Thoughtfully designed with a mint green background and a bold orange font, the letter made a subtle reference to Swift’s forthcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl. It’s impressive that a band as prominent as Foreigner would reach out in such an elegant manner to offer their services, and it makes a clear statement that Swift is the princess of pop music.
But Foreigner is not the same band that they were when their song, “I Want to Know What Love Is,” hit the top of the charts in 1984. They’ve had multiple lineup changes and typically perform with no original members.
Where Foreigner Stands Today
I grew up with Foreigner and had all their albums. I knew all the members, although they had some lineup changes in their heyday too. I even interviewed the original vocalist, Lou Gramm, who sang lead on all their hits. Now, however, the band is completely different.
Founding member Mick Jones, now 80 and living with Parkinsons, still supports the band but no longer performs live. Consequently, Foreigner decided to launch their farewell tour. But something unexpected happened. For unclear reasons, Hansen couldn’t join the band for the Latin American portion of the tour.
Gramm said he’d step in and sing, but little-known rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Luis Maldonado, who’d only been with the band since 2021, was given the opportunity to sing lead vocals at the Latin American shows in Spanish—and apparently killed it. Hansen then announced that he was leaving the band permanently at the end of summer 2025.
Now, although Gramm may occasionally drop in as guest vocalist, Foreigner consists of members who were neither part of the original nor classic lineups. It’s unclear who’s leading the band or whose idea it was to offer to perform at Swift’s wedding.
Why Foreigner Wants To Play Swift’s Wedding
Taylor Swift And Travis Kielce Spotted At The US OpenStarface Photo/Cover Images
While Swift and Kelce’s engagement dominates the news, Foreigner’s brazen offer turns the spotlight back on the band. There’s been no explanation for the proposition, but it seems likely that it’s a publicity stunt, a way to stay culturally relevant and/or a ploy to gain new fans of a younger generation.
Whatever the case may be, it shows that Foreigner, whoever the members are now, still have a sense of ambition and, apparently, humor. Whether Swift and Kelce take the band up on their offer, it demonstrates that Foreigner is a band that may continue to exist even when all their original members are long gone.
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