How a Kiss Tour DISASTER Changed Lou Gramms Life!

Lou Gramm talks about the unfortunate events that led to him leaving his previous band following a Christmas Eve crash after a show supporting Kiss! Lou discusses his time with Black Sheep, his transformation from drummer to lead singer through to the formation of the iconic band, Foreigner. He talks about his early encounters with Mick Jones and the way the group developed.
If you are a podcast listener check out the full interview with Lou Gramm here: t.ly/876MC

[@michaelheller8841]

One of the best voices in the 70s and 80s no doubt. Someone who deserves to be in The Hall Of Fame and it took too long. What a great singer.

[@lady_in_blue83]

Being a music lover, I need to express my gratitude in return. Lou's voice helped me in hard times to overcome the death of my close friend because of a malignant brain tumor and to disclose my abilty to write my own poems at the age of 10. One music miracle even happened last summer and it relates to him directly. He never performed in Russia, so your video interview brought a lot of good memories to me.

[@garywheeler60]

I played for 30 years dragging around the trailer ....humping equipment in and out of every dive you can name .Someone stole the trailer out of the lot while we were doing a gig at a biker bar one night. The owners put the word out and the trailer magically reappeared the next day .I opened up for Foreigner at Jannus Landing in St Pete. Best gig ever.

[@frogbones1968]

Cool story. Bikers don't eff around.

[@markvinci4369]

Awsome

[@jimgeary]

Interesting that so many bands that toured with KISS talk very positively about them.

[@drillbag]

Apparently one thing they always do is look after their opening acts.

[@markallen2984]

@@drillbagKISS spent a lot of lean and hard years as an opening act getting treated like 💩by headliners….therefore they decided to be sure to treat their openers well.

[@glengamble526]

It’s partly cause Kiss got treated so badly in the early days by jealous headliners-and vowed never to be that way themselves, once they headlined.

[@seamus2112ophelan]

Good on them....and the exact opposite is what you always hear about Aerosmith. What a bunch of douchebags!

[@electricianron_New_Jersey]

Because KISS rules

[@landofgoshenstudios6402]

I would love to hear Lou Graham sing and play the drums at the same time like Phil Collins and Don Henly

[@Gioagla]

Fantastic interview....the host is a gentleman, he lets the guest to talk ❤

[@lonelybro77]

I'll never 4get Cal Jam2, biggest show I've ever been to! Foreigner exploded onto the stage, Lou grabbed the mic, and everybody was up and singing, Feels like the First Time. They followed Heart, so yeah, everybody was juiced, man. Xclnt scheduling, what a day/nite!😎

[@ronnieparker4311]

Those black sheep albums are classic! If those 2 albums don’t convince you that Lou’s voice was destined for what the sound and vibe of what foreigner was to become! The opening track from the first black sheep album is killer! Should have been a radio hit! Kingsport Tenn. loves ya Lou 👍 ⚡️space ace Ron⚡️

[@ThomasWilliams-qt4hm]

Many memories,Lou gave it his all.

[@brushmaninc.5900]

I’ve seen this man five times in concert I love foreigner

[@FarAwayEyes64]

This man is a treasure. So underrated

[@markvinci4369]

I think I may vaguely remember hearing of this if it’s the same incident.I was at my aunts house for Christmas in the early 80s and the dj on the radio said something about kiss would be a little late they are having a tough time getting through the snow I don’t know if it said where it was but maybe that’s another incident but it just somehow brought it to mind .This would have been probably ‘80 or ‘81

[@richardpapa242]

I agree , covers is a place where original musicians go to die . Personally I hate covers and cover bands , when I do play them , it’s my own feel …

[@bentheredonethat-lx6nh]

Foreigner is just a former shell of it's self now.

[@robpaxson4455]

Zero original members

[@bentheredonethat-lx6nh]

@@robpaxson4455 I know little about the band. 😂

[@margueritemazzeo2904]

​@@bentheredonethat-lx6nhIt's just a cover band now..even Mick Jones doesn't play with them due to ill health..there ya go

[@bentheredonethat-lx6nh]

@@margueritemazzeo2904 Thanks, I was just being sarcastic is all. 👍

[@97warlock]

Kiss were never on Capitol records though. Casablanca Records

[@thomaskinne2357]

So I says to him I says. . . . . . . .

