Kevin Cronin has detailed the occasions that led to REO Speedwagon’s eventual breakup.
Throughout a current look on Billy Corgan’s The Magnificent Others podcast, Cronin famous how issues started to vary through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I began type of reassessing some issues. And I began wanting to achieve additional,” the singer defined. “I used to be wanting a bit of extra. And never essentially exterior the band. I wished to carry the band in a roundabout way.”
Cronin began seeing a vocal coach and started engaged on his craft like by no means earlier than.
READ MORE: Prime 10 REO Speedwagon Songs
“I actually began placing in 10,000 hours on my voice,” the frontman recalled. “So when the band acquired again collectively after the pandemic, I used to be psyched. And among the guys within the band shared that pleasure and among the guys did not. And so it grew to become a bit of little bit of a, like, wait a minute, what is going on on right here? You realize? And so there was a bit of little bit of a chasm opening inside the band.”
Nonetheless, it wasn’t till 2023 that factor actually began to come back aside.
Kevin Cronin Insists He Has ‘No Ailing Emotions’ In the direction of Bruce Corridor
“I had been engaged on a presentation for the band, for a Las Vegas residency, which needs to be totally different than what you do on tour,” Cronin defined. “So the thought was to carry out the whole Hello Infidelity report throughout with an enormous audio visible presentation.”
When bassist Bruce Corridor injured his again earlier than the residency’s begin, it threw a wrench in REO Speedwagon’s plans.
“When Bruce damage himself, it was per week earlier than we had been purported to open in Vegas,” Cronin recalled. “And I put a 12 months of labor into this and folks purchase tickets from all around the world to come back in for a residency. And so I did not wish to lose the residency. And I stated, ‘Bruce, you have to go house, maintain your self.’”
Even with out Corridor, Cronin was insistent that the residency would proceed as deliberate. “I simply was, if there is a strategy to salvage this factor, I will salvage it.”
READ MORE: How REO Speedwagon Began a New Chapter With ‘Hello Infidelity’
Cronin recruited Elton John’s bassist Matt Bissonette to fill in through the residency. The singer felt a “new vitality” inside the band throughout these reveals, nevertheless it additionally splintered the connection with Corridor.
“I like Bruce and I feel he would possibly really feel like I used to be out to get him,” Cronin conceded. “I’ve heard that from folks, that there is a feeling there and it is simply not the case in any respect. I maintain no sick emotions towards him.”
Although Cronin felt it was his job to “hold REO Speedwagon transferring ahead,” the rift with Corridor was an excessive amount of to deal with. “It simply grew to become an inconceivable scenario.”
What’s Taking place With REO Speedwagon Now?
REO Speedwagon formally ceased touring on Jan. 1, 2025. Cronin has continued to carry out the group’s hits together with his solo band, and the basic REO lineup (minus the late Gary Richrath), reunited in September 2025 for a particular efficiency alongside the College of Illinois Marching Illini. Nonetheless, there aren’t any plans for an official REO Speedwagon reunion.
“I believed that REO Speedwagon would experience into the barn [together],” Cronin admitted, reflecting upon the group’s historical past. “We’d all retire concurrently pals, the crew can be with us… It simply did not, it did not work out that means.”
REO Speedwagon Albums Ranked
REO Speedwagon’s catalog and profession have been marked by dizzying highs and massive setbacks. This is a ranked look again.
Gallery Credit score: Nick DeRiso
