Kelly Hansen, Lead Singer of Foreigner, Announces Exit From Band

In a time where it seems as though bands are announcing lineup changes (and certainly shedding drummers), we have news to report about a longtime vocalist, Kelly Hansen. Hansen has been the lead singer of Foreigner since 2005, and he has announced he is parting ways with the British-American band. Let’s see how this transpired and what’s next for Foreigner and for Kelly Hansen.

Kelly Hansen’s Career Start

Kelly Hansen was born in 1961 in California. He had always loved music, and once he became a young adult, he used his vocal talents to record in session work. Soon, he met Robert Sarzo and Tony Cavazo of Quiet Riot, and they started the hard rock band Hurricane.

Kelly Hansen and Hurricane

Hurricane reached peak popularity in the late 80s, but unfortunately didn’t get more famous, as their record label had some issues. After several lineup changes, Hurricane is still around and touring, but not with Kelly Hansen. Hansen left Hurricane to do independent recording and collaborate with Slash’s Snake Pit. Then, later, he joined up with the American hard rock band Unruly Child.

Kelly Hansen’s Time with Foreigner

Arguably, Foreigner is one of the better-known bands in America and throughout the world. Their catchy songs and memorable lyrics (usually about love) have resonated with many listeners.

Kelly Hansen joined the band in 2005, replacing their longtime vocalist, Lou Gramm. Hansen has been with them on a regular basis until currently. His vocals, in some ways, can mimic Gramm’s, but he has been able to bring his own unique energy and performance style to the band.

Foreigner went through a few lineup changes, which have included different bassists, keyboardists, and drummers. Drummer extraordinaire Jason Bonham, the son of famed drummer John Bonham (of Led Zeppelin), at one point had played with Foreigner.

On Tuesday, May 20th, Kelly Hansen broke the news that he would be stepping away from vocal duties. He said that it’s time to turn the mic over to multi-instrumentalist and current guitarist of Foreigner, Luis Maldonado. This extremely capable musician can sing in both English and Spanish, which has won over fans from South America.

Looking Ahead for Kelly Hansen and Foreigner

Kelly will step back and most likely freelance as a session musician. He intends to pursue other interests and be with his family in his California residence.

With Luis Maldonado taking the lead vocals and a steady lineup (albeit sometimes with Mick Jones), Foreigner’s future looks solid. We wish Luis the best of luck!