"The Dead Daisies Turn Up the Heat with Kelly Hansen Fronting the Band"
(Artist Update)
Written by: Ginny Gaines
The Dead Daisies are turning the page and bringing a familiar rock voice along for the ride. The band has announced that Kelly Hansen, best known for his 20-year run as the lead singer of Foreigner, is joining The Dead Daisies as their new vocalist. Hansen replaces John Corabi and joins a lineup that includes guitarist Doug Aldrich, founder and guitarist David Lowy, drummer Tommy Clufetos and bassist Jimi Crutchley. The announcement also came with the release of a brand-new song, “Lift Me Up,” giving fans their first chance to hear what Hansen sounds like as the voice of The Dead Daisies.
For Hansen, the move is something of a reunion. Before becoming the frontman of Foreigner, he was the singer of the hard-rock band Hurricane, where he worked with guitarist Doug Aldrich. The two went their separate ways as their careers developed, with Aldrich eventually becoming known for his work with Whitesnake and Dio. Hansen went on to join Foreigner in 2005, replacing original singer Lou Gramm. For the next two decades, he stood at the front of one of classic rock's most recognizable bands, performing songs such as “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold as Ice,” “Hot Blooded” and “I Want to Know What Love Is” for audiences around the world.
Hansen left Foreigner in 2025, but he made it clear that he wasn't walking away from music. Now, his next chapter brings him back together with Aldrich and places him in a band that has always been built around experienced rock musicians. The Dead Daisies were formed in the early 2010s and have never been afraid of changing their lineup. Over the years, the band has featured singers and musicians from some of rock's biggest groups, including Jon Stevens, John Corabi and Glenn Hughes. What has remained consistent is the band's love of loud guitars, bluesy riffs, big choruses and straight-ahead rock and roll.
The first taste of the Hansen era comes with “Lift Me Up,” a hard-driving rock song built around a strong guitar riff and a big, catchy chorus. It is the kind of song that fits comfortably into The Dead Daisies' established sound while giving Hansen plenty of room to show off the powerful voice that made him a successful frontman for so many years. The song also gives fans an early indication that the band isn't trying to completely reinvent itself. Instead, The Dead Daisies appear to be taking what they already do well and putting a new voice out front.
The timing is important because The Dead Daisies are already looking ahead to 2027. The band plans to finish a new studio album and then take the new lineup on an extensive international tour. European and U.K. dates are scheduled for March, followed by an American run beginning in April and May, with additional Scandinavian dates planned for later in the year. After years of lineup changes, the combination of Hansen, Aldrich, Lowy, Clufetos and Crutchley gives the group a lineup packed with musicians who know exactly how to handle a rock stage.
For The Dead Daisies, Kelly Hansen's arrival feels less like starting over and more like opening another chapter in a story that has always been about keeping rock and roll alive. Hansen brings decades of experience, a powerful voice and a history with Aldrich that goes all the way back to Hurricane. With “Lift Me Up” already out and a new album and worldwide tour on the horizon, The Dead Daisies are making it clear that they aren't slowing down. They've simply found a new voice to lead them into the next round.
Thank you for reading this update on The Dead Daisies. In closing, please know, Soundwave Music Media will be here and I will always do my best to bring you any updates as they emerge. Please consider supporting our Soundwave Foundation with a donation! Rock On! Until next time...🤘
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