Foreign’s main singer, Kelly Hansen, has amazed fans when he announced her departure from the legendary group at Rockstar Fashion.
The 64 -year -old rocker, who joined the group in 2005, announced on Tuesday the news of the final of the “The Voice” season of NBC after interpreting the successful song of the group “Feel Aime The First Time” alongside his group comrades.
“After 20 magical years to face this group, it will be my last year with Foreign,” Hansen told the crowd. “At the end of this summer, a new great voice will sing these songs for you; my friend Luis Maldonado.”
Maldonado – who joined Foreign in 2021 as a guitarist and filled as a main singer during the recent Tour in Latin America – appeared with a microphone in hand on the central scene and began to sing one of the group’s radio songs of the group, “Juke Box Hero”.
Hansen joined Maldonado in an emotional ship while the couple ended at night singing “I want to know what love is”.
“Being the voice from abroad was one of the greatest honors in my life,” said Hansen after the announcement.
“But it’s time to pass the microphone. Luis has voice, energy and soul to transport these songs in the future. I could not be more proud to give it that.”
Maldonado added that he was ready to go to the plate and “honor the legacy of the foreigner”.
“This music has been part of my life for as long as I remember. I am ready to honor the legacy of the foreigner and bring my heart to each performance,” said Maldonado.
The founding member and guitarist Mick Jones is the only original member of Foreign to stay with the group. However, the 80 -year -old Rockstar has not played live with the group since 2023.
“In 1976, my goal was to assemble the best group of musicians I was able to find. The results showed that it worked! ” Jones said about Hansen’s departure, according to Rolling Stone.
“Kelly Hansen is one of the best fronts in our company and in the past twenty years, he has inspired a new life in our songs. His unlimited energy and his flawless talent helped us climb the mountain and set up the opportunity for the foreign singer and guitarist, Luis Maldonado, to bring us home.”
Hansen will provide the microphone for good as a group leader at the end of their current summer tour, with him and Maldonado as singers.
Hansen’s to come from Hansen compared to the group bursts a 20 -year race as a foreign singer after replacing the original singer, Lou Gramm – who left the group for creative differences, Billboard reported.
In April, Gramm, 75, revealed that he would tour with Foreign for a final round as a group and appeared as a special guest during their recent South American shows.
According to Billboard, Hansen did not join the group during these concerts due to planning problems, but he and Gramm recognized their tense relationship, according to Billboard.
The foreigner was inducted at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October 2024, notably Jones, Gramm, the original drummer of the Dennis Elliott group, bassist Ed Gagliard (died in 2014), the keyboardist Ian McDonald (died in 2022), the keyboardist Al Greenwood and Bassist Rick Wills.
Hansen was not included in the induction of rock and roll Hall of Fame.
Current members include Maldonado, Bruce Watson, Michael Bluestein, Chris Frazier and Jeff Pilson.
The foreigner is on tour across North America until November and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026.