Happy Birthday today (Dec. 27) to King's X drummer Jerry Gaskill. He's 59. Also celebrating is Foreigner founder and guitarist Mick Jones (72).

Mick Jones
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As of 2016, Mick Jones remains the only original member in the current line up of Foreigner. Before Foreigner, Mick Jones was a member of the band Spooky Tooth. He formed Foreigner in 1976 with Ian McDonald and they recruited singer Lou Gramm. In addition to Foreigner, Jones is a producer who has worked on many big albums including Van Halen’s 5150 and Billy Joel’s Storm Front. He also co-wrote the song “Bad Love” with Eric Clapton for Clapton’s Journeyman album.

Foreigner are among the world’s best selling rock band’s with sales of over 80 million worldwide. Their career started with the successful self-titled debut album released in 1977 with hits like “Feels Like the First Time”, Cold as Ice”, and “Long, Long Way from Home”. The album Double Vision followed in 1978, Head Games in 1979. and the worldwide smash 4 in 1981. More albums and success would follow throughout the 1980’s. Foreigner remains a popular touring act with singer Kelly Hansen on lead vocals. The band celebrates it's 40th anniversary with a tour in 2017 that will play the Mid Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie on April 29. The show appears to be the only New York area date that has been announced at this time.  Check out the official Foreigner site here for more info on the band and the Poughkeepsie show.

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