21-05-2025
Iconic 1970s Rock Band Announces Lead Singer is Leaving
A rock band made a major announcement on Tuesday, May 20 — their lead singer is stepping down.
At the end of Tuesday's episode of The Voice, iconic 1970s/1980s rock band announced that lead singer Kelly Hansen is leaving the band at the end of the summer after fronting the band for two decades. Guitarist Luis Maldonado will be replacing Hansen as the new lead vocalist.
'Being the voice of Foreigner has been one of the greatest honors of my life,' said Hansen in a statement. 'But it's time to pass the mic. Luis has the voice, the energy, and the soul to carry these songs into the future. I couldn't be prouder to hand this off to him.'
'In 1976, my goal was to assemble the finest group of musicians I could find. Results have shown that it worked! About thirty years later, Jason Bonham encouraged me to do it all over again and create a brand-new Foreigner, and the magic was still there. I was especially fortunate in the choice of lead singer. Kelly Hansen is one of the best front men in our business and over the last twenty years he has breathed new life into our songs," said Foreigner founder Mick Jones.
Jones continued, "His boundless energy and flawless talent has helped us climb the mountain and set up the opportunity for Foreigner vocalist and guitarist, Luis Maldonado, to bring us home. I wish Kelly great happiness in his next endeavors after our summer tour, and I look forward to welcoming Luis to his new position. Luis was my choice as a guitarist and he has already shown us what he can do on lead vocals by fronting the band in South America to incredible reviews. He will soon lead the charge that will carry us forward to new heights.'
'This music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,' said Maldonado. 'I'm ready to honor Foreigner's legacy and bring my heart to every performance.'
Hansen and Maldonado will continue to tour through the end of 2025 in a bit of a "passing of the torch" as the band celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026.
In 2026, the band will also see 14 of its greatest hits debut in a stage musical called Feels Like the First Time in Long Island, New York.
