This year's entertainment for the Preble County Fair might be "foreign" to country music lovers.
The rock and roll super group Foreigner will be headlining the Preble County Fair entertainment with a concert on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Tickets for the show will be $22. No sale date has been selected yet, according to Fair Board President Dean Petry.
Petry noted, having a rock show is not the norm for the Preble County Fair - which typically has always been a country show - but said he's excited to be able to land such a popular group.
With such hits as "Feels Like The First Time," "Cold As Ice," "Urgent," "I Want To Know What Love Is," "Waiting For A Girl Like You," "Hot Blooded," seven Top 5 hits, nine Top 10s and 14 Top 20s, it defines a career that has seen the sale of more than 70 million albums.
Add to that countless other classics, "Say You Will," "Jukebox Hero" and "Double Vision," and you have a super group that has left an indelible mark on rock and roll history.
Formed in 1976, Foreigner is no stranger to meteoric global success.
Since the release of their self-titled debut album, Foreigner has celebrated the success of seven multi-platinum albums including the six-times platinum Double Vision and Foreigner 4, as well as the three-times platinum Agent Provocateur and Head Games; a spectacular three-decade run that has assured the group a passport to superstardom, a Midas touch that has never failed them, according to the group's bio.
Foreigner's brand of a thrilling mix of blustery blues and impeccably crafted pop continues to captivate generation after generation of music fans. And the band is more powerful and explosive than ever.
"Our music has touched a lot of people worldwide," attests Mick Jones, the band's founder and legendary songwriter/guitarist. "Unwittingly, we've weaved into the fabric of people's lives and this new lineup is working extremely hard to live up to the high bar that was set years ago. This is the most dynamic line-up that we've had since the early days," adds Jones.
Garnering accolades from press and fans alike, the current line-up of Foreigner is led by founder/chief songwriter/guitarist/producer Mick Jones, drummer Jason Bonham, lead vocalist Kelly Hansen, bassist Jeff Pilson, and rhythm guitarist Tom Gimbel.
"There are few times as a musician where you have an opportunity to play with a group of people that click so well," explains lead vocalist Kelly Hansen. "We're extremely fortunate that this is the case with this line-up."
From New York City to the farthest reaches of South Africa, Foreigner continues to electrify a global fan base with their explosive live performances.
"We've performed hundreds of shows in dozens of countries on four continents," marvels Hansen. "We play the songs as they should be played, even in places where Foreigner never performed, bringing with it a whole new vitality. It's inspiring."
In the winter of '07 alone, hot on the heels of their successful U.S. tour with Def Leppard, Foreigner's travels took them to Scotland, Wales, South Africa, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Finland, England, Switzerland, Hungary and Austria.
One of the band's highlights came late last year on Dec. 10 at London's O2 Arena, where Foreigner took part in an incredible event performing with Atlantic Records' label mates Led Zeppelin at a tribute concert honoring the late Ahmet Ertegun.
Drawing together over three decades of platinum music making, Foreigner's audience appeal remains multi-generational. "It's particularly gratifying to look out at our audiences to see teens and college age kids singing along," attests Hansen. "But regardless of age, the praise coming from the fans has been unanimously positive. To see them having the fun they're having at our shows is what makes doing what we do worthwhile to us."
Re-ignited interest in the band, on a domestic and international level, hasn't just come in the form of ticket sales. In fact, Foreigner recently released a live DVD, Alive & Rockin' which boosted sales of The Very Best ... And Beyond, which was certified double platinum.
"I had no idea at the beginning what Foreigner would become," said Jones. Back when we started the band, I was at a crossroads in my life, whether I was going to carry on in music or get a real job. So 30 years later, I think I made the right decision by following my true passion, which is making music."
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