Upstate NY singer surprised by one supporter for Foreigner in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Upstate New York’s Lou Gramm, the original lead singer of Foreigner, says he gave up on getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until receiving a long overdue nomination this year.

“I was not feeling good that our peers were in years ago and we were completely neglected,” Gramm told Billboard in a new interview. “I personally had given up that we would ever be considered. I didn’t even think about it anymore, to be honest with you.”

Foreigner, known for hits like “Hot Blooded,” “Cold As Ice,” “Feels Like the First Time,” and “I Want to Know What Love Is,” is nominated for the Rock Hall’s 2024 class. One of the best-selling rock bands of all time with more than 80 million records sold worldwide, it is their first nomination despite being eligible since 2002.

Gramm told Billboard he was surprised to finally be nominated.

“I didn’t want to be too excited about it when I heard. I didn’t want to be amped up or get my hopes up because of the way things have gone down in the past. I was, ‘OK, that’s good. Let’s see what happens. I hope we get in.’ I’m patiently waiting to see what happens,” he told the music publication.

Some big names have lended their support to inducting Foreigner this year, including superstar producer Mark Ronson, the son-in-law of Foreigner co-founder Mick Jones. Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Slash, Jack Black and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith have publicly encouraged others to vote for Foreigner, but Gramm didn’t expect the Beatles legend to join in.

McCartney “was awesome,” Gramm told Billboard. “That one I certainly didn’t expect, and if you just see it once you know it was completely off the cuff for him. He said what needed to be said [’Foreigner? Not in the Hall of Fame? What the f---?!’] and that was it. I was very impressed and very thankful.”

Public and industry voting for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2024 nominees continues through April 26. Other artists nominated include Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Eric B. & Rakim, Peter Frampton, Jane’s Addiction, Kool & The Gang, Lenny Kravitz, Oasis, Sinead O’Connor, Ozzy Osbourne, Sade, and A Tribe Called Quest.

Before the band he fronted for nearly 25 years was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2024, Lou Gramm says he “had given up” on the idea of Foreigner ever getting in. Even now he’s trying hard to temper his expectations as public and professional voting for this year’s inductees goes on through April 26.

If Foreigner is inducted, Gramm would be honored with Jones and former bandmates Dennis Elliott, Ed Gagliardi, Al Greenwood, Ian McDonald, and Rick Wills. Jones, 79, is the only active member but has stopped touring with Foreigner, which is currently on a farewell tour.

Gramm and Jones were inducted together in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.

Gramm, 73, was born Louis Grammatico in Rochester and currently lives in Webster, N.Y. He graduated from Gates-Chili High School in 1968 and attended Monroe Community College before pursuing a music career. He was the frontman for Rochester-based rock band Black Sheep in 1974 before becoming the original voice of Foreigner.

Gramm officially left Foreigner in 1990 but has continued performing as a solo artist and with a group of local musicians known as The Lou Gramm Band and Lou Gramm All Stars. He is currently scheduled to perform on Bret Michaels’ Parti-Gras 2.0 tour this summer, but plans to retire at the end of the year.

“This is gonna be it,” Gramm recently told Seven Mountains Media radio host Lee Richey. “I’ve been putting it off and putting it off. And I still enjoy performing, but when you’ve been doing it for as long as I have, the travel is the worst. It really takes its toll. And that’s a sign that you’re getting old.”