Foreigner is among the artists who will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. The ceremony takes place this Saturday, October 19, at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.
A new episode of the Hulu streaming news program Impact x Nightline focusing on the 2025 inductees features an interview with original Foreigner keyboardist Al Greenwood. Greenwood, who played with Foreigner from 1976 to 1980, reflected on the group’s long-awaited honor, his exit from the band, and more during his segment.
Foreigner was first eligible for induction in 2002, but they never were even nominated until this year. Happily, for the arena rockers, the first time was the charm.
“As a rock musician, there are two goals you want to achieve,” Greenwood said in the interview. “The first one is to headline at Madison Square Garden for a sold-out show. And then, number two is getting into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. That is the ultimate goal.” He added with a laugh, “And then, to be around to enjoy it is the key.”
On Foreigner’s Quick Rise to Stardom
Foreigner was popular right from the start, with its 1977 self-titled debut enjoying major success on the strength of the Top-10 hits “Feels Like the First Time” and “Cold as Ice.”
[RELATED: Kelly Clarkson to Help Induct Foreigner Into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame With Tribute Performance]
“Once we released the record, it was like we were shot out of a cannon, because it just immediately became a huge hit on the radio,” Greenwood recalled. “Within four weeks, we went to a gold record, which was at that time the fastest any debut record reached gold status.”
Greenwood’s Departure from the Band and Beyond
Greenwood played on Foreigner’s first three studio albums, but in 1980, Mick Jones, the band’s leader and main songwriter, asked him and fellow founding member Ian McDonald to leave the group.
“I was with the band for about five years, until I left,” Greenwood noted. “Do you want to know why? I’d like to know that myself.”
The keyboardist then explained that Jones, who “called all the shots” in the band, “thought at this point, maybe we should change what we were doing and go in a different direction.”
Foreigner did move in a more pop-oriented direction, leading to some of the group’s biggest hits.
Greenwood said he holds no grudge about being pushed out of the band. He also admitted that he was impressed with how great some of the songs the group wrote and recorded after his departure were, including the chart-topping ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
“‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ came out and it was one of those ‘pull over to the side of the curb’ moments,” he maintained, “when you hear a song on the radio and you go, ‘holy crap, that’s amazing.’”
On Foreigner’s Long Wait to Be Inducted
Greenwood said he doesn’t understand why it took so long for Foreigner to be inducted into the Rock Hall.
“I always felt Foreigner had the credentials to get into the Hall of Fame,” he pointed out. “I mean, we had 16 Top-30 hits; we had nine Top-10 hits; we had a No. 1 hit with ‘I Want to Know What Love Is.’ We sold over 80 million records. So, why we had to wait so long is still beyond me.”
Greenwood said he’d have preferred it if Foreigner received the honor sooner. That’s because two of the band’s founding members have passed away—bassist Ed Gagliardi in 2014 and McDonald in 2020—while others, including Jones, have had serious health issues.
Al added, “So, it’s a bit bittersweet going into this.”
Stars Who Will Help Salute Foreigner at the Ceremony
Some of Foreigner’s surviving members are expected to perform at the Rock Hall ceremony. In addition, several other stars will help celebrate the band’s induction. They include Kelly Clarkson, Sammy Hagar, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, and Demi Lovato.
More About the 2024 Rock Hall Induction Ceremony
As previously reported, the other artists joining Foreigner as inductees in the Performer category this year are Ozzy Osbourne, Peter Frampton, Dave Matthews Band, Kool & the Gang, Mary J. Blige, Cher, and A Tribe Called Quest.
Also being inducted in other categories at the ceremony are Jimmy Buffett, the MC5, Dionne Warwick, John Mayall, Norman Whitfield, Alexis Korner, Big Mama Thornton, and Suzanne de Passe.
The 2024 Rock Hall induction ceremony will stream live on Disney+ on October 19 starting at 7 p.m. ET. A highlights special will air on ABC at a later date, and will be available on Hulu the next day.
Tickets for this year’s Rock Hall ceremony can be purchased now via a variety of outlets, including StubHub.
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