Foreigner rocks 50th anniversary of Grand Prix of Long Beach

The Terrace Theater Plaza was packed on Saturday evening, April 12, to make sure Foreigner knew they were loved.

And Foreigner’s fans, in turn, felt love for the hitmakers when they took the stage — with help on one song from Jordan High students — as the headliners for the Saturday night concert during the Grand Prix of Long Beach’s 50th anniversary.

With 80 million albums sold worldwide and numerous top 10 hits, including “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “Double Vision,” Foreigner will reach its own milestone in 2026, 50 years after the band was formed.

Dubbed Southern California’s 200-mph beach party, Foreigner gave the concertgoers a rock party all their own at the Grand Prix, which began Friday and ends on Sunday, April 13.

And they received some help from the Jordan High School. Ten members of the Long Beach student choir, which previously performed at Carnegie Hall, sang backing vocals for “I Want To Know What Love Is.” During that tune, he encouraged the crowd to sing along.

“It’s going to be an amazing experience,” Juan-Jose Garcia, choir director at Jordan High School, said in a Thursday, April 10, press release. “The students will feel that rock ‘n roll energy. It’s something they will remember for a very long time. It’s good to be recognized for the talent and commitment of the students and this is a very good opportunity for us.”

With the roar of engines still sounding in the background, Foreigner led the concert off with “Double Vision” and then “Head Games,” followed by “Cold as Ice” — as the audience sang along.

For Orange County resident Denise Scott, seeing Foreigner — for no additional cost besides a Grand Prix ticket — this was a dream come true.

“This is like a bucket list, check the box,” said Scott, attending her fourth Grand Prix. “I was so shocked that they were going to be playing. I know it’s the 50th anniversary, so it’s a huge deal, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see this.”

Foreigner was formed in 1976 by Lou Gramm (vocals), Mick Jones (guitar) Ian McDonald (guitar, keyboards), Al Greenwood (keyboards), Ed Gagliardi (bass) and Dennis Elliott (drums).

None of the founding members is currently with the band, but Gramm is expected to join their South American tour later this year as they move closer to the 50th anniversary.

Foreigner currently features Kelly Hansen (vocals), Jeff Pilson (bass), Michael Bluestein (keyboards), Bruce Watson (guitar), Chris Frazier (drums) and Luis Maldonado (guitar).

Pilson, formerly of hard-rock hitmakers Dokken and more, has been with the band longest, since 2004.

Foreigner celebrated its long-awaited induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.

The band had hit albums beginning with its first self-titled debut, which was released in 1977. That was followed by “Double Vision” in 1978, “Head Games” in 1979 and “4” in 1981.

These albums produced the rock anthems “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” “Double Vision,” “Hot Blooded,” “Head Games,” and “Dirty White Boy.”

The power ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is,” written by Jones ad with lead vocals by Gramm, is the band’s only No. 1 single in the U.S. It was the signature hit on 1984’s “Agent Provocateur,” which also included the hit “That Was Yesterday.”

Jones and Gramm, were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.

Jose Cantellano, a Torrance resident attending his 25th Grand Prix of Long Beach this weekend, is a huge Foreigner fan. He stood in the Terrace Theater Plaza while wearing a gray sweater with Foreigner’s hits stacked on top of each other. He said he was thrilled to hear Foreigner play the hits.

“They have had different concerts of different kind of music for the last few years,” Cantellano said. “It’s about time they bring something classic.”

Richard Johnson, meanwhile, had Cantellano beat when it came to Grand Prix experience — with this weekend marking his 40th year. For him, the Foreigner was a throwback to when the band dominated the radio.

“The area where I grew up in and that era,,” he said, “I mean, you couldn’t turn on the radio (without hearing) Foreigner on every channel.”