in order that’s how we made it occur. It was actually serendipitous.”
Requested how he thinks it may really feel for him to play his closing FOREIGNER live performance, Kelly mentioned: “I do not even wanna give it some thought, as a result of I do know the entire tour’s gonna be emotionally up and down. It is gonna be a blast and I do know there’s gonna be some surprises and it is gonna be actually enjoyable.
“While you play a present, not less than for me, as a way to talk the music and the songs and the lyrics, it’s a must to open your self up emotionally to get that out,” he defined. “However what that does is that additionally opens it for stuff to return in, and so that you’re very uncooked, and that implies that any emotion you’re feeling will probably be proper on high, simply effervescent proper on the highest. So hopefully I can maintain it collectively and do it.”
Kelly additionally talked about his future plans, together with a potential continuation of a few of the philanthropic work that he has executed with FOREIGNER. He mentioned: “I haven’t got any concrete plans for proper now. Very first thing I am gonna do is I am gonna take a break. After which I am wanting ahead to the place the wind takes me. There are loads of prospects. I imply, the band has been working with Shriners [Hospitals For Children] and the Grammy Basis for 15 years, bringing choirs on stage throughout ‘I Need To Know What Love Is’, which I’ve actually liked. And I believe we get the higher finish of the deal as a result of they raised recognition concerning the lack of funding for varsity music packages, and we get to see the seems on their faces after they’re on stage, possibly for the primary time in entrance of hundreds of individuals. And it is actually wonderful to see that. So I hope possibly that may occur for me indirectly. However like I mentioned, for proper now, no concrete plans.”
When Hansen introduced his departure from FOREIGNER on Could 20, he mentioned in a press release: “Being the voice of FOREIGNER has been one of many biggest honors of my life. However it is time to go the mic. Luis has the voice, the vitality and the soul to hold these songs into the long run. I could not be prouder handy this off to him.”
Jones mentioned that “in 1976, my purpose was to assemble the best group of musicians I may discover” and “Outcomes have proven that it labored!” He added that “about thirty years later, Jason Bonham inspired me to do it another time and create a brand-new FOREIGNER, and the magic was nonetheless there,” explaining that “I used to be particularly lucky within the selection of lead singer.”
Within the assertion, Jones known as Hansen “among the finest” frontmen in music and mentioned he “breathed new life into our songs” over a 20-year span. “His boundless vitality and flawless expertise has helped us climb the mountain and arrange the chance for FOREIGNER vocalist and guitarist Luis Maldonado to convey us house,” Jones mentioned. “I want Kelly nice happiness in his subsequent endeavors after our summer season tour, and I stay up for welcoming Luis to his new place.”
Earlier than Luis joined FOREIGNER, he was finest referred to as the guitarist for TRAIN and for his work with Lisa Marie Presley. He now steps into the highlight as FOREIGNER‘s new lead singer. Maldonado brings a wealthy mix of vocal energy, stage charisma, and musical versatility that makes him a pure match to guide the subsequent chapter of the band’s journey.
“This music has been a part of my life for so long as I can keep in mind,” mentioned Maldonado. “I am able to honor FOREIGNER‘s legacy and produce my coronary heart to each efficiency.”
Hansen joined FOREIGNER in 2005 and performed a vital function in revitalizing the band’s reside presence. His highly effective vocals and magnetic stage presence helped introduce FOREIGNER‘s timeless hits to a brand new era of followers throughout the globe.
FOREIGNER changed authentic singer Lou Gramm with Hansen. Jones, the one remaining authentic member of FOREIGNER, suffered from some well being points starting in 2011, finally leading to coronary heart surgical procedure in 2012. In February 2024, Jones revealed on social media that he was battling Parkinson’s illness, which defined his absence from FOREIGNER‘s reside reveals since 2022.