Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones was born on this day in Portsmouth, England. His first group, Nero and the Gladiators, was an instrumental band that released a couple of modestly successful singles in the UK in 1961.  He moved to France where he composed and did session work through the rest of the 60's before moving back to England where he started the group Wonderwheel with Spooky Tooth's Gary Wright. Soon after, Jones and Wright dropped that name and reformed Spooky Tooth.  Jones would also work with George Harrison, Peter Frampton and Leslie West in the ealy to mid 70's.  His big career move came in 1976 when Mick teamed  with King Crimson veteran Ian McDonald, drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboard player Al Greenwood and bassist Ed Gagliardi to form Foreigner.  Lou Gramm of the American group Black Sheep would be recruited as the front man for the bi-continental group the following year.  Foreigner's 1977 debut album broke big and the band became FM Rock Radio mainstays.

 

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on December 27 include...

 

1941 Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues born.

1944 Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones born.

1943 King Crimson co-founder and lyracist Peter Sinfield is born.

1947 Tracy Nelson born.

1948 Steppenwolf' guitarist Larry Byrom is born

1952 Karla Bonoff born.

1952 Dire Straits rhythm guitarist David Knopfler born.

1967 Bob Dylan releases John Wesley Harding.

1967 Doors perform on the Jonathan Winters TV show.

1975 Faces break-up becomes official.

1983 Police open first of 4 nights at Wembley Arena.

1978 Big Star guitarist Chris Bell dies in car crash.

2008 Delaney Bramlett dies following gall bladder surgery.

2008 Gregg Allman’s house robbed while he is on tour…