Foreigner’s Lou Gramm Retires during Live Performance in New York
Hard rocker Lou Gramm, best known as co-founder and lead singer of ’70s rock band Foreigner, announced Saturday that the time was right for him to walk away from his solo career. The Rochester, New York native made the announcement during a live performance at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady NY.
The announcement came after the curtain call of “Hot Blooded,” where Gramm gathered up his band on stage and shocked the crowd by saying he’s walking away.
“Tonight, right here in this theater, you listened to our last show,” said Gramm, 68, explaining that after talking things over with his wife Robyn it was best to give up touring with his solo band, which he has played with since 2004.
“You get real excited when you start out in this business, but you’ve got to be smart enough to know when to walk away from it, too. And I just feel it’s that time for me…. It’s been a ball. I love you guys very much,” Gramm added, to a somewhat somber response by those in attendance.
This comes at a point in the legendary singer’s career, having made a remarkable comeback since having a near-death experience battling an inoperable brain tumor in 1997 at the age of 47. Musically, Gramm hasn’t sounded better and is regarded as a miracle after surviving the greatest challenge of his life during those difficult years where his health was greatly affected.
Foreigner, established in 1976 as an English rock band, has continued touring with co-founder Mick Jones and frontman Kelly Hansen, who joined the band in 2005.
With both Gramm and Jones focusing their attention on solo projects in the late ’80s, it lead to his first departure in 1990 from Foreigner, when the two had a falling out that created a divide in the long relationship between them. This lasted until the two mended their wounds, and Gramm rejoined Foreigner in 1992.
Lou Gramm is not only considered a kind and loving spirit but is also considered one of the greatest voices in rock and roll history. The Rochester native may tour again but no longer as a solo artist.
While a member of Foreigner, Gramm is best remembered for writing some of their mega-hits such as “Head Games,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “Double Vision,” “Urgent,” “That Was Yesterday” and “Juke Box Hero.”