Mick Jones

The creative force behind platinum-selling hard rock combo Foreigner, guitarist/composer Mick Jones was born on December 27, 1944 in London. He first earned notice during the early ’60s as a member of Nero and the Gladiators, best remembered for their hits “Hall of the Mountain King” and “Entry of the Gladiators.” Spending much of the decade to come as a songwriter and session player, in 1970 he joined ex-Spooky Tooth singer Gary Wright in Wonderwheel. Three years later, the twosome reformed Spooky Tooth before Jones relocated to New York City to work in A&R. After a stint with the Leslie West Band, he formed Foreigner in 1976 with multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, tapping ex-Black Sheep frontman Lou Gramm to assume vocal duties; Jones and Gramm also began collaborating on songs, co-authoring the smash “Cold as Ice” from the band’s best-selling 1977 eponymous debut LP. Foreigner proved inescapable in the years to follow, reeling off an impressive series of pop radio hits including “Hot Blooded,” “Double Vision,” “Urgent,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You” and the chart-topping power ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is.” While on hiatus from the group in 1986, Jones produced Van Halen’s blockbuster 5150, three years later helming Billy Joel’s Storm Front; Joel returned the favor, producing Jones’ own 1989 self-titled solo debut. Despite losing Gramm to a solo career, Foreigner returned in 1991 with Unusual Heat; Gramm returned to the fold for 1993′s Mr. Moonlight. ~ Jason Ankeny