Lou Gramm rejoining Foreigner in return to The Venetian

Lou Gramm introduced Foreigner to the masses 50 years ago. He’s filling that role again this weekend.

The band’s original frontman is introducing “Foreigner: The Hits Orchestral — Celebrating 50 Years Live in Vegas” at The Venetian Theatre on Friday and Saturday. The show runs through March 14.

Gramm is also trotting out his memoir, “Juke Box Hero,” and is hosting a book-signing for VIPs prior to both shows.

The 75-year-old Gramm returned to the band for its Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2024. This is the first time he’s been on stage with the latest lineup in Las Vegas. He sang the band’s massive hits, including the one that sparked the title of his book, along with “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Double Vision,” “Cold as Ice” and “Dirty White Boy.”

Gramm left the band in 1990, returning two years later, and staying in the unit through his final departure in 2003. Kelly Hansen held down the vocals for two decades before leaving last year. Guitarist-singer Luis Maldonado, who joined the band in 2021, officially began his role as lead vocalist in May.

Throughout that run, the 75-year-old Gramm has shown himself to be a rock ‘n’ roll survivor. He underwent emergency surgery to remove a non-cancerous brain tumor with groundbreaking laser surgery in 1997. Within a year, he was back on tour.

Gramm realized he was suffering a cognitive crisis when he couldn’t remember his parents’ phone number, the same number they used for a quarter-century. He happened to tune in to “60 Minutes,” airing a clip about pioneering brain surgery. The next day, he flew to Boston to undergo a 19-hour surgery.

“It was very tough, and I was getting progressively worse,” Gramm says. “After the surgery, I doubled my weight in three or four months. I went from 145 pounds to 290, because of the massive steroids they used to help me heal.”

Gramm is now able to sing, though he won’t during these appearances. “I’ll be doing some storytelling, just a quick one before the songs.”

The latest incarnation of Foreigner has sold out The Venetian Theatre since its January 2020 premiere. Co-founder Mick Jones appeared in a featured role until stepping away in 2022 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Key players from the band’s commercial peak have been absent from Las Vegas and elsewhere in Foreigner’s shows.

“Mick decided he want to continue the band, so he got all new members and played the old songs and started writing new songs with the new band,” Gramm says. “I don’t see anything wrong with that. We didn’t leave on good terms, and I didn’t doubt for a second that he’d find new members and carry on. I was rooting for them as they were playing, you know. I had my own band, but I was rooting for them, too.”

A 20-piece orchestra enhances this production. Juilliard-educated cello virtuoso Dave Eggar has written the arrangements, alongside the band’s rock/orchestral percussionist Chuck Palmer, who will also conduct. Eggar is a seven-time Grammy nominee who has performed, recorded and arranged for such artists as Coldplay, Paul Simon, Amy Winehouse and Beyoncé.

And Gramm has been in the recording studio, with a solo album due March 27. “Released” is the title, with the new single “Young Love.” Out now. The song has a great intro hook with a thumping rhythm, and could have been a track on “4.”

“I have some brand-new songs, and some songs where I went back to my first and second albums for great songs that weren’t finished,” Gramm says. “These are great songs that weren’t released because of deadlines. They are being released now.”

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.