Birth name Edward John Gagliardi Years active 1966–2014 Died May 11, 2014 Instruments Bass guitar, guitar Role Musical Artist | Occupation(s) Musician Name Ed Gagliardi | |
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Born February 13, 1952Brooklyn, NY, United States ( 1952-02-13 ) Albums Foreigner, Double Vision, Head Games | ||
SPYS She Can't Wait (Official Music Video)
Edward John 'Ed' Gagliardi (February 13, 1952 – May 11, 2014) was an American bass guitarist, best known as the original bass player for the 1970s rock band Foreigner. He was a member of Foreigner from the beginning in 1976. Gagliardi, most notably, played a red Rickenbacker bass guitar, left-handed even though he was naturally right-handed. It is widely known that he did so out of admiration, and devotion to Paul McCartney (most often self-doctored from right handed basses, reengineered and played upside down, by Gagliardi himself). Gagliardi was on the albums Foreigner and Double Vision, but was fired from the band in 1979.
![Ed Gagliardi Ed Gagliardi Foreigner Photo 8x12 or 8x10 in 78 World Series Rock](https://alchetron.com/cdn/ed-gagliardi-6c30596d-906f-4e63-adc7-f5f55e06764-resize-750.jpeg)
In 1981, Gagliardi formed the band Spys with former Foreigner keyboardist Al Greenwood, a band that set the tone for much of the 80's synth-rock bands, and received acclaim within the musical community.
![Ed Gagliardi httpss3uswest2amazonawscomfindagravepr](https://alchetron.com/cdn/ed-gagliardi-65eb2fb4-fc14-477b-b4b7-9e6dcb75b6f-resize-750.jpeg)
In the early 2000s, Gagliardi worked as a Service Department Writer at Rallye Lexus in Glen Cove, New York.
Gagliardi died of cancer on May 11, 2014, after battling cancer for eight years. Friends and family held a private ceremony.