Foreigner Names Lou Gramm as Replacement for Kelly Hansen During South America Concerts

First starting his career in groups like Hurricane and Unruly Child, Kelly Hansen eventually landed on the stage with the rock band Foreigner. Marking the third lead singer of the group, after both Johnny Edwards and Lou Gramm left, Hansen spent the last two decades with the band. Although excited about the band’s future and what they produced over the past 20 years, it appeared that Gramm will once again take the stage with Foreigner as Hansen will not accompany the group during their concerts in South America. 

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Taking the band’s tour international, Foreigner prepared to travel to Mexico City on April 28 to kick off the tour. With the band excited to get back to the stage, the news of Hansen stepping off the stage shocked some fans. “Some issues have forced me to limit appearances outside of the USA this year, and this means, unfortunately, I will miss Foreigner’s South American run.”

With fans having more than a few questions about the decision, Hansen promised to leave Foreigner in good hands with Gramm taking over. “However, our incredible bandmate Luis Maldonado has been recording some of our hits in Spanish and he will be handling most of the vocals along with [original Foreigner singer] Lou Gramm who will be guesting with Foreigner for those shows. I know they will smash it!”

Kelly Hanson Also Not Traveling To Canada With Foreigner

Besides the South America run, Hansen also needed to step away from the group when they traveled to Canada this coming October and November. And once again, the singer refused to give up any details behind the decision. 

A publicist for Foreigner stayed somewhat silent on the decision but admitted that certain circumstances prohibited Hansen from going outside of the United States. “Circumstances prohibit Kelly from spending too much time outside of the U.S., so he will be sitting this one out. Geordie [Brown] will be appearing at all shows in this tour.”

While Hansen won’t be part of the international lineup, fans are still in for a treat given the history between Gramm and Foreigner. 

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)