Press Release –
The first rehearsal of the band that would become FOREIGNER took place in New York on February 25th, 1976. Al Greenwood, the first band member recruited by Mick Jones reflects, “This was the day I first heard “Feels Like The First Time” and I knew we had something very special.”
One of rock and roll’s most enduring and influential bands, FOREIGNER, will launch their historic 50th Anniversary Year on February 25 in Beaver Creek, Colorado, commemorating five decades of chart-topping hits, worldwide touring, and musical legacy. The milestone celebration will continue throughout 2027 when the band marks the 50th anniversary of the March 8th, 1977 release of its iconic self-titled debut album, Foreigner. FOREIGNER band members Luis Maldonado on lead vocals, Jeff Pilson on bass, Michael Bluestein keyboards, and Bruce Watson on guitar will present a very special acoustic performance of the band’s hits on the very day of the 50th anniversary at the Vilar PAC in Beaver Creek.
Throughout 2026, audiences can expect to see FOREIGNER in multiple formats. The acoustic run of shows in Colorado’s premier ski resorts will be followed by an orchestral tour that commences with a March residency at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas and culminates in an appearance with the San Diego Symphony. In April, FOREIGNER will tour Florida with special guest, original vocalist Lou Gramm as they present ‘FOREIGNER 4 Deluxe’, a presentation of ‘4’ in its entirety together with many of the band’s Top 10 hit songs.
The 50th Anniversary tour will continue throughout June in Europe with a 26-date tour that includes sold out shows throughout Germany, UK, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. On July 23rd, FOREIGNER will commence a co-headline tour with rock & roll legends Lynyrd Skynyrd as they rock through an itinerary of amphitheaters throughout the United States.
At the heart of FOREIGNER’s legacy is founder Mick Jones, a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee whose visionary songwriting, unmistakable guitar work, and musical leadership have guided the band through decades of innovation and influence.
Says Mick Jones, “When I started FOREIGNER in 1976, I never could have imagined that these songs would carry us through fifty years and still resonate with audiences around the world. This anniversary is a celebration not just of the music, but of the fans who have been with us every step of the way.”
The band’s groundbreaking debut album, Foreigner, produced timeless hits including “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” and “Long, Long Way From Home.” Subsequent albums delivered an unstoppable string of rock classics such as “Urgent,” “Juke Box Hero,” and “Waiting For A Girl Like You”—the latter helping the album 4 dominate the Billboard charts at #1. Their fifth studio album, Agent Provocateur, defined the sound of the mid-1980s with the global #1 ballad “I Want To Know What Love Is,” following the record-breaking success of “Waiting For A Girl Like You.”
With more Top 10 hits than Journey, and as many as Fleetwood Mac, FOREIGNER features strongly in every category in Billboard’s “Greatest of All Time” listing. At times, the band’s weekly catalog sales have eclipsed those of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Aerosmith and most of their Classic Rock peers (Source: Nielsen SoundScan).
With 10 multi-platinum albums and 16 Top 30 hits, FOREIGNER is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world with a formidable musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales, now exceeding 80 million. Responsible for some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems including “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold As Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Urgent,” “Head Games,” “Say You Will,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Long, Long Way From Home” and the worldwide #1 hit and member of Spotify’s exclusive Billions Club, “I Want To Know What Love Is,” Rock & Roll Hall of Famers FOREIGNER still rock the charts 50 years into the game with massive airplay and continued Billboard album chart success. Audio and video streams of FOREIGNER’s hits are approaching 20 million per week. FOREIGNER‘s catalog sales were recently celebrated in Business Insider as hitting the Top 40 among the Best Selling Music Artists of All Time. FOREIGNER is Luis Carlos Maldonado on lead vocals and guitar, noted Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson, Michael Bluestein on keyboards, lead guitarist Bruce Watson, and Chris Frazier on drums.
For more information, tour dates, and anniversary updates, visit: ForeignerOnline.com
