If you ask Kelly Hansen his favorite Foreigner song to perform, he’ll say he’s not a “favorite” type of person. To him, calling one song the best would mean another is less important — and after leading the classic rock band for 20 years, he believes every track is worth savoring in its own way.
“The songs are kind of like a very beautiful ripe bowl of fruit, and one day I might be in the mood for an apple, and one day I might be in the mood for an orange,” he says. “But all the fruit in this basket of songs are beautiful.”
In May, Hansen, who replaced original Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm in 2005, announced his departure from the band. The decision comes as Foreigner continues to tour, with a stop at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio on Sept. 27. Indio’s Shadow Hills High School Choir will join them, part of Foreigner’s longtime tradition of spotlighting musical education.
Ahead of the performance, Hansen spoke about his passion for the arts, what fans can expect from his final shows, and why now felt like the right time to say goodbye.
How did the collaboration with Shadow Hills High School choir come about?
We’ve been working with the Grammy Foundation and the Shriners Hospital for [maybe] 15 years, bringing youth choirs on stage with us to sing during “I Want to Know What Love Is.” Not only does it create a unique experience for the song, but it raises awareness about the lack of funding for school music programs. I was a product of school music programs, and the first thing to go when they have budget cuts is music and the arts, and I think … that’s really a mistake.
I encourage people to talk to their local school board or local politicians, or donate and help those school programs. We have the choirs come on and we donate to the choir, and we really enjoy it. It’s kind of a joyful thing. We get to see the looks on their faces when they come up on stage and probably their first time in front of thousands of people. It really is quite an emotional thing, and we’ve been happy to be able to do that for over 15 years.
Hansen on stage.
Why is supporting music education so important to the band?
Because exposure to music and the arts opens a person’s mind up to places in the world and places in time that are outside of their possibly local understanding. When you can see something or hear something that strikes you — that comes from a place you’re not familiar with — it expands you. Not just your mind, but expands you as a person, as a human being. You’re more tolerant, more exposed to other cultures, … languages, … thoughts, and … feelings, and that’s what the arts and music can do for somebody. And to not teach that and to not show that is really doing a disservice to our young people.
What do you hope the students take away from this experience?
I want them to first of all have a great time. I want them to enjoy themselves and sing loud. And I want them to see that there are possibilities in this business and in this pursuit of, whether it’s music or arts, acting or literature, or whatever it might be.
You’ve been a part of Foreigner for about 20 years. What made you feel like now is time to step back?
I’ve been in the music business just about 50 years. When you’re on the road nine months a year for 20 years, you realize that you miss a lot of things personally. You miss a lot of events and celebrations and moments in your life. And I want to be able to just start enjoying those other things in my life and my family and my wife, and I want to be able to do things while I still can. I think sometimes, I’ve been very, very fortunate. There’s no mistake in that and it’s not lost on me. I know a lot of people would give their right arm to do what I do.
Are any emotions surfacing as you move through these final shows with the band?
I know that this final run is going to be quite emotional, and it’s up to me to try to find some mechanisms to keep myself under control so I can sing the songs and do the show. I figured out a few things to be able to make that happen. I’ll be going to places I’ve been going for years I will never go to again. And I’m not saying I’m retiring, but I know I might still be going to places around the country or around the world doing something musically. I don’t know. But there are places that I won’t ever see again, and that will be moving.
Luis Maldonado is stepping in as the new lead singer. What makes him the right choice for the band?
Not only is he an amazing guitarist, but he’s also a spectacular vocalist. We looked inside the band when we were thinking of who would sing the songs because it made sense to have someone … our audience knows. Luis has been in the band almost five years now, so our audience knows him. It’s better than having some unfamiliar person come in here and start singing the songs. I thought it made perfect sense to do it that way.
What’s next for you after Foreigner?
I’m going to take a break. I don’t have any concrete plans as a next step. But I’m curious to see where the wind takes me. It’ll be interesting. I have many things to fill my time and do, but I’m open to hearing other ideas and new opportunities.
How has being a part of Foreigner shaped you personally and musically?
Being in this band has really changed my life because there’s an incredible freedom when you are in a successful band [and] almost every song is a recognizable song to your audience. As our bass player says, it’s almost like cheating because you get to go out on stage, you get to perform these amazing songs that people know and love, you get to travel in style and get all those perks of being in rock ’n’ roll, and it’s very satisfying and very privileged. And I know that not many people in life get to have that, and it’s very special and I very much treasure that experience.
