Bruce Hall of REO Speedwagon recently addressed fan questions about why the band can’t reunite and continue touring. He shared his perspective in a post on Facebook.
The bassist’s comments came after he shared photos from a rare REO Speedwagon reunion with Kevin Cronin at a charity event. The event raised over $50,000 for Moffitt Cancer Center.
“What great memories we have of this awesome show! While I sure wish we never stopped touring (and miss you all terribly), this was truly healing and provided us a beautiful opportunity to say goodbye,” Hall wrote. “Raising over $50,000 for Moffitt Cancer Center was the cherry on top.”
A fan questioned why the band members couldn’t continue playing together. The fan asked what the issue was if Hall and Kevin Cronin were still able to perform full sets multiple times a week. Hall provided a direct response.
“Great question,” Hall responded. “Neal, Alan and I would love to…but we’d need Kevin to agree.”
The exchange reveals the internal dynamics preventing a full REO Speedwagon reunion. This occurs despite the apparent willingness of most band members to continue touring.
Hall’s comments provide insight into the ongoing tensions that have affected the legendary rock band in recent years. The situation reflects deeper issues that have prevented the classic lineup from maintaining their touring schedule.
Society of Rock reported that REO Speedwagon ceased touring under its name at the end of 2024 due to “irreconcilable differences” between vocalist Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall. Following the split, Cronin has continued performing with the core lineup under the name Kevin Cronin Band. He described the transition as complicated while still expressing hope for eventual reconciliation.
Despite these challenges, the band members have participated in limited reunion appearances that have shown promise for healing old wounds. In September 2025, Cronin, Hall, keyboardist Neal Doughty, and drummer Alan Gratzer served as grand marshals for the Illinois Homecoming Parade in Champaign. They performed with the University of Illinois Marching Illini at a football halftime show. Cronin noted that the experience felt natural and helped override past issues, proving their shared musical history endures.
More recently, Ultimate Classic Rock noted that the six remaining members reunited in March 2026 for a surprise performance at the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s tribute to late guitarist Gary Richrath. This was followed by a private event at the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum. Hall described the reunion as “awesome,” with Gary’s son Eric joining the performance. He emphasized that “good things are happening.”
The Peoria reunion was particularly significant because all invited members agreed to participate immediately. This signaled that relations between the band members may be mending. However, Cronin remains cautious about making definitive plans for the future, stating, “I can’t press the river. I gotta just see what happens.” This leaves a full REO Speedwagon revival uncertain despite the positive recent developments.