[@margueritemazzeo2904]

Lou's a New Yorker.😅🎉

[@timw4369]

Went to a foreigner concert and the drummer was so drunk the roadies has to place him on the chair as he couldn't walk. Completely bombed

[@FarAwayEyes64]

kISS wasn’t on Capitol

[@Jowesmith]

Lou.............retire

[@chrisputnam9809]

Foreigner is the biggest suck band of the 70's and 80's.

[@hondaphan4172]

Go away troll. There are tens of millions who are longtime Foreigner fans and your opinion doesn't mean squat to us. Are you that hard-up for attention to make that comment on a Lou Gramm interview? You're pathetic.

[@TheBallls]

jealous

[@RandyFricke]

If you don't love Lou Gramm you're wrong.

[@BLD426]

😆 True.

[@SmackWaterJack001]

IM A 61 YEAR OLD, OLD SCHOOL ROCK & ROLLER, AND I LOVE LOU GRAMM🤘

[@ratdad48]

So true!

[@PureBlood42]

Foreigner's debut album was my first Rock album. I ditched the Beach Boys immediately. Lol. I'm sure my singing along to that vinyl in my room was horrible, but what a blast. Now, all these years later, and of all the bands I've enjoyed across 5 decades, I just never get tired of Lou Gramm's voice.

[@jeffhodge7272]

That's like me and my 1st live band I saw.America. 2nd was Ted Nugent!😮😊

[@charliec5653]

KISS was actually on Casablanca records, not Capital.

[@toms3664]

Good point. Donna Summer also

[@DeliRevv]

I picked up on that too. I was thinking to myself, “When the hell was Kiss on Capital?”

[@leeknievel748]

I was about to point that out lol thank you sir, but Lou's not supposed to remember every little detail such as that, lol so I can overlook that, I'm glad everyone was ok in the crash, glad Lou met Mick!

[@charliec5653]

​@@leeknievel748 i guess Lou gets a pass, but you know us KISS fans. We know all the little details!

[@michaelvandiver2475]

Yep...immediately knew Lou was a bit confused about that detail. KISS was one the original Casablanca bands with Parliament, Donna Summer

[@rodger7029]

Can not imagine 70s/80s rock without the voice of Lou Gramm

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

I can

[@margueritemazzeo2904]

​@@MrJohnnyDistortionYour loss.

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

@@margueritemazzeo2904 No one's loss because he was there. On the radio. I just don't believe in your phrase. 😁

[@JohnnyUtah-71]

@@MrJohnnyDistortion Same. Juke Box Hero and Midnight Blue are his only worth while songs IMO. And I was born in the early 70's, plenty of other great bands/songs out there.

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

@@JohnnyUtah-71 Dirty White Boy

[@TractorMonkeywithJL]

Who else thought that the quote in the thumbnail "We almost threw up when we saw the mess", meant that KISS made a big mess somewhere backstage? lol

[@edwoll]

Didn't Gene have loose bowels?

[@woodybowen5362]

Gene probably loosened Paul ‘s bowels.

[@johntate5050]

@@edwoll I read that Gene used to sell his shit for 5 dollars per turd.

[@aisforapple2494]

I was thinking about groupies. 🤣

[@aisforapple2494]

​@@woodybowen5362 It's called "fudge packing" for a reason. 🤣

[@drumdude46]

This Host.....is Awesome. He Knows how to just 'Let....his guests.....Talk. Doesn't feel the need to have to 'interject'....every other sentence. Just let's Lou.....Tell the Whole story. Spaces, Breaks, Dead-Air and All. Perfect. Awesome. There doesn't NEED to be someone saying something.........every second. God i loved listening to this. Because Lou....got to just tell it at his Pace. And it made it so much more enjoyable than some 'Hey! check me Out! Host....having to open his giggle hole....or fire 'rapid questions....every 2 seconds. What a breath of Fresh Air!

