Foreigner - Alive and Rockin' DVD

The big name arena bands from the '80s seem to have been going through an identity crisis, replacing the lead vocalists in so many cases with younger blood. I guess they consider an injection of life is called for, or could it really just be egos, or something more?

Styx replaced Dennis De Young with Lawrence Gowan, Journey replaced Steve Augeri with Jeff Scott Soto and rumor has it that they're now considering a Journey tribute band vocalist. Although yet to be officially confirmed by their management, it does seem highly likely to be the truth.

Styx are doing okay by all accounts and Journey, well, certain fans aren't happy with how they've treated their last two vocalists of great talent. But what about Foreigner?

How could you replace Lou Gramm? Well, Kelly Hansen is the guy who has been fronting Foreigner for the past two years and he has really been stunning everyone with his performances around the globe, as Foreigner seem to have been touring non-stop since he joined them!

200 shows in 18 months. Not bad! Perhaps that tells you something about how strong his voice must be. Formerly with hard rock act Hurricane, he must find Foreigner is quite a change but yet still a very demanding one, as he works at impressing die hard Foreigner fans.

The current Foreigner line up also includes the much traveled and also very talented Jason Bonham on drums (yes, the son of the legend John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, who passed away 27 years ago this past September.)

Also there is Jeff Jacobs on keys since 1994, Jeff Pilson (ex-Dokken and Dio among others) on bass, with multi-talented Tom Gimbel on everything. This is a strong line up indeed.

This live DVD is clearly aimed at the Foreigner rock rather than pop crowd. It was filmed during their 2006 performance at the German heavy metal festival, Bang Your Head! You’ll also notice the distinct lack of their best known ballads, songs such as "Waiting For A Girl Like You" and "I Want To Know What Love Is."

The set list is focused on their true classic rockers opening with "Double Vision" -- rockin' guitars, Hammond organ and strong vocals. Great stuff!

"Head Games" keeps the momentum going before some 'hellos' to the German crowd from Hansen and then into "Dirty White Boy." They really do sound on their game and mean business.

"Cold As Ice" is next and it's amazing that it indeed is NOT Lou Gramm up there, but Mr. Hansen doing a grand job.

I caught Foreigner in concert this past summer and they certainly were impressive. How tight a live band they are!

Hansen hands over lead vocals to THE original Foreigner man Mick Jones on "Starrider". This is a huge piece for the band, with Tom Gimbel adding flute.

"Feels Like The First Time" is probably the softest (or as poppy) as they get here, but it's still as strong as anything in this set.

"Urgent" features Mr. Gimbel on sax, and this guy sure is a talent. Hansen is still out-Lou-Gramming the original vocalist with another strong performance here.

Jacobs then has a solo spot before Bonham joins him and briefly they play off each other. The rest of the band rejoins them as Bonham’s bass drum introduces us to "Juke Box Hero," which is powerful. The harmony vocals are really strong across the whole band, although a slight strain on Hansen midway through the song seems apparent.

Then, surprise! The middle section leads into Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" with Hansen beating the heck out of a tambourine as Jones and Gimbel riff away on guitars, before wrapping it up by heading back into the closing strains of "Juke Box Hero."

That was the end of their main set, and it seemed to still be fairly light outside at the gig, so I'm guessing they weren't top of the bill. Still, we should've had more songs from these guys. They're coaxed back out by the crowd for a rip roaring encore of "Hot Blooded."

I guess the one clear point is that the crowd seemed lukewarm towards this lineup of Foreigner at the start, but they were heavy metal fans, as Mick points out in the interviews. In the end, no question, Foreigner came away winners.

There's talk of a new studio album this year, but I don't know when they'll find time to record at the rate they're touring. They are certainly popular once more on the live circuit and maybe, just maybe, this lineup stays together long enough to create some magic new music!

Wish this was a longer live set. I mean, Foreigner has been around, back and forth for 30 years. They've recorded just eight full studio albums, but what a back catalog! This should’ve been more than a little over one hour live set.

The DVD also has new interviews with Jones, Hansen and Bonham along with Foreigner TV which involves various fan discussions on the band.

Foreigner is still a very worthwhile live act. They'll be joining the reformed (for one night only) Led Zeppelin in London in November, with Jason Bonham filling the drum stool for both Foreigner and his dad's old band. What a night that will be!