Lou Gramm, the lead vocalist of Foreigner, shared last week that he would retire from music at the end of the year.
Gramm, 73, shared the news during an interview with Seven Mountains Media radio host Lee Richey, but before that, the two spoke about Foreigner’s nomination for the 2024 Rock & Roll Hame of Fame.
“It’s very, very satisfying to be honored like this after years and years of writing, recording, and more time than that, performing,” Gramm said during the interview.
Gramm was the lead vocalist of Foreigner from 1976 to 1990 and again from 1992 to 2003 — and during that time, the band released several successful, chart-topping albums and singles. After departing from Foreigner for good in 2003, Gramm pursued a solo music career and was inducted into to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.
It was halfway through the interview that Gramm revealed that he was calling it quits from music at the end of this year after doing it for nearly 50 years.
“I would like to turn my attention to my family and my muscle cars and just enjoy myself knowing that when I lay down at night, it’ll be in my own bed,” the “Hot Blooded” singer told Richey.
“This is gonna be it,” he added. “I’ve been putting it off and putting it off. And I still enjoy performing, but when you’ve been doing it for as long as I have, the travel is the worst. It really takes its toll. And that’s a sign that you’re getting old.”
However, this isn’t the first time Gramm has announced he would retire. In 2018, he revealed that he played his final solo show though he clarified that he would still do occasional shows and has still toured on a smaller scale.
Gramm most recently performed this past Saturday at the Kodak Center at the ROC the VIP benefit for his charity the Lou Gramm Foundation, which helps and gives funding to young musicians who want to take the next step in their music career.
This summer, Gramm will perform during the Parti-Gras tour with Bret Michaels, Twisted Sister vocalists Dee Snider and former guitarist of The Eagles, Don Felder. He also shared that if Foreigner gets inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Gramm will perform alongside his former bandmates at the ceremony in Cleveland.
“I’ve heard that we’re going to play a song or two (if inducted),” Gramm told Richey. “And I was told that I would be singing.”
Saleah Blancaflor may be reached at sblancaflor@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @saleyley and Instagram.