Johnny Foreigner is an indie rock trio from Digbeth in Birmingham, England, consisting of guitarist Alexei Berrow, drummer Junior Elvis Washington Laidley and bassist Kelly Southern. Before forming the band in December 2005, Alexei played in an act called Panda Love Unit. Kelly, who joined Johnny Foreigner some time later, had previously played with Twist and Baxxter, playing drums for the latter. Panda Love Unit formed in Winter 2001 and split in Summer 2004. ...show more

Johnny Foreigner is an indie rock trio from Digbeth in Birmingham, England, consisting of guitarist Alexei Berrow, drummer Junior Elvis Washington Laidley and bassist Kelly Southern. Before forming the band in December 2005, Alexei played in an act called Panda Love Unit. Kelly, who joined Johnny Foreigner some time later, had previously played with Twist and Baxxter, playing drums for the latter. Panda Love Unit formed in Winter 2001 and split in Summer 2004.

The band featured Alexei alongside Alan Wilson, Susan Ennis & Liz Hamblin. They released a 4 track EP, "fireworks to stick us...together" on Awkward Records.While Liz Hamblin was travelling in 2003, Kelly Southern replaced her on bass for a series of gigs where Panda Love Unit called themselves Superhangon2. Kelly had previously replaced Twist's bassist Lisa Lavery in 2001 after the release of Twist's debut album, Magenta. The band featured vocalist Emma Fox, Vanessa White and Leanne Taylor.

Upon her joining the band Emma said of Kelly, "She looks like, smells like, plays like and swears like us...she's well in!" Soon after Twist released the EP "14," and then signed a six-song deal with Bug/Library Publishing. Prior to joining Twist, Kelly played drums in another act called Baxxter. The "prototype" Johnny Foreigner formed as "a country band with pretensions" (according to Alexei) with Kelly's predecessor Daniel Boyle on bass in December 2005. Boyle left Johnny Foreigner to attend university, and now plays in London-based band Gentle Friendly. ...show less