Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hansen discussed his decision to leave the band in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight.
The vocalist outlined his personal motivations for the departure. He emphasized his desire to pursue other life opportunities.
“It’s just time for me to do other things in my life while I still can. And it’s been a great experience for me and I have nothing but love for this organization and all the guys in the band. But I have other things — I have other fish I wanna fry,” Hansen said.
Hansen elaborated on his future plans and the band’s direction in the interview.
“The band’s gonna continue on with Luis and I’m probably gonna pop in here and there and say hi. I’ve got a fairly new family I wanna spend time with. I’ve got a lot of projects I wanna complete. I do some cooking stuff, so who knows what’s gonna come out in the future with some cooking stuff,” he continued.
Luis Maldonado will take over as Hansen’s replacement. Hansen will focus on his family and personal projects.
The departure signifies the end of a significant chapter in Foreigner’s history. The announcement arrived at a pivotal moment for the band.
A report from Consequence revealed Hansen’s journey with the band began in 2005. He stepped in after original frontman Lou Gramm’s departure in 2003. His impressive 20-year tenure helped maintain the band’s legacy and continued success.
Blabbermouth detailed the transition timeline. Hansen will perform his final shows during the 2025 summer tour. Later dates in Canada will feature another singer, Geordie Brown.
Luis Maldonado brings substantial experience to his new role. Latin Times highlighted the Mexican-American musician’s background. He joined Foreigner in 2021 as a guitarist. His previous work includes collaborations with Train and Lisa Marie Presley. Maldonado has demonstrated his abilities by successfully leading the band as vocalist during their Latin American tour.
Foreigner’s founding member Mick Jones endorsed Maldonado’s leadership potential. He specifically praised Maldonado’s vocal performances and bilingual talents. These skills have already earned positive reviews from audiences.
