Lou Gramm recently spoke with The Rock Shop with Ralph and discussed the ‘conspiracy’ behind the Rock Hall’s ‘determination’ not to induct Foreigner.
Although the band is eligible for induction since 2002, it has even yet to make it to the ballots. So, Gramm decided to explain why Rock Hall ‘chose’ to ignore Foreigner, saying:
“It’s not anything to do with our music or the amount of hits or notoriety or anything like that. It’s a personal thing that we’re not in there. It’s a personal vendetta between the gentleman who owns Rolling Stone [Jann Wenner, co-founder of Rock Hall] and Mick Jones.”
The former vocalist then carried on by diving deeper into the feud between Wenner and Jones, stating:
“It’s very juvenile, the whole thing, and I don’t think it’s gonna get any better. I think it’s gonna stay that way. I think we’re being made an example of.”
Later into the chat, Gramm also expressed he ‘firmly’ believed Foreigner needed to take its place in the Rock Hall, stating the band has been influential enough for the induction and honor.
However, Wenner, the co-founder and former chairman of Rock Hall, had previously stated in 2022 that he had no control over the nominees and denied having personal vendettas. The Rolling Stones founder also claimed that Jones was a good friend and he had nothing against Foreigner’s possible induction.