Foreigner is currently out on the road with Styx and John Waite on the Renegades and Juke Box Heroes Tour. That’s well over 100 years of combined experience on one tour. I’m not even going to start counting the number of hits between them but it has to be over 100. As for Foreigner, Jeff Pilson has been on bass with the band for over two decades. He brings to the table a resume of Who’s Who including playing with Dokken, Dio and several others recently including great albums by T&A (Pilson, George Lynch, Robert Mason),Black Swan (Matt Starr, Robin McAuley and Reb Beach), Revolution Saints (Joel Hoekstra and Deen Castronovo) just to name a few. If you’re not familiar with the latter projects mentioned, we highly recommend you look into them because they all have been pretty awesome. We somehow cornered him with some free time recently to talk about Foreigner’s current tour, their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and much more!
Foreigner is a band that’s been around for almost 50 years. That’s something that not too many bands are able to say. What’s the secret to being able to make that happen?
Jeff Pilson/Foreigner: I think there’s no question that the magic is in the songs. We just have a tremendous selection of songs. Lou’s voice was great, Mick’s guitar playing was great, and the whole band was great but the real thing that I think they achieved were the songs that stand the test of time. That gives us the ammunition to go out and have a great tour.
You guys have been out the past couple of summers on tours with another band or two from that era and you’ve been packing venues. Do you ever look out at the audience and think to yourself ‘I can’t believe this is happening’?
Just about every night (laughs). We did really well last year and the fact that we’re doing really well again this year really blows my mind. I’m very appreciative of what’s going on. When we start “I Want to Know What Love Is,” you see lighters and cellphones for as far back as you can possibly see. It’s just amazing.
The ammunition that you mention, those numbers as far as Top 40 songs, Top 10 songs and the millions of albums sold is rather impressive. With numbers like that you guys have more hits than most bands combined in previous classes of the Rock Hall of Fame. I never under why you weren’t in there. Now, it’s finally happening in this year’s Class of 2024. What do you think took so long?
There was a political problem that is no longer there. I noticed as soon as it was gone that we got in right away. It’s water under the bridge and we’re here now. It doesn’t matter how long it took, we’re about to get inducted and I’m so happy for the guys. They so deserve this and in particular Mick Jones. You know, this has been his life project. This is his baby and to see it so widely accepted now is heartwarming.
Speaking of Mick, how’s he doing?
He’s doing well, but he is limited. He announced his Parkinson’s diagnosis and he’s probably had it for a while. He’s limited in his activities but with his morale, he’s really excited about the Rock Hall.
That’s really good to hear about him because this has been such a long road for him. Speaking of long roads, how long have you been with the band?
This is my 21st year.
Wow! 21 years! Did you ever think it might last this long?
I did not (laughs). When they first pitched it to me, it was just “weekend warrior” work. As soon as Kelly Hanson joined the band that dissolved and we became full time because we saw what was going to happen right away. Did I think it was going to last this long? I don’t think you ever do. It’s just been this incredible surprise, this incredible journey that we’ve been able to take. I think we do 1000% to make these songs the best possible and keep Mick’s vision alive. The fact that the audiences have been so receptive is pretty amazing.
I’ve seen you guys several times now and it’s such a fun show. The musicianship is top notch and Kelly is such an underrated front person. What do you say for those doubters who say this is nothing more than a glorified tribute band?
I say come and watch us and come and listen. If you say that after you watch the set then that’s your opinion. We are the established Foreigner and Mick Jones’ vision. No, there are no original members up there but the vision is up there and the songs are up there. If you have a problem with it, come and see us and then see what you think of us.
You know how the keyboard warriors can be.
The truth of the matter is the online haters and skeptics are really a very small percentage of people. If we’re playing to 15,000 them obviously they aren’t haters (laughs). I really think they are a small minority who get amplified by the look on social media. I don’t think it’s as big as a percentage as some think. I always think that the proof is in the pudding and if you come and see us play then I think you’ve going to see that we deliver.
That’s some pretty damn good pudding too! I spoke to Lawrence Gowan of Styx a few weeks ago and compared this tour to summer camp for rock stars. I know it’s work but you guys are having a blast up there. I called it summer camp for rock stars!
We are having a lot fun and we go way back with Styx. Plus, our guitar player Luis (Maldonado) used to play with John Waite so there’s a connection there. The guys in John Waite’s band are friends so there’s a lot of family back stage. It makes for a very positive vibe that I think you feel from the audience, at least I’ve been told that by a lot of people. I have to pinch myself because we’re in a really great place with really great songs so what’s to complain about?
I’m sure that comradery probably leads to some pranks every now and then.
We are pranksters and if you can keep a secret, ask me this question in a couple of weeks.
Hmm………now I’m rather curious. Well, time will tell I guess. In the meantime, I wanted to ask about how you got into production work?
