The announcement that REO Speedwagon could be ending its touring profession in 2024 on account of “irreconcilable variations” between Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Corridor got here as an enormous shock to followers.
However as Cronin reveals, it is one thing which additionally blindsided him personally. “The considered REO Speedwagon coming to an finish, it is simply unfathomable to me,” he tells UCR. “I by no means anticipated it.”
For the primary time because the information broke in mid-September, the singer-songwriter sat for a dialog to put out the small print from his facet. [We’ve also reached out to Hall and offered him the same opportunity.] He has three extra live shows with REO Speedwagon later this week. After that, he’ll proceed touring beneath his personal title in 2025, backed by fellow longtime REO guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt, and keyboardist Derek Hilland and bassist Matt Bissonette. His first post-REO live performance is ready for Jan. 25 in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Cronin can also be a part of the newly introduced Brotherhood of Rock tour, which is able to reunite him along with his longtime touring companions and pals in Styx for a sixth run subsequent summer time.
“There is a distinction between Styx and REO Speedwagon and Styx and Kevin Cronin, at the least on paper,” he says. “However these guys put their religion in me. We did a few reveals this previous 12 months they usually noticed the present lineup of the band they usually had been blown away by it. I am very, very grateful to Tommy Shaw and the entire Styx group for having religion in me.”
Let’s begin by speaking about your well being, briefly. You needed to depart the tour with Practice unexpectedly this summer time on account of well being points. I had the prospect to see you with REO in Toledo since then, so the excellent news is you are again at it – however followers had been involved. So no matter you are comfy with sharing about that entire journey, you’ll be able to speak about it a bit if you wish to.
You recognize, it was simply an sudden accident. I damage myself and it required slightly surgical restore in my belly space. Fortunately, I had nice care from an incredible surgeon out right here in Southern California. She informed me it will be 4 to 6 weeks restoration. I trusted her and did what I used to be purported to do. Boy, the human physique is a tremendous organism. Its therapeutic powers are astounding. The accident occurred the night time of our Discussion board present right here in Los Angeles. It occurred in the course of the night time. If you happen to’d requested me a few days after that, I used to be simply in ache [and had to] go to the hospital. However man, even on the ripe outdated age of 73 – and naturally, I really feel like I am 23 – it healed up. If you happen to noticed the present in Toledo, that I actually have not misplaced a step. I really feel higher than ever and made a full restoration, no problems. The bummer was that we could not do the ultimate two reveals of the Practice tour.
We received some surprising information with the phrase that REO Speedwagon is winding down on the finish of this 12 months on account of what was described as “irreconcilable variations.” Individuals have been understandably unhappy about that and I am certain that extends to you as effectively. How did it come thus far?
Effectively, I imply, it is very unhappy for me. I’ve spent my complete grownup life placing 100% effort and vitality into REO Speedwagon and it is meant the world to me. All of my finest songs had been recorded by REO Speedwagon and we achieved a lot collectively. The considered REO Speedwagon coming to an finish, it is simply unfathomable to me. I by no means anticipated it. There was quite a lot of data that was circulating on-line. I’d say quite a lot of it was inaccurate and a few of it was hurtful. It’s totally unhappy. [There are] lots of people who join their life to sure REO Speedwagon experiences they’d. Whether or not it was a music of ours that they performed at their wedding ceremony or their first date – or they went to an REO present for his or her anniversary, no matter it was … , REO Speedwagon has been the fixed. It has been an American establishment. I by no means in my wildest desires thought that REO Speedwagon would finish earlier than my profession was over.
I anticipated to, for lack of a greater time period, journey the Speedwagon all the approach into the barn, once I could not do it anymore – whether or not it was well being or no matter. However I by no means anticipated what has come down this 12 months. It is unhappy and it is unlucky. There’s part of me that is indignant about it. However there’s part of it that has needed to settle for it. There’s solely a lot I can do. You recognize, REO Speedwagon at this level, it is a partnership between the three heritage members. I received one vote. I needed to maintain the band that you just noticed in Toledo, that everybody noticed with Practice this 12 months and in varied different cities across the nation. My intention was simply to maintain that going. It is simply too good. However I received outvoted, so it is so simple as that. I am form of left with no different, as a result of I wish to preserve this band. Taking part in with this band has been so fulfilling, uplifting and inspirational for me that I wish to preserve it collectively and preserve it going. If it could’t be known as REO Speedwagon, we’ll name it Kevin Cronin or the Kevin Cronin Band and we are going to keep on and simply preserve constructing upon what we did in 2024.
Kevin, when somebody joins a band such as you did again within the day, they do not essentially assume that it’s finally going to turn into a model and a company and as you say, a partnership. However you guys have for thus lengthy, gone in opposition to the grain. The band at all times appeared actually close-knit. So followers clearly have had quite a lot of questions, like, why cannot there be a farewell tour?
Effectively, , a farewell tour could be a farewell celebration of some kind. That will be an incredible thought, apart from the truth that I am not able to say farewell. Some guys may be able to say farewell, however I am not considered one of them. In some unspecified time in the future, once I’m prepared and once I’m achieved for no matter cause that occurs to be, I’ll have a large farewell celebration – as a result of the followers deserve that. You recognize, it is the followers who’ve allowed me to pursue and attain past my wildest rock and roll desires. I have been so lucky to jot down songs that get into folks’s DNA, mainly. Right here we’re in 2024 taking part in sold-out arenas. An enormous Reside Nation tour. The audiences have been past enthusiastic, versus folks’s enthusiasm form of dampening a bit as time goes by. It is even turn into extra highly effective. I feel folks respect the truth that we’re nonetheless out right here doing it. So there’ll come a time for a farewell tour and I want it might be as REO Speedwagon. However as I mentioned, there’s solely a lot I can do about that.
