Foreigner Opens Up About Struggles & Feuds Ahead of 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction
Foreigner has been a force to be reckoned with for almost 50 years in the music industry. Now, the band is finally getting their credits with an upcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Foreigner’s longtime member Al Greenwood recently opened up about the ups and downs the band has faced over the years, including health issues. Their fame exploded in the ’70s and ’80s with hits such as “Hot Blooded,” “Cold as Ice” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
“When you’re starting out in a band, and you’re trying to be popular, there’s a lot of pressure on you,” Greenwood shared about their struggles. “There’s a lot of pressure on the musicians. There were fights, there were definitely arguments and things like that in the early days. But… you get over it.”
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Even so, he added, “A band is really a family. You have all different personalities and everybody’s got to fit together, and you perform every night … it’s work, and it’s pleasure.” While they eventually worked things out, unfortunately, several band members have dealt with their own personal struggles. Founder Mick Jones is battling Parkinson’s disease, while original members bassist Ed Gagliardi and multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald have both passed away from cancer.
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Greenwood said that he hopes that Jones will be able to make it to the induction ceremony this year. He shared, “I would want him to be there… he is the founder. He is the visionary. He’s the creative force behind Foreigner. So I hope he feels better really soon and that he will be with us.” The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is streaming live on Disney+ on Saturday, October 19th at 7pm ET.
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Birth of Rock 'n' Roll
February 2024
"Long live rock," we like to say, but how did it come to life? Revisit the memorable moments, music and movies that made teens go beat crazy back in the 1950s.
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