Hansen talked about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. He mentioned that while the current Foreigner band members won’t be inducted, they are still excited for Jones, Gramm, and the other members who are receiving the honor.
Hansen also said the original crew deserved it and that he would pitch in if there was a plan for them to play together:
“I think that the original guys in this band really deserve this recognition. In so many ways they didn’t get recognition back in the day. It was somewhat of a faceless kind of thing; there wasn’t a David Lee Roth out there or a Jimmy Page or a Keith Richards public persona out there; they were a lot more about the music rather than showing off their personalities. I think they made a musical mark, so to be recognized for the music is a really great thing.”
Hansen added:
“I know everyone has all kinds of ideas. I’m here to humbly assist in any way I can.”
Styx’ Tommy Shaw also added:
“It’s fantastic. You like to see your friends get in — (Peter) Frampton this year, too.”
Gramm Didn’t Speak To His Bandmates In So Long
In February, Lou Gramm spoke on ‘Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk’ about Foreigner’s nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. When asked if he had talked to his former bandmate Mick Jones about the nomination, Gramm said they hadn’t spoken to each other in 11 years.
He mentioned their last conversation was at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame induction in 2012 or 2013, where he felt he was friendly towards Jones, but the feeling wasn’t fully returned. He didn’t expect to hear from him afterward.
He was also asked about performing with Kelly Hansen and the rest of Foreigner during their 40th anniversary in 2017 and 2018. Gramm doesn’t seem to remember those events.
‘No Hard Feelings’
Similar to Hansen, Mick Jones opened up about being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the class of 2024 two months ago. Jones mentioned that he would be fine with Gramm showing up at the ceremony since there was ‘no bad blood’ between them. He explained:
“On a personal level, I have no hard feelings toward Lou. We did perform together at the 40th anniversary concert. It has been so many years now since Lou left Foreigner; I like to think that those ill feelings are in the past. There is power in letting go of hard feelings and getting on with your life.”
He added that there should be no hard feelings and should enjoy the friendship instead.
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