WITH 2 ALBUMS ON THE CHARTS, FOREIGNER PROVE THEY CAN’T SLOW DOWN

Foreigner have released their first album in 15 years, “Can’t Slow Down” and it is also the bands first studio album with new vocalist Kelly Hansen. The album, which was released exclusively through Wal-Mart Retailers, debuted on the Billboard Top 200 Charts at $29, which is their highest chart position since Inside Information made its #15 chart debut in 1987. The bands 2008 album release, “No End In Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner,” re-entered the chart at #147 putting Foreigner in a class of its own as the only classic rock artist in recent history to have two albums, both featuring newly recorded tracks, in the Top 200 simultaneously.

Artisan News caught up with founding member and principal songwriter, Mick Jones to get his thoughts on the band recording their first album in 15 years.

“(There was) a certain amount of trepidation at the beginning because it had been a long time since Foreigner had recorded an album, you know fifteen years. So, it was a bit daunting but once we started and I was working with Marti Frederickson the coproducer and we’ve gone back quite a long ways so we were pretty comfortable with each other. Really it was just a question of getting stuck in and we got a few things together just some starts and really it sort of took it’s course from there.”

Mick Jones also talked about staying true to the tradition of Foreigner on “Can’t Slow Down.”

“As it went on the more comfortable it got and it started to get the old vibe back again. More and more during the making of the it, so it’s ended up and I think it’s maintained the tradition of the band and it’s maintained the feeling of the band. So it was just a question of really working on it, working on the lyrics, working on the melodies and gradually falling back into it.”

Mick also talked about the new challange of getting foreigner the respect he feels they lost in the 90’s.

“A few people talked to me and they said ‘What are doing? What do you plan on doing?’ and I didn’t really know at the time. Suddenly it dawned on me that there was something missing for me and it was playing my guitar. I kind of abandoned that for a little while. Gradually from there, with some enthusiasm from people around me I thought ‘Well this is it. Foreigner is my life.’ I founded the band and I’d like to take it out or at least take it up to a point where it’s respected again and get some of the prestige back which I feel we lost during the 90’s. So, it was a fresh challange.”

“Can’t Slow Down” which is the group’s first studio release with lead singer Kelly Hansen, was produced by Marti Frederiksen and Mick Jones’ stepson, Grammy winning producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse). The band is also enjoying success at AC Radio with the lead single “When It Comes to Love” which debuted in the top 30 on the singles chart. The album is available exclusively through Wal-Mart retailers as Foreigner joined a growing list of artists like AC/DC, Ziggy Marley, The Eagles, Journey, and Kiss who have released new albums exclusively through the Wal-Mart stores chain. Look for Foreigner to continuing touring in support of “Can’t Slow Down” in 2010.