Ed Gagliardi

Edward John Gagliardi 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 Fireglo 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. Gagliardi was on the albums Foreigner and Double [Vision (Foreigner album)|Double Vision].
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.
Gagliardi died of cancer on May 11, 2014, after battling the disease for eight years. Friends and family held a private ceremony.
In 2024, Gagliardi was posthumously selected for induction into the Rock and [Roll Hall of Fame], as a member of Foreigner.