Foreigner Legend Lou Gramm Announces Retirement, Reflects on His Career

After more than 50 years in the spotlight, Lou Gramm, the powerhouse voice behind many of Foreigner’s biggest hits, has announced plans to retire from the stage for good in 2026. Though the former frontman has stepped back before, this time he says the decision is final.

Speaking with Ultimate Classic Rock, Gramm reflected on a career that began in the early ’70s with his first band Black Sheep, and evolved into international stardom with Foreigner. Now, he says, it’s time to slow down and reclaim some of the life he sacrificed for rock and roll.

“I’ve been doing this over 54 years,” he shared. “I want to spend more time with my older children and my younger child, and get back to enjoying my home, my friends, and my cars — while I can still drive them. I’ve done all there is to do, really.”

Gramm, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, says he’s at peace with the decision. “You just know when it’s time,” he added.

Farewell, But Not Quite Yet

While Gramm’s retirement is on the horizon, he’s still keeping a busy schedule in the meantime. The legendary vocalist continues to tour with his solo band and has been making guest appearances with Foreigner, most recently joining them for a pair of shows in Atlantic City.

“I’ve been doing shows with them and really enjoying it,” Gramm said. “The current lineup is excellent. They play the songs with their own style, but they stay faithful to the original versions — enough that any longtime member would be proud to share the stage with them.”

In addition to performing, Gramm has been working with Foreigner’s classic-era members, including guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Jeff Pilson, to complete long-lost material from the band’s vaults. Tracks like “Turning Back the Time” and “Fool If You Love Him” — originally left unfinished — were finally released ahead of Foreigner’s Rock Hall induction and included in recent reissues of their classic albums.

New Solo Album in the Works

Beyond the collaborative work, Gramm has also unearthed a personal treasure trove: unfinished solo tracks dating back to his late-’80s albums Ready or Not and Long Hard Look. Now, decades later, he’s bringing them back to life.

“It’s been a real labor of love,” he said. “Back then, the songs that got finished first made it onto the albums, but some of the ones we didn’t wrap up in time were actually gems. I pulled out the 24-track tapes and found some amazing ideas that I had forgotten about.”

With help from his current solo band, Gramm is finishing those tracks and recording them for a new album tentatively titled Released — a nod to both the music’s long-shelved status and the act of finally sharing it with the world.

He expects the album to arrive in early 2026, just in time for his farewell run, and plans to support it with a solo tour.

“My focus right now is on Foreigner and their 50th anniversary,” Gramm noted. “But I’m also very committed to this new solo material. I hope people give it a listen. It’s been a long time coming.”