It’s always been something that I’ve been interested in since I was a teenager. I was the guy with the two cassette machine and I would record one thing with one machine and then overdub it with the other one. Even with Dokken, I was a sponge listening and watching producers picking up as much as I could. I was involved in some of the production of the Dokken records because the band was self-produced. Now with Frontiers Records doing all of these projects, it’s the perfect opportunity for me to branch out and do it. I’m very passionate about it and the fact that I get to collaborate with these great people as well as touring with Foreigner is kind of like icing on the cake.
What happens when you purchase something to listen to? Can you turn that production ear off?
Not always (laughs); I do have moments where I can just kick back and listen to music but I will admit that my first tendency is to be analytical which is why I like to watch movies. I am analytical with movies as well, but if I’m engaged in a movie I do kind of observe into the movie and let go of things and use that as inspiration for my music. It’s an opportunity to escape which I don’t get to do as often if I’m just listening to music. But then I can achieve that with the music that I’m making. If I can get absorbed and lost in the music that I’m making, the same kind of affect happens.
We had a fan who wanted to know how you got the gig in the 2001 movie Rock Star?
The guy who produced the music for the movie was Tom Werman. He and I had worked together on Dokken’s Tooth and Nail album in 1984. We stayed in contact ever since and we had a positive experience working together. They need someone to play bass on the music for the movie because they do the music first or at least in this case they did. We started rehearsing the tracks with Zakk (Wylde) and Jason (Bonham) and the producer came up to me one day and said ‘hey, I really like what I’m seeing here. This is what I wanted to achieve is a real band.’ He asked what I thought about being in the movie and I said let me think about it and I immediately said yes (laughs). I did have to do a screen test, which was pretty funny. So, it just sort of happened organically.
I have another fan question and this one is from Jeffrey Koger on Facebook. He said he loved Dio’s Master of the Moon and was excited for where he was going to go next. He heard there was talk of doing Magika 2 and wanted to know if you had any knowledge of that?
I know that it was on the books and it was something that he wanted to do. I do know that there is some music floating around out there that is unfinished and we’re going to try and find a way to finish it. I don’t know all of the details. Ronnie used to record on 12 track a lot and he didn’t have one so they borrowed one that I had. That was a while ago so I don’t know what stage they are in now. I know that he didn’t finish it so I don’t really don’t know if anyone would have the balls to try and finish it without Ronnie (laughs). There is music out there that is well worth listening to. That’s about all I can tell you but keep tuned because I bet there’s some stuff coming.
One of our writers, Steve Pawlowski, said that you and your wife believe strongly in health and fitness. How does that role play in the longevity of a rock musician?
My wife’s studio features both yoga and palates. I’ve had several surgeries over the last few years and a doctor told me back in 2019 that I was going to be a hunched over old man if I didn’t start building my body back up with palates. I thought ding; my wife’s studio does palates. So, since 2019 I have been religiously doing them twice a week and I think that’s helped a lot. With the surgeries and everything, the palates and yoga have definitely helped and even the meditation. Let’s face it; I’m a musician so I’m a nut. I’m neurotic, I’m crazy, I’m insecure, I’m all of that so the meditation really helped. I always advise people to come to hotforyogascv.com and check out all of the services there. There’s a virtual meditation class there that I teach and other virtual classes that you can take from anywhere. We have a retreat in Costa Rica coming at the end of May into June of 2025. The resort that we do it at is incredible and that week right there will get you healthy.
You and your Dokken bandmate George Lynch stay busy with so many projects. I don’t know when George finds time to sleep! Is there anything outside of touring with Foreigner that you’re working on?
We’re well into the next Black Swan record and that’s with Robin McAuley, Reb Beach and Matt Starr. We have all of the music written and we’re about halfway through writing the vocals but that won’t come out until 2025. There will be another End Machine that we’ll start in 2025 and it will be along the lines of Quantum Phase. As far as Revolution Saints, I think there’s ’till music in the can but we will start writing soon but I’m not sure where that’s going to go so yes, there’s a lot of projects coming especially with my Foreigner touring slowing down next year.
Wow! We fans are reaping the benefits of all of that!
Well, that’s the whole idea (laughs)!
That Shake the World album that you did with Black Swan caught us by surprise and we loved it.
Oh wow, well good. Listen, I’ve always said that Robin McAuley is a tremendously underrated vocalist and he’s finally starting to get some of the recognition that he deserves. Black Swan’s a part of that and his solo record is great. It’s great for people to hear him doing full on heavy rock with Black Swan the way we do. I mean, he gets to do that with Michael Schenker but there’s just something about Black Swan. I think it’s in part due to he’s a full on writer, so you get his personality in there. You combine Reb and Robin’s personalities and you get such a chemistry going and it’s just amazing.
Well, I know you need to get back to getting ready so I’m going to let you go. I truly appreciate your time today Jeff. Thanks for blessing us with so much great music from so many great bands. See you on the road soon with Foreigner!
Thanks Johnny, see you at a show soon!
Interview by I’m Music Magazine Owner/Editor Johnny Price
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