Members of REO Speedwagon got here again collectively of their hometown of Champaign, Illinois for a live performance retrospective on Saturday night time (June 14) honoring their prolonged profession.
To cite one of many band’s personal tune titles, it was like being “Misplaced in a Dream,” being there on the campus of the College of Illinois because the musicians moved by means of a set record that put heavy emphasis on obscurities and deeper cuts from the REO catalog, together with that title monitor from their 1974 album. You’ll be able to see a full set record in addition to reside video beneath.
However the night on the State Farm Middle additionally featured lots of the acquainted fan favorites, together with their largest hits, “Carry on Loving You” and a number of other different tracks from their 1980 No. 1 album, Hello Infidelity. “Roll With the Modifications” and “Time for Me to Fly,” too. For REO followers — and the band members themselves, it was a fever dream come true. As bassist Bruce Corridor instructed UCR main as much as the gig, it was additionally a farewell of types, within the wake of the difficult demise of the group, which stopped touring on the finish of 2024.
There was no point out of vocalist Kevin Cronin and he was, as anticipated, absent from the festivities, touring as a part of this summer time’s Brotherhood of Rock tour with Styx and Don Felder. That left a query within the minds of some followers so far as how the remaining alumni would fill that gap. Because it seems, they’d a formidable secret weapon in thoughts. The country-flecked trio, Levon, introduced their abilities to Champaign, with their three-part harmonies and appreciable vocal skills. The Nashville group, who’ve toured extensively with REO up to now, had been a giant a part of the household spirit that was within the air all through the night time, but in addition added a formidable three-guitar assault.
Vocalist Terry Luttrell, who featured on the band’s 1971 self-titled debut, helped kick the night time off, performing 4 tracks together with his REO Classics band, fastidiously curated from the group’s first three albums. He was joined by early guitarist Steve Scorfina for “Gypsy Girl’s Ardour,” from the debut. As Luttrell shared with the group, REO had moved by means of its share of members within the early years main as much as the primary album, notably when it got here to guitar gamers. Scorfina entered the fold, beneficial by St. Louis native Michael McDonald, who instructed the group they need to contemplate the guitarist.
The songs they might write for his or her eventual debut included materials which mirrored the civil unrest and world strife that the world was residing by means of. “We turned the poster boys with college students from democratic society proper right here on campus,” the singer instructed the group, as he launched “Anti-Institution Man” from the primary document. “We performed for rallies on high of rallies, out on the Quad. You title it and we had been there. It prompted us to write down protest songs on the time.
There was a thread of storytelling like that which carried by means of the night time, bringing new context to the songs from the band’s catalog. Additionally they honored two of their fallen members, guitarist and songwriter Gary Richrath and bassist Gregg Philbin, with a proper plaque presentation to Richrath’s son, Eric, who had flown in from Edinburgh, Scotland that morning to have the ability to seem with the REO alums that very same night time. “I am not going to sit down up right here and babble,” he stated with a smile. “We have a variety of music to get to. I feel on this second, my dad would in all probability say, ‘Let’s get again to the rock,’ so let’s do this.”
Certainly, the stage darkened as stormy sounds started to fill the sector. Richrath stayed on stage to play guitar for the REO signature, “Ridin’ the Storm Out.” Corridor, surrounded by fellow band members, keyboardist and co-founder Neal Doughty in addition to co-founding drummer Alan Gratzer and early vocalist Mike Murphy, beamed with satisfaction all through the night time. Extremely, it was Gratzer’s first time enjoying songs from his former group’s catalog on stage in 37 years — and but there was no obvious rust.
“I have been very fortunately retired,” Gratzer shared with the followers following a efficiency of the band’s 1984 single, “Cannot Battle This Feeling.” their second and last No. 1 as a gaggle. “Neal and I began this band in 1967, which lots of you already know, over in Townsend Corridor [on the] second flooring. After our freshman 12 months, we went residence over the summer time and I stated, ‘Let’s come again within the fall after we go to highschool and type a band.'” He gave Doughty an project, to study the primary Doorways album. With Gratzer pinch-hitting on vocals and bass and Doughty enjoying drums initially, it sparked a “little cowl band” that developed by means of a collection of personnel adjustments. As soon as Richrath joined the lineup, the remainder of the story was “type of historical past.”
Although Doughty did not crawl behind the equipment (although he comically threatened to), Gratzer took the Phil Collins method for Saturday night’s gig, singing and drumming on a canopy of “Twentieth Century Fox” to offer the assembled viewers a short style of what may need been in the event that they’d remained only a cowl band. It sounded not too shabby, however fortunately, they’d bigger objectives that ultimately introduced the massive hit information.
The continued skirmish with Cronin that introduced REO Speedwagon to an sudden conclusion on the finish of 2024 put a little bit of unhappiness into the air, however Corridor sought to spotlight the constructive facet, although it was clear he was preventing his personal feelings. “I gotta inform ya one thing. As exhausting because it’s all been for everyone, together with me, remember that love will treatment you,” he stated. “I am relying on that. It ought to hopefully make a distinction in anyone shut that you understand, as a result of I miss you too. I feel these songs belong to all of us and it is enjoyable enjoying them.” However he additionally acknowledged after “Carry on Loving You,” the tune which adopted, “In all actuality, that is REO’s final present.”
If it was certainly the tip, they went out with a dream set record and a fair higher efficiency. The visitor spots by Eric Richrath — and Corridor’s personal offspring, Sara and Timmy — had been one factor. Add within the help of Levon paired with the unimaginable meeting of the members of the previous REO timeline and it felt like a real household affair and loads of new causes to hope that it is not the final time.
Watch Terry Luttrell and the REO Classics Band Carry out ‘Golden Nation’
Honoring the Legacy of REO Speedwagon, 6/14/25 Champaign, Illinois, Set Record
1. “Son of a Poor Man”
2. “Gypsy Girl’s Ardour”
3. “Anti-Institution Man”
4. “Golden Nation”
5. “Ridin’ the Storm Out”
6. “Sing to Me”
7. “Let’s Be-Bop”
8. “Solely the Sturdy Survive”
9. “Time for Me to Fly”
10. “Misplaced in a Dream”
11. “Cannot Battle This Feeling”
12. “Twentieth Century Fox” (Doorways cowl)
13. “Take it on the Run”
14. “Again on the Highway Once more”
15. “Carry on Loving You”
16. “Preserve Pushin'”
17. “Do not Let Him Go”
18. “Roll With the Modifications”
19. “157 Riverside Avenue”
REO Speedwagon Albums Ranked
REO Speedwagon’s catalog and profession have been marked by dizzying highs and large setbacks. Here is a ranked look again.
Gallery Credit score: Nick DeRiso