I suppose I’d say this. If folks actually have a look at the historical past and tradition of REO Speedwagon – and I am simply speaking about the way in which the band advanced – it is by no means been like U2, Aerosmith or Low-cost Trick, guys who grew up collectively and knew one another since elementary faculty. It is by no means been that form of factor. REO Speedwagon began in Champaign, Illinois, which was a spot that individuals got here from all around the nation to go to high school, as a result of it is a tremendous faculty. It was a hotbed of exercise for rock bands again within the late ’60s. There was an company there known as Blytham Restricted, that was run by Irving Azoff, who in fact went on to rule the world as he does now. REO Speedwagon and Dan Fogelberg had been his first administration shoppers, however I digress. The purpose is that REO Speedwagon, by the point I joined the band in 1972, they’d had three totally different lead guitar gamers, two totally different bass gamers. They’d a brass part for some time.
They’d made one album and Gary Richrath, who form of found me up in Chicago, realized the band wanted some reinforcements within the songwriting division. The truth that I additionally performed guitar, they introduced me in. Two years later, I had some vocal cord-related points that received in the way in which of recording the Ridin’ the Storm Out album. I used to be changed by Mike Murphy and a few years later, it wasn’t working with Murph, in order that they introduced me again. The subsequent 12 months, it wasn’t working with Gregg Philbin and Bruce joined. It has been a continuing evolution. At any price, as you mentioned, there’s at all times been a closeness and camaraderie and it at all times confirmed on stage. However , like many bands over the 12 months, folks change, circumstances change and relationships change. It makes me unhappy, however I do not know what I can do, besides that, I am not able to cease. I am not able to name it quits. I really feel like I am surrounded by an incredible group of men. The chemistry is nice, the music sounds superior and I wish to preserve this band collectively.
READ MORE: How a Street Journey Impressed REO Speedwagon’s ‘Roll With the Modifications’
With the intention to do this, I’ve to vary the title of my band to my very own title – which appears bizarre. You recognize, I’ve at all times been a band man. It wasn’t like I give up REO Speedwagon to pursue a solo profession. Somebody informed me that was circulating on-line and that’s the furthest factor from the reality. I by no means give up REO Speedwagon. I’ll by no means give up REO Speedwagon and I’ve no intention of embarking on a solo profession. That is simply the hand that I have been dealt. And so far as 2024 goes, the way in which I perceive it’s that Bruce agreed to take a seat out the 2024 tour and to obtain full pay as if he was touring. That is precisely what we did and that is what he accepted. In order that’s 2024 in a nutshell. I do know there’s been quite a lot of opinions from individuals who assume they know what goes on inside this band. Truthfully, I used to be slightly bit disheartened that a lot of this was performed out publicly. The followers had been truly introduced into this entire factor.
You by no means prefer to see that.
Yeah, we do not like that. You recognize, followers do not prefer it and that is why I’ve saved my mouth shut. I really feel like these are non-public issues which are private, they’re musical they usually’re inventive. Issues occur in bands that nobody can presumably perceive until you are there, until you are in it and feeling it. As a result of music is such a non secular factor. It is a inventive factor and issues change. In order that’s the way in which I perceive it. I really feel a mixture of unhappiness and pleasure. I really feel unhappy that REO Speedwagon has to return to a detailed this fashion. However I really feel excited that I’ll proceed making music. I am writing. Richard Marx and I wrote a music collectively, which I am so happy with. I am wanting ahead to getting in and recording that with Richard. We have already received Richard’s model achieved. We’ll work on [mine next], so we’ll have two variations of the music.
Are you trying to do an album someday in 2025?
You recognize, I really like making information. I at all times have. Writing songs might be essentially the most rewarding a part of my skilled life. While you end the music, that is such a magical second. Since you’re engaged on it and for me, there’s that second of inspiration, I name it the holy second, the place it simply hits you. A little bit chord development hits a sure feeling and this magic journey occurs. It finally ends up being a music. As soon as that a part of the job is full, then I begin pondering by way of the document. What might this music sound like? The place would there be vocal harmonies? The place would the guitars be? I really like making information and it is robust, as a result of it takes a lot time. At this level, we tour quite a bit. We’re in all probability on the highway at the least half the 12 months, if no more. So then to return residence and have a look at my spouse, Lisa and go, “Yeah, honey, I do know I have been gone for six months, however I’ll go within the studio for the following six months,” I do not know if that is gonna fly.
The enterprise has modified to the purpose that it was once that you just simply saved writing till you had sufficient songs for an album and you then went in and made an album. Now, you’ll be able to launch songs one by one if you wish to. I am undoubtedly planning on recording my model of the music that Richard and I wrote. [Beyond that], I am simply wanting ahead to transferring previous the drama of the 12 months and placing it behind us. I am so grateful to the followers who’ve supported me via the years, who will hopefully proceed to help me. As a result of beginning in 2025, if you wish to see an REO Speedwagon live performance, you will come and see Kevin Cronin. As a result of that is the songs, that is the perspective and that is what it’s form of going to be. I am feeling grateful and on the identical time, I can not deny feeling unhappy about it. It is each of these issues on the identical time. However we’ll get via this and I am wanting ahead to 2025.
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Gallery Credit score: Matthew Wilkening, besides as famous beneath.
