Since its inception, Foreigner has been led by English musician Mick Jones (former member of Nero and the Gladiators, Spooky Tooth and The Leslie West Band) who, in early 1976, met with ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald and formed Foreigner with Lou Gramm (ex-Black Sheep), Dennis Elliott, Al Greenwood, and Ed Gagliardi as a sextet. Jones came up with the name from the fact that no matter what country they were in, three would be foreigners, because he, McDonald, and Elliott were English, while Gramm, Greenwood, and Gagliardi were Americans.^[4]

The band's debut album, Foreigner, was released in March 1977 and sold more than four million copies in the United States, staying in the Top 20 for a year with such hits as "Feels Like the First Time", "Cold as Ice" and "Long, Long Way from Home".

Current members

• Mick Jones – lead guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, bass, vocals (1976–present) ^[14]
• Thom Gimbel – rhythm guitar, saxophone, flute, keyboards, backing vocals (1993, 1995–present)
• Jeff Pilson – bass guitar, backing vocals (2004–present)
• Kelly Hansen – lead vocals, percussion (2005–present)
• Michael Bluestein – keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals (2008–present)
• Chris Frazier – drums, percussion (September 2012–present)

Touring musicians

• Bruce Watson – lead guitar (August 2011–present) ^[15]
• Derek Hilland – keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals (August 2012–present; fill-in for Bluestein)

Former members

• Dennis Elliott – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1976–1991)
• Lou Gramm – lead vocals, percussion (1976–1990, 1992–2003)
• Ian McDonald – rhythm guitar, keyboards, saxophone, flute, backing vocals (1976–1980)
• Al Greenwood – keyboards, synthesizer (1976–1980)
• Ed Gagliardi – bass guitar, backing vocals (1976–1979)
• Rick Wills – bass guitar, backing vocals (1979–1992)
• Mark Rivera – saxophone, flute, keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1981–1988, 1991–1992)
• Bob Mayo – keyboards, synthesizer, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1981–1988)
• Peter Reilich – keyboards, synthesizer (1981–1982)
• Jack Allen Smith - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1986)
• Larry Oakes – rhythm guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals (1988)
• Lou Cortelezzi – saxophone (1988)
• Johnny Edwards – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1990–1992)
• Jeff Jacobs – keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals (1991–2007)
• Larry Aberman – drums, percussion (1991–1992)
• John Purdell – keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals (1992 sessions, filled in for Jacobs in the mid-summer of 2000)
• Mark Schulman – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1992–1995, 2000–2002, 2011–2012)
• Bruce Turgon – bass guitar, backing vocals (1992–2003)
• Scott Gilman – rhythm guitar, saxophone, keyboards, backing vocals (1992, 1993–1995)
• Ron Wikso – drums, percussion (1995–1998)
• Brian Tichy – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1998–2000, 2007, 2008–2010, 2011, 2012) ^[16]
• Denny Carmassi – drums, percussion (2002–2003)
• Jason Bonham – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2004–2007, 2007–2008)
• Chaz West – lead vocals (2004)
• Paul Mirkovich – keyboards, synthesizer (2007–2008)
• Bryan Head – drums, percussion (2008)
• Jason Sutter – drums, percussion (2010–2011)
• Doug Aldrich – lead guitar (filled in for Jones on one show) (2010)
• Deen Castronovo – drums, percussion, backing vocals (briefly filled in for the departed Schulman) (2011)
• Joel Hoekstra – lead guitar (filled in for Jones on a few shows) (2011)
• Ollie Marland – keyboards, synthesizer (filled in for Bluestein) (2012)