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PHILADELPHIA, PA —Michael Bluestein knows not to wear a Boston Celtics jersey when he performs in the Philadelphia area at the end of July.
The keyboardist for the legendary band Foreigner —who will perform at the Freedom Mortgage Pavillion on July 28 —talked about his Boston roots, the group’s legacy, and his favorite Foreigner songs during a recent interview with Patch.
The group will be joined by the Hatboro-Horsham High School choir during its performance of the No. 1 song “I Wanna Know What Love Is” during its concert with Styx and John Waite. (The group has gone on tour with Styx several times over the years.)
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Bluestein, 55, learned his trade at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He made the rounds on the music scene before joining Foreigner in 2008.
The band, formed in 1976, has been on its farewell tour. And while founder and original guitarist Mick Jones is too ill to tour these days, members like Bluestein, bassist Jeff Pilson, and lead singer Kelly Hansen are carrying the torch.
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Bluestein was home on break before the tour recently resumed in Nashville when he spoke with Patch.
The group began with Jones, singer Lou Gramm, drummer Dennis Elliott, bassist Ed Gagliardi, and keyboard players Al Greenwood and Ian McDonald.
Foreigner came out of the gate with hit songs and albums with powerful tunes, catchy songs that climbed the charts, and soaring vocals and harmonies.
You know the hits: “Cold As Ice,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Hot Blooded,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Head Games,” “Long, Long Way From Home,” and “Double Vision.” By 1980, Foreigner “4” pushed the band into the stratosphere with the hits “Urgent,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” and “Juke Box Hero.”
Bluestein gets to play these songs every night on a tour that is made up of mostly hits.
“It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “The band is so well known and has so many songs. It’s an honor to be able to do this. It’s humbling. People love the tunes.”
The band was named recently for induction into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Bluestein has his favorites too: “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “Urgent,” “Long, Long Way From Home,” “Say You Will,” and “Girl On The Moon.”
He also loves getting to perform with a different choir every night on tour.
“These kids are so psyched. A lot of us were in bands and choirs in high school music programs,” he said.
Bluestein loves touring with Styx and Foreigner has done many shows with them.
“These guys are fantastic,” he said of the band. Bluestein also praised Waite, the former Babys lead singer who had a huge hit with “Missing You.” which was played on heavy MTV video rotation back in the day.
He’s excited by the chance to get to perform in the Philadelphia area again.
“We love it. They are great fans and the summer shed in Camden is one of our favorite stops,” Bluestein said. It’s always great to hang out in Philly. I hope to get a cheesesteak.”
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