Foreigner’s original drummer, Dennis Elliott, announced that he will not attend the band’s upcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
In a message posted on Facebook, Elliott explained that the last-minute schedule provided by the event organizers was ‘totally unacceptable,’ and he decided to stay home despite being prepared to attend.
“Dear Foreigner Fans & Friends, Don’t look too hard, we will not be there. We were finally given the schedule last night, and it is not to our satisfaction. So we are staying home. We have been asking for this for weeks, and they have waited until the very last minute to send it knowing we were all packed and going to bed. Totally unacceptable to us. Hope you have a good time,” the drummer wrote in his statement.
In addition to Elliott, Foreigner also revealed in a separate statement that Mick Jones wouldn’t be joining the ceremony either. “Foreigner is greatly looking forward to Saturday’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The band will be joined by Demi Lovato, Sammy Hagar, and Kelly Clarkson in a set celebrating the induction of the guys who started it all almost fifty years ago.”
“Original members Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood, and Rick Wills will be there to accept the awards on behalf of the band’s leader and founder Mick Jones, drummer Dennis Elliot, and Ian McDonald and Ed Gagliardi who are no longer with us,” the band added.
The induction ceremony will include special performances by Slash, Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith, Demi Lovato, and Kelly Clarkson to honor the band.
According to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, only the classic-era members of the band will be inducted. These include Mick Jones, Lou Gramm, Dennis Elliott, Ed Gagliardi, Al Greenwood, Ian McDonald, and Rick Wills.