Lou Gramm Claims ‘Personal Vendetta’ Reason for Foreigner’s Rock Hall Snub

Lou Gramm, the former singer of Foreigner, and the current vocalist Kelly Hansen both think it’s unfair that the band isn’t in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Gramm shared his thoughts on The Rock Shop With Ralph:

“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 added:

“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.”

Although Gramm didn’t explicitly say the name, it’s highly likely he was referring to Jann Wenner, co-founder of Rolling Stone and the former head of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation from 1983 to 2020.

In 2022, Wenner stated that he didn’t bear any ill feelings towards Foreigner and maintained a strong friendship with Mick Jones. Nevertheless, he pointed out that the committee had never put forth Foreigner’s name for consideration in the nominations

When asked about whether Gramm believed his former band should be part of the institution, the vocalist responded:

“Of course I do. The original Foreigner [lineup]. I put an exclamation point at the end of that.”

Gramm shared the same feelings as his successor, Hansen, who has been the frontman of Foreigner since 2005.

Hansen recently revealed to 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.”

He continued:

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

Both Lou Gramm and Kelly Hansen hold a shared viewpoint regarding Foreigner’s omission from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. While Gramm suggested a possible “personal vendetta” as the cause, Hansen’s sentiments align with this perspective. Their thoughts shed light on the ongoing discussions surrounding the band’s absence from this esteemed musical institution.