Foreigner frontman Kelly Hansen quits band and announces replacement
Foreigner singer Kelly Hansen has announced his exit from the band after 20 years.
The musician revealed his departure on May 21st on NBC’s The Voice. Wasting no time, he also named his replacement, the group’s current guitarist, Luis Maldonado.
Maldonado joined the band in 2021 as a guitarist. Maldonado previously filled in on lead vocals for Foreigner’s last Latin American tour, proving himself a worthy frontman.
The singer told the audience gracefully, “After 20 magical years fronting this band, this will be my last year with Foreigner. At the end of this summer, a new great voice will sing these songs for you; my friend Luis Maldonado.”
To celebrate Hansen, the band then performed a medley of their hits ‘Juke Box Hero’ and ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’. Both singers, old and new, shared the microphone for the latter tune.
In 2005, Hansen took over as Foreigner’s singer, after classic frontman Lou Gramm stepped away in 2003. In 2024, Foreigner received their first nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and were inducted later in the year.
Recently, Foreigner have been on an ongoing farewell tour; how many years we will see Maldonado as frontman is therefore up for debate. Gramm was rumoured to appear in select farewell shows despite his announcement that he had retired from touring in 2024.
Previously, Hansen denounced bands who use backing tracks at live shows in an explanation of their farewell tour. He said, “No matter what you say about me or about us, we’re fucking real deal. And it’s hard to sing this beautiful catalogue of songs when you’re 30. I’m 62. And what we decided was that we are gonna give you our best and leave you at our best, because these songs deserve it and you deserve it.”
The band previously announced that singer Geordie Brown, who starred in the Foreigner musical Jukebox Hero, will lead on vocals on their Canadian tour in October and November. It is unclear whether Maldonado will take the mic from him after the recent news.
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