Many of their hits were inspired by the ups and downs of the band members' relationships. The year 1981 was a banner one for AOR, with four all-time classic albums hitting No.1 in the US REOs Hi Infidelity, Foreigner 4, Escape by Journey and Paradise Theater by Styx. Oh, yeah. It was kind of a taboo subject, but there are people that use Keep On Loving You as their wedding song. Families impacted by the storm and first responders sat near the stage for this special REO concert. But Joe Walsh had called his record The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get. Mary Maciukasm. But I had to make a choice: either Im gonna let his departure end the band, or Im gonna see if I can do it without him. Although REO were slowly inching their way to big-time success, no one (not even the band) could have predicted the massive hit that their next album turned out to be, Hi Infidelity. The vocal tracks for the album were rerecorded by Mike Murphy. [4] The album was released in 1978 and has received FM radio airplay over the years, thanks to songs like "Roll with the Changes" and "Time for Me to Fly". They named the band REO Speedwagon, from the REO Speed Wagon, a 1915 truck that was designed by Ransom Eli Olds. "At the time, there were two camps in the band. REO Speedwagon followed up the "Hi Infidelity" LP with the power ballad "Can't Fight This Feeling" from Good Trouble in 1982, and dented the charts again with 1984's "Wheels Are Turning" album, 1987's "Life as We Know It" was the last new release to go gold, before popularity waned, and their long winning streak subsided. He then joined REO once again in Los Angeles in May 2000 for the same encore but no serious plans for a reunion ever materialized. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Oh, no. REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin admits that the band made a major mistake at the start of the 1980s. Additionally, further in-concert releases cropped up -- Live: Plus, Extended Versions, and a 2001 live set, Arch Allies: Live at Riverport, split 50/50 between REO and touring mates Styx. ", A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs. The band appeared in an episode in the third season of the American TV series Ozark, which was released on Netflix on March 27, 2020. Did you panic? In September 1998, Gary Richrath briefly joined REO onstage at the County Fair in Los Angeles to play on the band's encore song, "157 Riverside Avenue". Kevin Cronin But as a band, we bought an oil well in Southern Illinois [laughs]. And that chorus featured a rhyming scheme of truly epic proportions: I cant fight this feeling anymore/Ive forgotten what I started fighting for/Its time to bring this ship into the shore/And throw away the oars, forever And if I have to crawl upon the floor/Come crashing through your door/Baby I cant fight this feeling anymore. Seriously, Kevin, do you think you might have over-egged the pudding there? POP . Formed in 1967, the group originally included drummer and backing vocalist Alan Gratzer, guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and lead vocalist Mike Blair, and keyboardist Neal Doughty. I was around 12 years old when The Beatles played on The Ed Sullivan Show. Stay up to date with in depth music reviews, exclusive interviews and widespread coverage of whats happening from your favourite music genre. The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation. We live only a couple of miles from each other. When "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" He sang a sampling of REO's hits with the show's singing finalists. Youve always said that The Beatles had a profound effect on you as a kid. Michael went on to perform with such noteworthy groups as Chuck E. Weiss & The Goddamn Liars, and Billy Vera and the Beaters. A graduate of University of Ottawa, Murphy was a member of the famed 1975 Vanier Cup champion Ottawa Gee-Gees team. But I wasnt meant to be a solo artist. And when the sales start going down, that takes its toll. Believe me, I get it. And after the show, someone laid out an item that was about the size of a cue ball it was the same colour as a cue ball as well and I respectfully declined. REO Speedwagon continued to tour in the back half of the 2010s, often teaming up on bills featuring Styx and Chicago. My solo career hadn't set any world records. With him on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. Murphy stayed onboard for a couple of more releases -- 1974's Lost in a Dream and 1975's This Time We Mean It -- but neither managed to push REO to the next level. Discover Lost in a Dream by REO Speedwagon released in 1974. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. But there did come a time, around 1982, when the aftershow party was becoming the focus of the day, rather than the show itself. And for Cronin, like so many other rock stars, it all began when he first saw four guys from England on TV. Thats a tough question. Although the rest of the band's lineup remained stable, REO Speedwagon switched lead vocalists three times for their first three albums. [4] Although it was not as successful as its predecessor, the album performed moderately well commercially, featuring the hit singles "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (U.S. #7), "Sweet Time" (U.S. #26) and the Album Rock chart hit "The Key". Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. He then recorded two more albums with them, Lost in a Dream and This Time We Mean It . Lets go! So thats kind of where the rift began. The artwork was already done too, so they airbrushed me out and put Murphy in. They are popular on the fair and casino circuits, but still team with other acts to play larger venues. [8] Hi Infidelity spawned four hit singles written by Richrath and Cronin, including the chart-topping "Keep On Loving You" (Cronin),[4] plus "Take It on the Run" (#5) (Richrath), "In Your Letter" (#20) (Richrath), and "Don't Let Him Go" (#24) (Cronin), and remained on the charts for 65 weeks, 32 of which were spent in the top ten, including 15 weeks atop the Billboard 200. Doughty was absent from the REO Speedwagon Unplugged Live in Washington XM Radio show in early April 2007, with producer Joe Vannelli filling-in on keyboards. After graduation, the group signed on with then-unknown manager Irving Azoff (who would later guide the careers of such multi-platinum acts as the Eagles and Steely Dan), which led to the outfit building a devoted following in the Midwest due to nonstop touring. [19], The band performed with Pitbull the song "Messin' Around" live on the ABC TV show Greatest Hits in 2016; that version of the song was also released as a single on iTunes. Kevin Cronin net worth: Kevin Cronin is an America musician who has a net worth of $25 million. Theres not enough emotion in it. The band's follow-up album, Good Trouble, was released in June 1982. On his first night, he met another student, Alan Gratzer. There were some things hed been carrying around for a long time. My mom was a social worker and my father worked in the newspaper business. Richrath stayed on stage to help with the encore of "With a Little Help From My Friends" along with REO, Styx, Richard Marx, and others. On his Farfisa organ, he learned "Light My Fire" by The Doors. Daniel replies, "What kind of man doesn't!" Gary didnt think that much of that song, but I heard something in it. Of course I saw how the young girls reacted to them. Crownover played guitar for the group until mid-1969 when Bill Fiorio replaced him. You recorded an album with the band in 1972, R.E.O./T.W.O. Crownover played guitar for the group until the summer of 1969 when Bill Fiorio replaced him. There were all kinds of nefarious activities going on. He has written liner notes for classic album reissues by artists such as Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy and Kiss, and currently works as content editor for Total Guitar. In 1977, bassist Gregg Philbin left the band. I wasnt about to let go of this song. But there was a schism at Epic Records: they dropped the ball, and the album just kind of got left in the lurch. But in defence of my over-use of the rhyme, I wrote that chorus in 15 minutes. Do you think? Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" is a very inspiring song, but it's really about heartbreak: David Coverdale wrote it when his first marriage was falling apart. When REO returned to the studio later in the 2000s, however, it was without Richrath. We all spent money on various stupid things. Your second No.1 hit, Cant Fight This Feeling, came four years after Keep On Loving You. In early 2014, it was announced that REO Speedwagon and Chicago would be teaming up for 15 dates throughout 2014. They are from Champaign, Illinois. REO Speedwagon toured the US in 1985, including a sold-out concert in Madison, Wisconsin in May. It was called My Little XKE written about a Jaguar car. I never thought that it was an issue, but when I went through some therapy as an adult it turns out it was (laughs). All these bands were unique in their own way, but there was a similarity in the music that was undeniable. Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Michael Ellis Murphy (born 1962) is a Republican political consultant, entertainment industry writer, and producer. With Richrath on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. [12] They teamed up with Styx to record a new single entitled "Can't Stop Rockin'", released in March 2009, as well as for a full tour that included special guest .38 Special. In 2000, REO teamed up with Styx for an appearance at Riverport Amphitheater in St. Louis, which was released as a live concert video Arch Allies: Live at Riverport. The Cronin-led lineup appeared to be headed in the right direction though, judging from 1972's R.E.O. The commercial failure of the band's newer material with its revised lineup demanded a change in marketing strategy. Their hard rocking live show was so integral to their success, their label released another live album in 1978, "More Live". The debut failed to break REO through to the mainstream, and the band's future was thrust into uncertainty shortly thereafter when Luttrell left the group. Doughty had learned some Beatles songs on his parents' piano, and Gratzer had been a drummer in local bands since high school. Richrath died in September 2015 at the age of 65. Where were you when you heard the news? As Neal [Doughty] says: When I found out they were firing me, I quit!. So what is it that keeps you going after all these years? [21] The band toured the US with Styx and Don Felder on the "United We Rock" tour, debuting June 20, 2017, at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater. I didnt know if it would work or not. 1987's Life as We Know It saw a decline in sales,[4] but still managed to provide the band with the top-20 hits "That Ain't Love" (U.S. #16) and "In My Dreams" (U.S. Mike Murphy. '78 7 "You Can Tune a Piano, but . Hopefully that will open a door for us. The album title. REO opted to soldier on, however, with replacement members Dave Amato (ex-Ted Nugent, guitar) and Bryan Hitt (ex-Wang Chung, drums) in tow, as their 14-track 1988 compilation The Hits proved to be a steady seller over the years. But it was also the first song where I really exposed my life and my relationship to a certain degree. What went wrong? They divorced about ten years later; Kevin married his second wife, Lisa, in 1992, and they had three children together: a daughter Holly and twin sons Josh and Shane. But Im still writing some pretty cool stuff. REO Speedwagon - |CDCDBlu-rayDVD After the appearance, four of REO's songs reentered the Billboard rock charts. Karen McCoym. Fiorio then departed in late 1969, eventually assuming the name Duke Tumatoe, and went on to form the All Star Frogs. The lineup on the first album consisted of Richrath, Gratzer, Doughty, Philbin, and Luttrell.[4]. We had a deal with Epic Records, and we sold just enough of that album to break even. SideReel. Glenn Frey / Don Henley / Tom Nixon. REO Speedwagon/Lead singers. Read Full Biography Overview Biography Discography Songs Credits Related All Songs (1-100 of 425) Highlights All Songs 1 2 3 4 5 Next AllMusic Quiz Weve talked that talk and walked that walk. But creatively, it fuels the fire. 19802001Caroline Hoguem. The REO portion of the show was released again under three separate titles: Live - Plus (2001), Live Plus 3 (2001) and Extended Versions (2001) (which was certified gold by the RIAA on April 26, 2006). And when I woke up the next day, somehow that phrase You Can Tune A Piano, But You Cant Tuna Fish was in my mind. Newcomer Kevin Cronin got the gig; he was a folksinger/guitarist beforehand, with little to no experience fronting a loud rock & roll outfit. The name "REO Speedwagon" refers to Ransom Eli Olds, the founder of Oldsmobile. Thats a whole book right there. 66 located in Joliet, Illinois. John Aldridge, Bryan Hitt's drum tech since July 2005, performed additional percussion parts live from around July 2005 until around February 2017. Ridin' the Storm Out was completed with Michael Bryan Murphy on the microphone. REO Speedwagon reached the Billboard charts 24 times. Is your family now the most important thing in your life? How does it feel to have written the No.1 song in America? Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic. And really, that was the essence of what the song was about. AllMovie. Was there a defining moment when you realised youd had enough of drugs? Hi Infidelity would eventually go on to sell more than nine million copies -- catapulting REO to arena-headlining status. They already had one album, and I didnt really see how my songs were going to fit into their approach. When you look back on your career, what is REO Speedwagons legacy? But the guys thought I was being a prima donna. Ive done it twice. The group's best-selling album, Hi Infidelity (1980), contained four US top 40 hits and sold more than 10 million copies.[1]. In 1981 the band had their greatest success with the ten million selling album Hi Infidelity. He was replaced by Kevin Cronin. It just appeared there on the paper. The new band made a list of songs to learn over the summer break. Kevin first joined REO Speedwagon in 1972 for the album R.E.O./T.W.O. The current lineup of REO Speedwagon consists of Cronin, original member Neal Doughty (keyboards), Bruce Hall (bass), Dave Amato (lead guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums). He said his piece and Im glad that he got that out. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Did you take much persuading to rejoin REO in 76? I had a business manager even before the Hi Infidelity money started coming in. Lear had already been invited to join REO in September 1988 as Gratzer's successor and Joseph was brought in as a temporary stand-in for Richrath. But every night when I sing those songs, I feel like I find another part of it. Find Your Own Way Home, the band's first studio album of new songs in more than ten years, featured Cronin along with founding member Neal Doughty on keyboards, longtime bassist Bruce Hall, and '80s additions Amato and Hitt. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. It needed that nasty guitar tone. We rocked, you know? For the first time in your life, you were making serious money. He was replaced by Kevin Cronin who recorded one album with the band, 1972s R.E.O./T.W.O. This is the lineup featured on the quintet's 1971 self-titled debut recording for Epic Records. The concert was held on December 4, 2013, in Bloomington, Illinois.

I Am Available Anytime Except For, Articles M