Arts & Entertainment
PHOTOS: Foreigner Gets Rockford “Hot Blooded”
Foreigner helped put the "rock" in Rockford this past weekend.
Still buzzing off their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2024, Foreigner returned to Rockford on Sunday night for a show at the historic Coronado Theatre
Foreigner’s current North American trek comes after a number of shows across South America in May. The group will head to Canada in October once they finish making their way around the United States this summer.
Aside from a flight north, October is an important month for Foreigner and their fans. Frontman Kelly Hansen announced in May that he will be leaving the band in October after 20 successful years as lead singer.
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Taking the mic from Hansen upon his departure is Luis Maldonado, who has been playing with Foreigner since 2021 on rhythm guitar and background vocals.
Although Maldonado has some pretty big shoes to fill, his energy and powerful voice match that of his bandmate Hansen’s. Being well-versed in Foreigner’s musical catalog also makes the passing of the torch a little easier.
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In preparation of the upcoming lineup change, Kelly Hansen took a step back from lead vocals for two songs in Rockford as Luis Maldonado sang “Urgent” and “Juke Box Hero”.
The rest of Foreigner is made up of Bruce Watson on lead/rhythm guitar, Jeff Pilson on bass, Chris Frazier on drums, and Michael Bluestein on keyboards.
For the last 15 years, a local (and lucky) school choir is chosen to be a temporary addition to the Foreigner lineup to help sing “I Want to Know What Love Is”. The band has done this to promote the importance of youth music programs receiving proper funding.
The youth choir from Machesney Park’s Harlem High School was picked this time around to share the stage with the legendary rock band for a few minutes in Rockford.
If you missed Sunday’s show, you’re not completely out of luck. Foreigner will be playing in Hammond, IN this Friday, August 15th and then in Gibson City, IL this Saturday, August 16th.
For tickets and a full list of tour dates, visit Foreigner’s website.
Photos by AJ Roccaforte.
SETLIST:
- Double Vision
- Head Games
- Cold As Ice
- Waiting For a Girl Like You
- Dirty White Boy
- Feels Like the First Time
- Urgent
(Keyboard and Drum Solo)
- Juke Box Hero
- Long, Long Way From Home
- I Want to Know What Love Is
- Hot Blooded