Kelly Hansen
Encyclopedia
Kelly Hansen is an American singer, best known as the current frontman of the rock
band Foreigner
. He started his career as an independent studio singer. He later met guitarist
Robert Sarzo
and bassist
Tony Cavazo (brothers of Rudy Sarzo
and Carlos Cavazo
, respectively, of Quiet Riot
fame), with whom he formed the hard-rock band Hurricane
in 1984
. Hurricane would achieve some moderate commercial success throughout the mid-to-late 1980s and into the 1990s. However, Hurricane's record label went bankrupt in 1991, and the band disbanded shortly thereafter.
Hansen continued to make music, recording as a guest and session singer for many projects, including Slash's Snakepit
, Fergie Fredriksen, Don Dokken
, and Bourgeois Pigs. In 1998 Hansen joined the band Unruly Child replacing vocalist Mark Free. Unruly Child recorded a new album which was released in early 1999. 2001 saw the return of Hurricane with an altered lineup and new album, Liquifury
. In 2003, Hansen joined forces with Fabrizio V.Zee Grossi and recorded a self-titled album under the band name Perfect World
. Hansen then went on to join Foreigner
in 2005 after Lou Gramm
left in 2003 to pursue his solo career.
Hansen is the third lead singer of Foreigner, with Lou Gramm and Johnny Edwards
being Hansen's predecessors.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
. He started his career as an independent studio singer. He later met guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Robert Sarzo
Robert Sarzo
Robert Sarzo is a Cuban-American guitarist. His career has spanned 40 years. He has worked with an array of notable and iconic people in the entertainment industry...
and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Tony Cavazo (brothers of Rudy Sarzo
Rudy Sarzo
Rudy Sarzo is a Cuban American hard rock/heavy metal bassist. Sarzo has played with many well known heavy metal acts including Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Manic Eden, Dio and Blue Öyster Cult.-Early life:...
and Carlos Cavazo
Carlos Cavazo
Carlos Cavazo is a Mexican-born American guitarist best known as the guitarist for Quiet Riot during their commercial peak. Born July 8, 1957, Cavazo is originally from Mexico City where their first band with his brother Antonio Cavazo was called Speed of Light...
, respectively, of Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
fame), with whom he formed the hard-rock band Hurricane
Hurricane (band)
Hurricane was a 1980s heavy metal / glam metal rock band originally featuring current Foreigner lead vocalist Kelly Hansen , Robert Sarzo , Tony Cavazo , and Jay Schellen...
in 1984
1984 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's...
. Hurricane would achieve some moderate commercial success throughout the mid-to-late 1980s and into the 1990s. However, Hurricane's record label went bankrupt in 1991, and the band disbanded shortly thereafter.
Hansen continued to make music, recording as a guest and session singer for many projects, including Slash's Snakepit
Slash's Snakepit
Slash's Snakepit were an American rock supergroup from Los Angeles, California, formed by then-Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash in 1993. Though often described as a solo or side project, Slash stated that Snakepit was a band, with equal contributions by all members...
, Fergie Fredriksen, Don Dokken
Don Dokken
Donald Maynard Dokken is best known for being the lead singer and founder of the band Dokken. He is known for his vibrato-laden, melodic vocal style which has made him an influential figure in American heavy metal. After enjoying mainstream success with Dokken, he parted ways with the band in 1988...
, and Bourgeois Pigs. In 1998 Hansen joined the band Unruly Child replacing vocalist Mark Free. Unruly Child recorded a new album which was released in early 1999. 2001 saw the return of Hurricane with an altered lineup and new album, Liquifury
Liquifury
Liquifury is the fourth studio album released by the hard rock band Hurricane. It arrived eleven years after the band's previous release, and it can be considered a "reunion" effort from the band, although two of the original four band members are absent....
. In 2003, Hansen joined forces with Fabrizio V.Zee Grossi and recorded a self-titled album under the band name Perfect World
Perfect World (band)
Perfect World is a hard rock band featuring vocalist Kelly Hansen , bassist Fabrizio V.Zee Grossi, guitarist Alex De Rosso, guitarist JM Scattolin, drummer Biggs Brice and pianist Adam Forgione....
. Hansen then went on to join Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
in 2005 after Lou Gramm
Lou Gramm
Lou Gramm is an American rock vocalist and songwriter best known for his role as the lead vocalist and co-writer of many of the songs for the rock band Foreigner. He also had a successful solo career...
left in 2003 to pursue his solo career.
Hansen is the third lead singer of Foreigner, with Lou Gramm and Johnny Edwards
Johnny Edwards (musician)
Johnny Edwards is a singer who sang for the bands Buster Brown, Montrose, King Kobra, Wild Horses, Royal Jelly and is most famously known as the 2nd lead vocalist of the rock band Foreigner...
being Hansen's predecessors.
With Hurricane
- Take What You Want (1985)
- Over The Edge (1988)
- Slave to the ThrillSlave to the ThrillSlave to the Thrill is the third studio album released by the American Heavy metal band Hurricane.The original album cover art was photographed by John Scarpati. It featured a nude female model lying on a machine...
(1990) - LiquifuryLiquifuryLiquifury is the fourth studio album released by the hard rock band Hurricane. It arrived eleven years after the band's previous release, and it can be considered a "reunion" effort from the band, although two of the original four band members are absent....
(2001)
With Foreigner
- Extended Versions (2006)
- No End in Sight: The Very Best of ForeignerNo End in Sight: The Very Best of ForeignerNo End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner is a compilation album that was released on July 15, 2008 by the rock band Foreigner. Aside from the classic hits, in their original versions, the album contains a brand new track, "Too Late", as well as live renditions of "Say You Will", "Starrider", and...
(2008) - Can't Slow DownCan't Slow Down (Foreigner album)Can't Slow Down is the ninth album by the rock group Foreigner. It is the group's first studio release with lead singer Kelly Hansen and the group's first new studio album since 1994. In the U.S. the album was first available exclusively through Wal-Mart retailers...
(2009) - Extended Versions II (2011)