[@VRPRocks]

Thanks for the kind words! I was taught years ago to leave silences, it forces your interviewees to fill that gap and often leads to them telling more than they'd planned... and if they don't, I can just edit it out anyways 😂👍🤘

[@cheribee968]

@@VRPRocksappreciate your interview style

[@mooch514]

Not sure. Kiss has been known to treat their opening bands very well. Just listen to acdc or rush or judas priest. All very positive towards kiss

[@Mickcotton]

A Living Legend ✅🏆. Thank You So Much Lou for all your Fantastic Music Love Forever. Rock n Roll

[@doctorgarbonzo2525]

Congrats to Lou & Foreigner finally RRHOF Award! Long Time Coming

[@chrisoakley5830]

Yes, should have been 20 years ago.

[@schumi9xwdc]

Only nominated

[@margueritemazzeo2904]

​@@schumi9xwdcNo..they have been inducted now.

[@morrisschwarts4826]

I think that RRHOF is a joke. The bands are all great but the way they organize it is a complete joke.

[@simonajugarih3620]

Inducted, actually. ​@@schumi9xwdc

[@kurtboyer299]

KISS should have gotten some rehearsal gear and back lined them.

[@ciadella1971]

Those NY thruways are bad in the winter. Our bands van slid off the road driving home from a gig one night. Thank God Lou Gramm chose to sing!

[@stickyfox]

We have "pothole season" every spring, and if your car is damaged during winter (because there's too many potholes to fix), you won't get reimbursed by the NYSDOT.

[@peppino1961]

It's always so interesting to hear the back stories of how bands broke up and others formed through sheer luck. One thing I've learned is that no one becomes an overnight sensation, most achieve success through years of hard work, dedication and patience.

[@jironthunder7519]

Right.. who knew Pink Floyd had 6 albums BEFORE Dark Side Of the Moon. They were ready to call it a day and fly it..

[@T.McGarry]

Record company "executives", music critics, and radio stations held all the cards back then. They could make or break an artist, and loved that they had the power to do so...

[@ranasneed451]

Brother is a class act..❤❤❤❤❤

[@CapoKabar]

Lou had Alien chops. One of the all time greats

[@JeffKopis]

KISS was never on Capital records. They were on Casablanca. In 1983 they went to Mercury Records.

[@JeffKopis]

Oh crap, Charlie beat me to it! 😂

[@johnedgar9817]

Lou Gramm is Foreigner period. One of my favorite singer's of all time . Kelly Hansen from Hurricane is ok but Lou is way better

[@JESUS-SAVES_1975.]

Such a great story. I really enjoy listening to Lou talk about the old days. He seems like a real nice guy.

[@keithbartholomew2990]

Agree 100%

[@dennisrockbottomskelly7948]

I CAUGHT Black Sheep a number of times in Rochester back in the 70's....also saw them open for KISS. Loved this band!

[@mooch514]

This is mothing to do with kiss being bad towards lou. He praises kiss and their kindness towards him

[@predictorleague8780]

It doest say anywhere that Kiss was bad to Lou, so what's your point?

[@willymccabe6602]

Tag just says there was a disaster while they were on a tour with Kiss. Doesn't say Kiss had anything to do with it.

[@imatalkin4358]

I saw Foreigner 1984 in Memphis, great show!

[@todddickinson3262]

I was there for that one!! Dam they were so good!!!

[@bradleyhohner8775]

Lou Gramm! Incredible voice, amazing performer and songwriter too. Love him. ☺️

[@Ohionortheast]

If this happens after kiss hit big Gene would have probably hooked them up with equipment the guy is harsh with a big ego but I notice he does help out people a lot

[@keeponkeepinonstudio]

I saw Black Sheep open up for Suzie Quattro in the rose garden at Delaware park in Buffalo in a free concert in the mid 70s. There were tons of free rock concerts especially in parks back in the day. Lou mentioned they found a great drummer to replace him. I do believe that would have been Ron Rocco who would go on to play in a band called Light Years from Rochester that Billy Sheehan played bass in. They were great. I did not know who Suzie Quattro was but she was great that day. Turns out she was a female rocker pioneer. Did a killer version of heat wave. Owned the crowd. Black Sheep was great too.

