Foreigner Is Not In The Rock Hall Of Fame Because Of A “Personal Vendetta”

Lou Gramm, former singer of Foreigner reveals why he and current vocalist Kelly Hansen both agree that the exclusion of the band from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is unjustified.

In a recent appearance on The Rock Shop With Ralph, Gramm shared his thoughts about the issue saying:

“It’s not anything to do with our music or the amount of hits or notoriety or anything like that.
“It’s a personal thing that we’re not in there.”

He continued:

“It’s a personal vendetta between the gentleman who owns Rolling Stone and Mick [Jones, co-founding guitarist]. It’s very juvenile, the whole thing, and I don’t think it’s gonna get any better. I think it’s gonna stay that way. I think we’re being made an example of.”

The rocker did not mention names, but he was surely talking about Jann Wenner, the Rolling Stone co-founder and former co-founder of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation in 1983 and was the serving chairman until 2020. On the other hand, Wenner told Marc Maron in 2022 that he had “nothing against Foreigner,” and even noted that he’s “very good friends with Mick Jones.” But then added:

“Foreigner’s name has never come up in a nominating committee to be nominated.”

Meanwhile, Hansen who fronted Foreigner since 2005 recently told the Houston Press:

“As an entity, I find it unusual that a group of people can have an arbitrary standard from which they decide who is in this substantial sounding-titled Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“They cite as one of their criteria as ‘influence.’ Well, how many people have picked up a guitar and tried to learn ‘Cold as Ice’ or ‘Hot Blooded’? Or sing ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ in a karaoke bar?”

He also noted:

“This band has sold 80 million-plus records. And that’s real records, not streams or downloads! That is the definition of influence!”