About this episode
Lou Gramm discusses his career, the formation of Foreigner, and his experiences in the music industry.
Legendary vocalist Lou Gramm joins SPIN Magazine’s Lipps Service with Scott Lipps for a deep, career-spanning conversation—from early struggles to global superstardom with Foreigner. Lou opens up about his beginnings, the formation of Foreigner with Mick Jones, getting rejected by record labels, and ultimately creating some of the biggest rock anthems of all time. He shares stories about opening for KISS, encounters with Aretha Franklin, and working with legendary producer Mutt Lange. We also dive into classics like “I Want to Know What Love Is,” the evolution of Foreigner’s sound, Lou’s current relationship with Mick Jones, and his thoughts on modern versions of legacy bands touring today. Plus—Lou reflects on his new album Released, retirement, and the legacy he’s most proud of. If you’re a fan of classic rock, songwriting, and real music industry stories, this is one you don’t want to miss. 00:00:55 – Where It All Started 00:09:40 – How Singing Began 00:11:45 – The Black Sheep Era 00:14:25 – Influence of Steve Marriott 00:17:50 – Early Capitol Records Deal 00:19:00 – Opening for KISS 00:28:30 – Getting Dropped by the Label 00:30:03 – The Call from Mick Jones / Joining…
People in this episode
Host: Scott Lipps
Guest: Lou Gramm
Topics covered
- classic rock
- songwriting
- music industry stories
- Foreigner
- Lou Gramm's career
- rock anthems
- music evolution
Keywords
- Lou Gramm
- Foreigner
- rock music
- Mick Jones
- KISS
- music history
- songwriting
- classic rock
- Mutt Lange
- Aretha Franklin
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Foreigner, Capitol Records, KISS
Books & works: I Want to Know What Love Is, Released, Juke Box Hero
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