Rock and roll is basically a trick of time. When you hear "Cold as Ice" blasting through a car speaker, you aren't thinking about birthdays or bone density. You're thinking about 1977. But the question of how old is Foreigner isn't just a simple math problem you can solve on a calculator. It’s a Ship of Theseus situation. If you swap every plank on a boat, is it still the same boat? If you swap every member of a band, is it still the same band?
Foreigner isn't a person. It's an institution.
If we are talking about the "birth" of the band, we have to look back to 1976. That’s when Mick Jones, a British guitarist who had already put in miles with Spooky Tooth and the Leslie West Band, met Ian McDonald and Lou Gramm. They were a "foreigner" everywhere they went because the lineup was a mix of Brits and Americans. Half the guys were away from home no matter where they played. That makes the band nearly 50 years old. Fifty years. That is a lifetime in any industry, but in rock? It’s an eternity.
✨ Don't miss: The New Show with Kat Dennings: Why Shifting Gears Is Actually Working
The Architect: Mick Jones
Mick Jones is the soul of this thing. Born on December 27, 1944, Mick is currently 81 years old. He is the last remaining original member still tethered to the name. Honestly, without Mick, the brand doesn't really have a leg to stand on. He wrote the riffs. He produced the records. He survived the 80s.
But here is where it gets tricky. Mick doesn't always play with the band anymore. Health issues, specifically some heart stuff back in 2012 and general wear and tear, have kept him off the stage for long stretches. Fans often show up to a "Foreigner" show and see a group of incredibly talented musicians, none of whom were on the original records. It feels weird to some. To others, the songs are the stars, so it doesn't matter if the guy playing the solo was ten years old when 4 came out.
The Voice: Lou Gramm and the Age Gap
When people ask how old is Foreigner, they are often actually asking about Lou Gramm. He was the voice. That soaring, sandpaper-and-honey vocal on "I Want to Know What Love Is" belongs to a man born in 1950. Lou is 75.
The relationship between Mick and Lou is the stuff of rock legend—and rock tragedy. They were the "Glimmer Twins" of melodic rock. But Lou left, came back, suffered a brain tumor in the late 90s that tragically altered his voice and his stamina, and eventually left for good. The current singer, Kelly Hansen, has been in the band since 2005. That’s over 20 years. In a strange twist of logic, Kelly has actually been the lead singer of Foreigner for longer than Lou Gramm was during the band's initial peak.
Kelly Hansen was born in 1961. He’s 64. He has the unenviable job of sounding like a 27-year-old Lou Gramm every single night. He does it well. Better than almost anyone else could. But it highlights the weirdness of "band age." The current touring lineup is significantly younger than the guys who actually created the music.
The 1977 Big Bang
The debut album dropped in March '77. If you use that as the starting line, the band is a 49-year-old entity. Think about what happened in 1977. Star Wars hit theaters. Fleetwood Mac released Rumours. The world was a completely different place. Foreigner was the bridge between the heavy prog-rock of the early 70s and the slick, radio-ready stadium rock of the 80s.
They sold four million copies of that first record. People weren't streaming. They were buying vinyl and eight-tracks. The "age" of the band is baked into that analog warmth.
Why the Farewell Tour Isn't Really an Ending
Foreigner is currently on a "Farewell Tour." They’ve been on it for a while. In the world of classic rock, "farewell" usually means "see you in three years for the reunion," but this feels a bit more permanent because of the age of the founders.
Mick Jones recently went public with his Parkinson’s diagnosis. It was a heavy moment for the fanbase. It explained why he hadn't been on stage much. It makes the "how old is Foreigner" question feel a bit more somber. We are watching the sunset of the classic rock era. The guys who built the foundations of FM radio are entering their 80s.
The Statistics of Longevity
- Original Formation: 1976 (49 years ago).
- Oldest Member: Mick Jones (81).
- The "New" Guy: Kelly Hansen (Joined 20 years ago, age 64).
- The Peak Era: 1977–1984 (The band was in its "youth," ages late 20s to mid 30s).
Does the age of the musicians change the frequency of the music? Probably not. A high C is still a high C, whether a 20-year-old or a 60-year-old hits it. But there is a different energy. The band today is a well-oiled machine. They are professional. They are tight. They don't have the chaotic, booze-fueled friction of the 1970s lineup, but they also don't miss notes.
The Legacy Problem
There is a massive debate among purists about whether a band should keep the name when the original members retire. Some say it's a "tribute band with a license." Others say the name is a brand, like the New York Yankees. The Yankees don't stop being the Yankees just because Babe Ruth isn't in right field.
Foreigner has navigated this better than most. By keeping Mick Jones involved as a consultant and occasional guest, they maintain a "blessing" from the past. But make no mistake: when you see them live in 2026, you are seeing a celebration of work that was finished decades ago.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think Foreigner is "older" than they are because their music feels like it's been around forever. They are often lumped in with bands like Led Zeppelin or The Who. In reality, Foreigner was part of the next wave. They were contemporaries of Journey, Boston, and REO Speedwagon. They were the "Class of '77."
🔗 Read more: Why it's a small world with groot Is Not the Disaster Fans Feared
They weren't part of the 60s British Invasion, even though Mick Jones is British. They were the architects of the "Arena Rock" sound that dominated the early MTV era. That makes the band's identity firmly rooted in the transition from the 70s to the 80s.
Surprising Nuance: The Hall of Fame Wait
It took forever for Foreigner to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They only just got inducted in 2024. Why? Because critics often viewed them as "too corporate" or "too polished." They weren't "cool" like the Velvet Underground. They were just popular. Really, really popular.
The induction brought the original members back together, or at least those who are still with us. Seeing Lou Gramm and Mick Jones together again was a reminder that while the band "brand" might be 49 years old, the human friendship at the center of it is just as aged and weathered.
Practical Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to connect with the band regardless of their age, here is how you should actually spend your time.
First, skip the "Greatest Hits" for a second. Go listen to the album 4 from start to finish. It was released in 1981, and it is a masterclass in production. It shows the band at their "middle age"—roughly five years into their career—at the absolute height of their powers.
👉 See also: Why The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Is a Massive Risk That Might Actually Work
Second, if you want to see them live, do it now. Don't wait for the "Next Farewell." With Mick’s health and the general reality of biology, the window for seeing this iteration of the band is closing.
Finally, check out Lou Gramm’s autobiography, Juke Box Hero. It gives a very raw, non-PR look at what it was like to be in the biggest band in the world while everyone was fighting and the clock was ticking. It puts a human face on the "age" of the band. It reminds you that behind the massive hits were guys just trying to figure out how to stay relevant as the world changed around them.
Foreigner is 49 years old. Mick Jones is 81. The music, somehow, stays exactly the same age it was when it was recorded. That's the only magic trick that actually works.