[@VRPRocks]

It's a shame Suzi never seemed to get the respect she deserved in the US. She was huge here in the UK (2 number 1 singles) and around the world. Still releasing new music and touring today, too.

[@craiggerrard5117]

@@VRPRocks She is doing a UK tour and playing in my home town in the autumn. I'm hoping to go if I can afford it because I think she would be great live.

[@VRPRocks]

I saw her a couple of years before covid, still full of energy, great show. If you can manage to go I'm sure you'd have a great night👍🤘

[@skeezix8156]

Haven’t heard that name in a long time. Ol’ Leather Tuscadero

[@keeponkeepinonstudio]

@@craiggerrard5117 I can testify that she is great live!

[@iamanovercomer3253]

I take Ten Years After over Kiss ‼️👍

[@afvet5075]

Lou has a great musical mind. It's one of the best of all time. What a legend. He is one cool cat with an off the hook voice. He IS the voice of Foreigner.

[@TheRealBKSchyster]

*THAT IS SOOOOOO **_"PHUCKED UP!!!!!!!!"_* HOWEVER, and with *"Capitol Records,"* ...... I am not surprised AT ALL!!! 😧😈😩😤😨

[@bonzotalonzo9072]

I was fortunate to see Black Sheep & met Lou a couple times in the mid 80's at a gas station I worked at in Gates, NY. Such a down to earth humble guy to talk with. No ego, attitude, NOTHING, was more interested in hangin with me a bit. Thanks for the memory Lou.

[@cheribee968]

That’s good to hear He always shows a lot of humility Always seems like a nice person

[@cheribee968]

Lou put so much heart and soul in his voice Such an accomplished singer

[@ralphhorst3682]

Lou was one the best singers in the rock era!

[@thomaskinne2357]

Yeah man these days there are a bunch of foreigners, in Foreigner. That is not one, original member. So are you seeing Foreigner, or a Foreigner tribute band? Unless you actually happen to catch a show where Jones, is playing guitar. Although Kelly Hansen, does do a nice job. & yeah yeah I know, Jeff Pilson is playing bass.

[@Ross_From_Synthetica]

Can you imagine auditioning to be the lead singer of a band with Lou Graham in the room?

[@geraldhartley]

Gramm

[@BackToTheBlues]

Autocorrect doing the old auto-incorrect thing, I bet!

[@burrbonus]

Black Sheep's first album was incredible -- some of it reminded me of Free (Fraser, Rodgers, Kossoff, Kirke). Of course, the vocals were superb.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

That was really cool of Kiss I wonder if that was Bill of Big John that told them to play an encore song and to contact Capital?

[@captaincool5387]

Man to see smashed drums would kill me...

[@robertsuitsjr6117]

That phone call would have come regardless of the crash. But then it would have been a decision to leave a working band starting to see success instead of one that had already given up.

[@edwoll]

It's too bad that Mick turned out to be a total greedy a-hole.

[@raybenoit5238]

Life's funny huh ? One of the best voices ever , a legend and ok , instead of staying on drums , I'll volunteer to sing . Me and millions around the world are glad that you were gracious enough to give up the drums . 😎

[@1439315]

"Mediocre Management Incorporated" sucks; Usual losers who sit in the office doing none of the on the road touring work.

[@degatagauwatie4073]

I saw Kiss on their tenth-anniversary-tour. They were on the decline then, and there were few people there. Anyone was free to walk up to the front to see them. They cancelled a lot of shows due to poor ticket sales. Paul was throwing picks, which sailed over many peoples' heads and landed on the floor.

[@emilypound]

He sounds like a really nice guy

[@EphemeralProductions]

that's really crummy that the record company didn't help them out. Made me mad and it wasn't even my life. LOL

[@cheribee968]

I really hope Lou Gramm will do many more interviews after this year’s last tour 2024 He is so intelligent with lots of history to share

[@DavidBrown-it9ig]

Foreigner, highly underrated. Never be the likes given todays "taste" in music.

