Foreigner has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time this year. Original member Lou Gramm’s close friend Slash, as well as rockers like Dave Grohl and Josh Homme, pushed for the band’s inclusion through an online campaign since early 2024.
So, ‘Appetite for Distortion’ recently questioned Gramm’s thoughts about the guitarist’s support during an interview. “We’re acquaintance/friends, but I think that over the years, we’ve done some Allstar shows and stuff like that, and I’ve got a chance to perform with him on stage for a few songs. He’s a very likable guy, and obviously, he’s brilliant on guitar,” the vocalist said.
He continued, “So, we’ve had a friendship and mutual respect for each other’s work, and I was surprised when he was an advocate for us getting into the Hall of Fame. It was a real pleasant surprise.”
Gramm, along with Al Greenwood and Rick Willis, will attend the Rock Hall ceremony on October 19 to accept the induction on behalf of other original band members, including Mick Jones, Dennis Elliott, the late Ian McDonald, and the late Ed Gagliardi. Jones and Elliott will not be at the event in Cleveland, Ohio, due to last-minute scheduling issues by the organizers.
The band’s ex-drummer explained in a recent Facebook post, “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 ceremony will feature special performances from Slash, Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith, Demi Lovato, and Kelly Clarkson to honor Foreigner ahead of their final 2024 shows.
The band will be performing in Las Vegas until November 9 before ending their farewell tour with spring and summer dates in 2025.