The Dead Daisies Now Hire Ex-Foreigner Frontman Kelly Hansen as John Corabi’s Replacement

Sam Miller
By
Sam Miller
Sam is our lead correspondent, dedicated to tracking the pulse of the rock world. He delivers breaking news and a commitment to verifying all information against...
3 Min Read
Photo Credit: Katarina Benzova

The Dead Daisies have announced former Foreigner frontman Kelly Hansen as their new singer, following John Corabi’s exit and Glenn Hughes’ retirement. The band shared the news in a statement on Instagram, alongside the announcement of a new single, “Lift Me Up,” and a run of US tour dates scheduled for next year.

Create your own music artist with RockAgent
You follow artists every day. What about creating your own?
RockAgent lets you build a music artist from scratch and take it all the way to release.
Create Your Artist

“The Dead Daisies are proud to announce a new Singer, Single, Video, Album & Tours!” the band said. “We are thrilled to share this with you and trust you will enjoy it!”

Hansen also commented on joining the group, explaining his decision to continue performing after his time with Foreigner.

“When I left Foreigner after 20 great years, I told everybody I wasn’t retiring, just moving on to other things,” Hansen said. “This project gives me the opportunity to stretch out with some new melodies, a new vibe and fresh energy. We’re gonna rock it!”

Guitarist Doug Aldrich also discussed the band’s new single and the upcoming album.

“Lift Me Up started off as a dead simple guitar riff and heavy groove,” Aldrich said. “As the song progressed, the melody just grew from there. It’s very melodic, and the lyrics reflect positively and a vibe to lift us up in these crazy times.”

Aldrich added that work on the forthcoming album is ongoing and looked ahead to touring with Hansen.

“We’re working on more cool music for the album right now, and I’m excited about where it’s heading,” he said. “It’s also gonna be amazing to be onstage with Kelly again after all these years! His vocal range is exceptional, and he’s a badass frontman. Can’t wait to get out there and see you all in 2027!”

Hansen’s arrival is the latest change in a lineup that has shifted often since the band formed in 2012. Here is how the group reached this point.

The band announced Corabi’s latest departure on July 14, 2026, after a three-year run with the group. His exit came after Hughes left in May 2023, following four years in the band. Corabi returned to the group after Hughes’ exit.

Hansen now fronts a lineup that includes founding guitarist David Lowy, Aldrich, and drummer Tommy Clufetos. Jimi Crutchley plays bass. The band’s official lineup page and bio list Hansen alongside them.

The 2027 schedule is broad. Dates are planned across Europe, the UK, the US, and Scandinavia. The European run opens on March 4 at Zeche in Bochum, Germany.

The US leg comes in the spring. BulletBoys and The Fell, the project that includes Billy Sheehan, will support. It starts on April 30 in Lititz, Pennsylvania. It ends on May 15 in Los Angeles. An additional stop is listed for May 2. The venue has not been announced.

Share This Article