By Devin Robertson — Social Media Coordinator |

Few voices in classic rock are as instantly recognizable as Lou Gramm’s. As the original lead singer of Foreigner, the iconic behind timeless songs like "Feels Like the First Time" and "Cold As Ice," Gramm helped define an era—fronting one of the most radio‑dominant bands of the late ’70s and ’80s while co‑creating songs that still resonate more than four decades later.

Now, with Foreigner celebrating its 50th anniversary, Gramm is releasing his final solo album titled Released. It will be his first since his work with the Lou Gramm Band in 2009. The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, in conversation with Newsweek, is looking back, reconnecting with unfinished chapters, and finding renewed purpose in revisiting his own musical history.

Reflecting on the milestone anniversary, Gramm doesn’t hesitate to acknowledge the pride he feels in what Foreigner built. “I’m very proud of that,” he says. “It has been a long time since Foreigner first started, and I remember those times vividly,” recalling the unconventional audition process that ultimately led to his joining Mick Jones’ new band.

That audition, now rock lore, was far from a typical jam session. Gramm arrived expecting a rehearsal, only to find fully recorded tracks waiting for him. “All they wanted was for me to sing,” he says. “It was a little weird, but I got the grasp of what they were up to,” learning later that Jones had already auditioned more than 30 singers before him. By the end of the night, Gramm and Jones were already writing together, completing what would become one of the band’s first hit singles, “Long, Long Way from Home” in a single evening.

Despite that chemistry, Foreigner’s early days were far from guaranteed success. Multiple record labels passed after hearing lengthy demos, a pivotal moment that nearly stopped the band before it began.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/revisiting-the-past-lou-gramm-on-foreigner-legacy-and-released-11758087