Foreigner picked for Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame amid farewell tour that includes South Okanagan
Just named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, Foreigner is bringing its Farewell Canada tour to the South Okanagan Events Centre on Saturday, May 4.
“Of course it’s overdue,” said bass player Jeff Pilson in an interview just days before the official induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was announced.
“I can’t wait until it happens. It feels as though the band is finally getting its long-overdue recognition. The original guys deserve to be there.”
The Rock Hall usually only includes the line-up of a band’s “classic era,” thus meaning that none of the present members will be enshrined.
But that’s fine with Pilson, who played his first gig with Foreigner in 2004 which was arranged after he appeared in the movie Rock Star alongside drummer Jason Bonham, son of the late John Bonham.
“We generally try to throw some kind of surprise into our show, but we had 16 top 30 songs and the hardest part of our set list is what songs do we leave out. We do mostly greatest hits, a few B sides and a lot of people leave saying, ‘I didn’t realize how many Foreigner songs I knew.’ The catalogue of music is so strong.”
The band’s top 10 North American hits were: Feels Like the First Time, Cold as Ice, Hot Blooded, Double Vision, Urgent, Waiting for a Girl Like You, Say You Will and the monster smash I Want to Know What Love Is, their lone No. 1 single back in 1984.
For the latter, they will be joined on stage by a youth choir from Penticton.
Other Foreigner staples include Juke Box Hero from their massive Foreigner 4 album and Dirty White Boy, which was inspired by Elvis Presley.
“I don’t really have any favourites… they’re all great,” Pilson said when asked which song he enjoys performing live. “I’m not a favourites person per say, there’s so many songs to pick from. That’s the real gist of it, a lot of great songs, that’s what makes the set so exciting and fun for everyone. Our band is full of energy. We just don’t stand there playing.”
Pilson’s first taste of stardom came as a member of Dokken. He co-wrote their three biggest hits — Alone Again, In My Dreams and Burning Like a Flame. He also had an extended stint with heavy metal band Dio.
His career highlight was playing at an Atlantic Records event in 2007.
“We were at the 02 Arena on a line-up with Led Zeppelin. We played I Want to Know What Love Is right before Led Zeppelin went on. I was a little nervous not knowing how they were going to react to us. It was amazing, they were great. We played and then Zeppelin gave a master class on how to be an intense rock-and-roll band. We also got to rock out with Paul McCartney.”
The present line-up of Foreigner features lead vocalist Kelly Hansen, Pilson (bass), Michael Bluestein (keys), Bruce Watson (guitar), Chris Frazier (drums) and Luis Maldonado (guitar).
Guitarist and primary songwriter Mick Jones remains the only founding member left, but he now only plays select dates.
“It’s still Mick’s band, he knows what’s going on,” said Pilson. “We keep him up to speed and with any major decision we have to run it by him.”
Following the present nine months of touring, Pilson said they hope to rest and spend time on writing and recording some new material.
Tickets for Foreigner’s Farewell Canada tour, with special guests The Headpins, range from $72.50-$112.50 plus tax and service charge. They can be purchased online at valleyfirsttix.