After Kevin Cronin and the rest of the REO Speedwagon retired, the band members are continuing their journey with a new band. However, Bruce Hall also has some similar plans.
The rocker took to Facebook to celebrate the new year with a message and share his favorite moments with the band. “2024 sure blindsided our family, but I’ll be forever grateful to have had this most amazing ride on the Speedwagon! Here’s one of my favorite memories. All the families together…a true Brotherhood amongst the band. Don’t ever think that this wasn’t real. Don’t stop loving the music we created. Without our fans, none of this would’ve been possible. I love each and everyone of you. Happy New Year,” he wrote in the caption of his post.
When music journalist Mitch Lafon asked the rocker about the possibility of forming another REO and touring without Cronin, Hall responded with, “Mitch, I don’t want to honestly. REO is our band and Kevin should always be our lead singer. Fans deserve the real deal, not another tribute band.”
Cronin recently explained the band’s decision to retire and continue the live shows under a different name: “The name REO Speedwagon is being retired… the music and the spirit of REO lives on through the hard work and dedication of Dave Amato, Bryan Hitt, Derek Hilland, Matt Bissonette, and me.”
REO Speedwagon decided to stop touring due to a disagreement about bassist Bruce Hall’s return after his back surgery in November. Matt Bissonette filled in for him in 2024.
Hall recently shared in another Facebook comment that no one forced Cronin to rebrand and explained why Cronin left the band. “Get the facts straight please. He did not found this band. No one forced him to rebrand. He decided he wanted to tour with the sub bassist instead of me. The other two owners said ‘no’ and I was scheduled to return in 2025…so he quit. He and he alone did this. I wanted nothing more than to continue to tour after my scheduled, successful back surgery. I’ve been cleared to play since January,” he said.
The same band lineup continues to tour this year, billed as Kevin Cronin.
