Foreigner’s Mick Jones on Making It Into the Rock Hall of Fame & Whether He’ll Perform Jones acknowledged his struggle with Parkinson’s disease earlier this year.
Mick Jones has good reason to be a little resentful about Foreigner’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after the band was ineligible for more than 20 years. However, Jones, who formed Foreigner in 1975 in New York, says he’s feeling “quite the opposite” now that the group will be a part of the class of 2024 this October.
Due to his battle with Parkinson’s disease, which he disclosed in February, Jones exclusively tells Billboard via email, “I think it means more to me now than perhaps 20 years ago.” “This is like the whipped cream and cherry on top of a tremendous career of mine. I will cherish it for years to come. Being listed with all of these outstanding artists who have been admitted over the years is a wonderful honor.
The 79-year-old Jones continues, “I have maintained a measured perspective about the prospects, even in the face of vocal outrage from Foreigner fans over the band’s exclusion.” He admits, “It might have crossed my mind occasionally.” To be sure, I haven’t let it consume me excessively. Since it was the same every year, I soon stopped worrying about it. I don’t think my dear buddy Peter Frampton has been too affected by it either, despite the years that have passed.
With over 527,000 total votes, Foreigner came in third place among the Rock Hall’s fan favorites, after only the Dave Matthews Band and Frampton. A video campaign spearheaded by Jones’ son-in-law Mark Ronson, who enlisted the help of Paul McCartney and other musicians, helped with that in part. Is the Hall of Fame empty? “What the f–k?!”), Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Dave Grohl, Slash, Jack Black, and other celebrities expressed shock that the group wasn’t in yet.