[@thomasborger6548]

Lou seems rather humble and unaffected for the heights he has achieved. Good for him, I hope he lives well.

[@megwell]

I always thought he had a good "Rock" voice for his style of music

[@robb5921]

I remember buying a Black Sheep album with Lou(is) Gramm(atico) his real name.

[@wulf67]

KISS paved the way for an entire generation of incels.

[@pauls5096]

"We need a singer or we needed a drummer. So we auditioned some singers." What? You've got Lou fukn' Gramm and you're auditioning singers?!?! Oy.

[@johnmorganjr769]

Im glad you are well !! I have that first album !! 💥💯👍

[@swcone]

Lou's comment still holds true about people in this area wanting to play covers to make money. I moved away to pursue an original career and found that I was much happier playing music that I created. I moved back to Rochester to be closer to family and when I got back put together an original project. Released a CD and had some great shows. I've had a record deal and music in a documentary which is more than most and from music I created. I put out solo albums often and enjoy writing and recording. Only a handful of places support original music. Almost all of the others want cover bands. For the most part most people just want to hear covers and could care less about original music. The only ones that do care are other original artists. It's sad but true for this area and I find it frustrating beyond words. I know my time in a cover band is coming to an end. It's sucking the life out of my creative side. I would rather play in front of 5 people playing original music than a cover band that packs the house any day of the week. No passion or emotion in playing covers. Its meaningless at least to me...

[@charliec5653]

I think it's because people want to hear music that's familiar to them. That's great, but it would seem to me that if you really want to make it, you need to do some original music. Personally, I enjoy discovering new music.

[@donfarrington3240]

Same in Syracuse

[@100hooker]

That’s funny because I had the opposite experience. I was in an original band in the late 80s through the early 90s in Southern California. That’s when the whole pay to play thing was happening. Kinda stressful trying to “make it”. We cut a demo and had some overseas interest but eventually parted ways. After that I was asked to join a cover band doing vocals. We’d rehearse once a week and play bars on Saturdays. Basically get paid for goofing off and had a lot of fun doing it. My hat is off to you for sticking with it and sounds like you’re successful. I reconnected with my guitar player from our original band Salient a while back and we had the whole what if talk. I told him to look at it as, some people that play an instrument or sing never get in a band, we were in a gigging band and had a few pretty good songs and opened for A few big bands, we “Did” that. I wish you all the best in your venture. Do you have any posts on KZbin of your music?

[@swcone]

@@charliec5653 yes that's it and local clubs want a crowd and if that's what brings in people that's what bands have to do. I mean after all they are in business to make money. Original bands have it hard.

[@FredPena-rd5cf]

Covers made you. Essentially we all play covers to learn guitar. And if you write a few good songs you spend the rest of your life covering those. And quite a few covers have become great songs in their respective genre. Fleetwood Mac's Black Magic Woman by Santana. 10,000 Maniacs Because The Night by Patti Smith to name a couple.

[@raybenoit5238]

Seen foreigner in early nineties, they were great as a band . However Lou's Voice , i was mesmerized. I thought how can this guy's voice be this good , and be this good live . To too it off , to be so grounded and down to earth , he truly is a great . Long live lou !😎

[@bobbynesbitt1863]

One of my all time favorite singers

[@skjoe1115]

It's best not to interrupt a person during an interview. They can lose their train of thought. They might also not be motivated to continue talking. This guy did a great interview.

[@VRPRocks]

I was always taught that silence is not to be feared. A lot of interviewers hate silence and race to fill it as quickly as possible. Allowing the gap means the guest can collect their thoughts, often prompts them to keep going as well as silence can be awkward. And if they don't... well, it's easy enough to fix in post production 😂 Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it.

[@aphillips1987]

Hard to believe they might have relegated one of the all time great vocalists to just playing drums.

[@sbrave]

Heard that same story with other bands that had their gear stolen as well. Sorry, can't help, aaaaaand you're dropped. Sux

[@walther9161]

Brings back bad memories.. that’s why I switched to session gigs. Hated touring. Also today you’d better have a lawyer with you when you start creating .. long long way was my first favorite foreigner song.. still love it today.

