Watch Kelly Hansen say an emotional goodbye at his final Foreigner concert
He has left the band after 20 years
Kelly Hansen got emotional at his last-ever Foreigner concert in Atlantic City, New Jersey over the weekend.
The 64-year-old vocalist’s two-decade tenure with Foreigner officially came to an end on Saturday night (11th October) at Hard Rock Live at the Etess Arena.
Kelly announced he was leaving Foreigner back in May, and he was passing the mic to guitarist Luis Maldonado.
“Luis has the voice, the energy, and the soul to carry these songs into the future,” Kelly said at the time. “I couldn't be prouder to hand this off to him."
When Foreigner returned for their encore in Atlantic City on Saturday, bassist and musical director Jeff Pilson introduced Kelly to the crowd, saying: “Tonight we are saying a very loving goodbye to someone who has made such a difference with this band, and he's been so important in helping take it to where it's right now.”
To screams from the 7,000-capacity crowd, Kelly said: “If I can, I'd like to get all the bandmembers up here. I just wanna do one group hug.
“Secondly, I just wanna thank the crew. There are many people who, every day, drive long hours in the middle of the night to get here very early in the morning to set up this gear, to set up these lights to make us look and sound as good as we possibly can. And I just wanna take a moment to thank all of the crew - many of whom have been with us a really long time - thank you guys.”
Fighting back tears, Kelly then thanked the band’s management, saying: "So when you're in a band, you want a manager, or managers — Phil Carson and Stewart Young are our managers — and you want managers who push to get things for you as opposed to a guy who doesn't push to get things for you. Phil Carson's over here. There he is, he's English and many times we've clashed because he wants to do some crazy bulls--- thing and I have to call him out and I have to say, 'No, we can't do it.' And he's still here. This man is a f---ing juggernaut and he's 80 years old and he's a mother---er. Along with Merrie Hart and Stewart, they've just done amazing things for this band over 20 years.
"Still on my list — you guys!,” a croaky-voiced Kelly said to huge. "If I could even string together the number of times that I've had experiences with fans — or I don't like to call you guys fans; I like to call you guys people who love music, appreciate music. My whole life, since I was 17, it's been great people who come to shows. Thank you for that.
"I have a whole bunch of friends who support me. I have many friends who have travelled a long way to be here tonight, and I wanna say thank you to all of them, because when it comes down to it, it's friends and family — it's friends and family, really.
"And one last thing: I wanna thank my wife. (She) changed my life. I got married for the first time at 59 years old.”
A visibly and audibly emotional Kelly added: "So that's my list, and just thank you, guys, for being here. Thank you, guys. And I'm speaking collectively to not only you guys who are here tonight, but whoever might be viewing this on the internet sometime later. Thank you all for all of your support.
"I've been in this business, I think, about 48/49 years. I put in my time. I spent 20 years with this fantastic band singing a catalogue of songs that a singer couldn't dream of. And thank you."
The rock icons then launched into their enduring ballad ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ before concluding with ‘Hot Blooded’.
Foreigner perform at Manchester AO Arena on Thursday 18th June 2026 and London OVO Arena Wembley the following night on Friday 19th June 2026 as part of their 50th anniversary tour.
Tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.
Foreigner will perform the biggest anthems from their back catalogue at the very special concerts, including ‘Cold As Ice’, ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’, ‘Juke Box Hero’, ‘Urgent’, ‘Double Vision’, ‘Hot Blooded’, ‘Waiting for a Girl Like You’, and ‘That Was Yesterday’.
Foreigner's line-up consists of Luis Maldonado (vocals/guitar), Jeff Pilson (bass/keyboards), Michael Bluestein (keyboards, keytar), Bruce Watson (drums) and Chris Frazier (drums).
Surprise rock star relations, including Foreigner legend Mick Jones:
Meat Loaf was the father-in-law of Scott Ian
Anthrax axeman Scott Ian married the late-great Meat Loaf's daughter Pearl Aday, who is also a rock musician, in 2011, and they have a son together called Revel. When Meat Loaf passed away in January 2022, the thrash musician paid poignant tribute, writing: "There are so many stories to tell, and I know they will all be told over time. For now, what I know is that Meat's legacy will live on through his family - Pearl, Amanda and Revel. Their forever love for their father/grandfather (Papa Meat) outweighs the heaviness of their hearts. Thank you to everyone for the outpouring of love, we feel it. I love you Meat."
Ronnie Wood is the former father-in-law of Fearne Cotton
Rolling Stones and Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood was once the father-in-law of television and radio presenter Fearne Cotton. Ronnie's oldest son Jesse Wood began dating Fearne Cotton in 2011 and they married three years later. They separated in December 2024.
Nita Strauss is a descendant of Johan Strauss
Guitar shredder Nita Strauss, perhaps best-known for being Alice Cooper's guitarist since 2014, is a descendant of 19th century Austrian composer Johann Strauss II. Explaining she's related to Johan on her father's side, Nita told Ultimate Guitar: "We have a lot of musicians, like, everyone on my dad's side of the family is all musicians, all the way back to the Viennese Strausses." Asked if she would consider performing Johan's music, Nita said: "You know, the waltz doesn't really sound good on the guitar. Like, I've sort of experimented a bit. I have to explore it more, because I would like to. And actually, we talked even about using 'The Blue Danube' as intro music for the tour or something, but it's so on the nose. It's sort of, like, so obvious, but I still want to explore it when I have a little more time."
