Longtime REO Speedwagon vocalist Kevin Cronin has taken to social media to share his ideas on his lack of inclusion in an upcoming one-off reunion occasion.
Cronin, who has been touring along with his personal Kevin Cronin Band, addressed a fan on Fb who famous the singer’s absence from REO Speedwagon’s forthcoming live performance in Champaign, Illinois on June 14, responding that organizers of the occasion may have picked a date when most of the band’s former members had been available to attend.
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“As a substitute they selected June 14, 2025, a date the place it was public information that I used to be beforehand dedicated to carry out with Styx and Kevin Cronin Band in Bend, Oregon,” Cronin wrote. “Backside line, I’m being requested to take part in an occasion on a date after I can’t presumably be there in-person. After which being falsely accused of turning down the invitation. I’m deeply disturbed and harm by all of this.
“In any case I’ve achieved to assist construct the legacy of REO Speedwagon, I really feel I’ve earned and should be included in any occasion honoring that legacy. As a substitute, I’ve been knowingly excluded.”
Cronin joined REO Speedwagon in early 1972, taking up from Terry Luttrell who reportedly left on account of private points with guitarist Gary Richrath. Although Cronin was himself briefly changed by Mike Murphy the next 12 months, he returned in 1976 and remained within the band till their finish, acting on tracks corresponding to their two Scorching 100 chart-toppers “Preserve On Loving You” and “Can’t Battle This Feeling.”
In late 2024, REO Speedwagon introduced that they’d stop touring as of Jan. 1, 2025. In a observe shared to followers, the group defined that bassist Bruce Corridor had not recovered sufficiently from earlier again surgical procedure and his lack of ability to tour led to “irreconcilable variations” between Corridor and Cronin.
REO Speedwagon performed their closing dwell efficiency on Dec. 21 at The Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas, however in March introduced they’d be enjoying a particular one-off present on the State Farm Heart of their hometown of Champaign, Illinois on June 14. Formally titled as an occasion ‘Honoring the Legacy of REO Speedwagon,’ the present is described as a “live performance retrospective that includes particular company & former members.”
Certainly, Corridor and Neal Doughty from the ultimate REO Speedwagon lineup are confirmed to attend, as are earlier vocalists Luttrell and Murphy. Founding drummer Alan Gratzer and 1969 guitarist Steve Scorfina are additionally listed as showing, whereas a particular tribute can be held to late members Gary Richrath and Gregg Philbin.
In his social media remark, Cronin additionally claimed that the remaining members of the band’s closing lineup – who at present carry out alongside him within the Kevin Cronin Band – weren’t given the choice of showing on the forthcoming present. “35-year REO veterans Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt weren’t even proven the respect of being invited to the Champaign occasion,” he added.
Cronin spoke to Billboard forward of REO Speedwagon’s closing present in December, explaining that the circumstances behind the band’s ending had been lower than excellent, and admitted there may be nonetheless a stage of acrimony between he and Corridor. “It’s form of like a divorce of kinds,” he defined, “and through a divorce issues get just a little muddy and issues get just a little sticky. I want it may’ve been extra amicable, however the minute attorneys get entangled it simply adjustments the ambiance of issues.”
“I feel it’s unlucky that some followers had been form of introduced into one thing that I actually really feel ought to’ve been saved as a non-public, private matter,” he continued. “It’s by no means thrilling when issues are stated which might be inaccurate and hurtful. My hope is that there’ll come a time the place the mud can have settled. My intention is to ask forgiveness for something that I’ve achieved or any harm that I’ve triggered Bruce. I don’t prefer to have grudges with individuals. I prefer to forgive and be forgiven.”