[@leechild4655]

I remember their debut album. They got a lot of likes you could say right out of the gate with a couple good tunes that got plenty of airplay. I saw them open for Ted Nugent one year. Crowd dug em.

[@BigDawgCleveland]

Lou is one of the greatest voices if not the best!

[@GoProMoFo-yj5wd]

That was no accident, it was spiritual warfare. Look at the pros & cons

[@sashasavisha146]

Saw Foreigner on a reunion tour. It was a combination of Mick and the Foreigner name with Lou and his new band after a really good solo record by Lou. Lou had a brain operation but still sang. Jeff Pilson wasn’t in the band yet. Lou’s guitar player who was also in Lou’s previous band played bass. Always loved the combination of Mick with his Les Paul in his unique style and Lou’’s fabulous voice. I know they’ve had their differences but I’m really a fan of both. Kelly is a good singer. But you can’t replace Lou Gramm.

[@Sprucetroy69]

KISS has NEVER been on Capital Records! FYI 😉

[@barroncrist5779]

Lou was one of rock's best singers.

[@ThomasWilliams-qt4hm]

I'm a dirty white boy too!!!

[@RjBenjamin353]

Yeah they got a standing ovation because of this man’s amazing voice.

[@GrampaGrizzle]

Loved Black Sheep!

[@JDavisGuitar]

Foreigner 4 was the very first album I bought as a kid. I wore that album out. Lou’s voice is one of the best from the late 70’s and 80’s

[@ratdad48]

What a great singer you are.

[@Kattymontenegro50]

Lou Gramm su voz y su espíritu son inigualables ❤❤❤

[@jchapman8248]

The first time I ever heard a Foreigner song was in HS, back in '77. I was on the school bus riding home when the song FEELS LIKE THE FIRAT TIME comes on the radio. I was an instant fan. Loved Lou Gramm's vocals. Bought their debut album right away and later Foreigner 4. Wasn't too keen on their ballads. Their rocking tunes are for me!

[@keithbrock2061]

Braddah You have a ceiling fan spinning above your head

[@bobowrathsovine.]

Lou misspoke, Kiss was on the long defunct Casablanca Records from 1974-1982. Then were never even affiliated with Capital Records

[@philliamproject8113]

What a shame about Lou's old band Black Sheep they sound like a bunch of very ethical guys. Lou is not only a brilliant vocalist but seems a straight up guy, Best Wishes for his health and creativity.

[@mickeydoodle69]

I’m old, and I like to think of myself as knowledgeable as regards popular music…But until right now, this very moment, I thought Lou was a Brit. Everything I thought I knew about the universe is now in question…

[@GTX1123]

I saw them in June 1977 just three months after the first album was released. Rock radio and top 40 were constantly playing songs from that album so there was a lot of anticipation for this show. Well, it was NOT a good night for them. They all looked very hungover to me. This was a three bill show and they were the middle act. The guitars sounded out of tune and they just weren't sync'd at times. It's a shame because I've heard they were usually really good live.

[@edwardhaske]

Absolutely, Lou Gramm. And Foreiner Should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!!! Get them in there now!!!!!!

[@waltzguy14151]

I think he’s confused. Kiss was signed to Casablanca. Casablanca was a broke-ass record label that bet it all on ALIVE. If ALIVE flopped it would have been the end of Casablanca. Kiss were never involved w Capitol.

[@rossrossa7596]

Urgent Emergency

[@davidvalderrama1816]

Play music from the heart, hard to make a living.

[@sess122]

Great interview and reminiscent of what many rock bands go through when trying to "make it". Lou hit on a great point about looking for a singer when they all wanted to just do covers and not original material. What so many don't realize is that the original material is what separates the ones who make it from those who don't. Granted, today, thanks to world wide internet exposure and streaming sites like this one, a lot of talented musicians are making decent livings doing covers, much to the joy of the original song writers, who get residuals, often times, years later.