Suzi Quatro is the aunt of Sherilyn Fenn
Detroit rock icon Suzi Quatro is the auntie of actor and author Sherilyn Fenn, who is best known for playing Audrey Horne in David Lynch's cult TV series Twin Peaks. Fenn's mum is keyboardist Arlene Quatro who was a member of the rock band The Pleasure Seekers with her younger sister Suzi in the 1960s.
Joe Walsh and Ringo Starr's wives are sisters
Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh became Ringo Star's relative in 2008 when he married Marjorie Bach, who is the sister of Ringo's wife Barbara Bach. Already good friends before becoming relatives, Joe was previously a member of Ringo's All-Starr Band from 1989 and into the early 90s, and Ringo appeared on Joe's 1991 solo album 'Ordinary Average Guy.'
Ian Anderson is the father-in-law of Andrew Lincoln
Jethro Tull vocalist, flautist, multi-instrumentalist, founder and sole constant member, Ian Anderson, is the father-in-law of Walking Dead and Teachers actor Andrew Lincoln. Ian's daughter, Gael, married Andrew Lincoln in 2006 and the couple have two children together.
Mick Jones is the stepfather of Mark Ronson
Foreigner guitarist, songwriter and only constant member Mick Jones is the stepfather of phenomenally successful musician and producer Mark Ronson. Mick Jones married Ann Dexter-Jones in the early 1980s and became stepfather to her three children Mark, Samantha and Charlotte Ronson. Mark Ronson has stated in interviews that he was surrounded by music throughout his childhood thanks to Mick, which led him to pursue a career in the music industry.
Mick Jones is the father of Annabelle Dexter-Jones
Succession actor Annabelle Dexter-Jones is the daughter of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones and jewellery designer Ann Dexter-Jones. Through her mum, she is also the half-sister of Mark Ronson, Charlotte Ronson and Samantha Ronson.
Brody Dalle is the half-sister of Morgana Robinson
The Distillers' Brody Dalle (real name Bree Joanna Alice Robinson) is the older half-sister of Australian-born English impressionist, comedian, writer and actor, Morgana Robinson. Brody and Morgana have the same father, however they didn't have much contact until they met backstage at a Distillers show at London's Brixton Academy in 2004.
Axl Rose was briefly the son-in-law of Don Everly
Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose was very briefly the son-in-law of Don Everly of The Everly Brothers fame. Axl began dating Don's daughter Erin Everly in 1986 and wrote the lyrics for Guns N' Roses' enduring anthem 'Sweet Child O' Mine' about her before she appeared in the 1988 music video for the track. Axl and Erin got hitched in 1990 and split the following year.
Mat Osman is the brother of Richard Osman
Suede bassist and co-founding member Mat Osman is the older brother of TV presenter and novelist Richard Osman. Richard says one of his proudest moments was seeing his sibling on Top of the Pops for the first time 30 years ago in 1992: "I said to him: 'You're on Top of the Pops, mate.' I was so proud of him."
Bill Wyman was almost his own son’s son-in-law
In a truly mind-boggling scenario, ex Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman almost became his own son's son-in-law and his own step-grandfather. When Bill separated from his first wife Mandy Smith (pictured, who was 18 at the time of marriage), his 30-year-old son Stephen married Mandy's mother, Patsy. Had Bill's marriage remained intact, he would have become his son's son-in-law, because he was married to his son's stepdaughter. Mandy Smith would have become Stephen Wyman's mother because she would be his father's wife. Thanks to his marriage to Mandy's mother, Stephen Wyman would have become both Mandy's son and father. Similarly, Patsy Smith would have been Mandy's daughter as well as her mother.
Phil Collins is the father of Lily Collins
Genesis icon and solo musician Phil Collins is the father of esteemed British-American actor Lily Collins. Lily is the only child from Phil's second marriage to Jill Tavelman. Following Genesis' final show at London's The O2 in March 2022, Lily paid tribute to her dad and half-brother Nicolas, writing: "Thank you dad for being such an inspiration and thank you @nic_collins for making me the proudest sister there is."
Joel Madden is the son-in-law of Lionel Richie
Joel Madden, vocalist for pop-punk band Good Charlotte, became Lionel Richie's son-in-law in 2010 when he married Lionel's daughter Nicole Richie. On Lionel's 71st birthday in 2020, Joel Madden paid tribute on Instagram calling the 'Hello' singer a "legendary father, mentor and friend" and "a rock in my life."
Lenny Kravitz and Al Roker are second cousins
Rock icon Lenny Kravitz the second cousin of US weatherman and television personality, Al Roker. Lenny's actress mother Roxie Roker is Al's first cousin.
Robert Smith was the brother-in-law of his bandmate Porl Thompson
The Cure's Robert Smith was once related by marriage to his former band mate Porl Thompson (later Pearl Thompson). Guitarist Porl Thompson married Robert Smith's younger sister Janet in 1990 and they stayed together for a decade before divorcing shortly after the millennium.
Gavin Rossdale is the father of Daisy Lowe
Shortly after English fashion model Daisy Lowe was born in 1989, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale was named her godfather. Lowe was believed to be the daughter of Pearl Lowe's former partner Bronner Handwerger. However, in 2004, Daisy Lowe discovered her godfather was in fact her biological father thanks to a paternity test.