Bruce Hall of REO Speedwagon recently responded to fan suggestions about reuniting the band, as reported on Bruce Hall’s Facebook page.. This came following Kevin Cronin’s admission about ticket sale challenges during his solo tour.
A REO Speedwagon fan reached out to Hall with a suggestion about the band’s future. The fan referenced Cronin’s recent struggles with solo performances.
“I hear Kevin is having a hard time on his own. Maybe he will come to his senses, and you, Neal, and hopefully Allen can send REO Speedwagon out on an epic tour!” the fan wrote.
Hall’s response was brief but hopeful.
“That’s our hope!!!” Hall replied.
The exchange comes after Kevin Cronin previously opened up about the challenges of touring without the REO Speedwagon name and brand recognition.
“This tour has been a delight, but not without its challenges,” Cronin had stated. “It’s not easy going out as the Kevin Cronin Band, I will tell you. You can’t overestimate the power of the name REO Speedwagon and that ubiquitous, winged logo. They mean a lot to people.”
“I can sit here and say that the Kevin Cronin band is doing the same thing until I’m blue in the face, but when people see the Kevin Cronin Band, there’s a question – ‘I wonder what this is gonna be?’ – whereas if you see REO Speedwagon and the winged logo on the bill, it’s ‘I know what that is,'” he continued.
Last year, Cronin announced he would not tour under the REO Speedwagon name due to irreconcilable differences with Hall. He later acknowledged the difficulties of selling tickets during his solo tour that included performances with Styx.
The ongoing tensions between the band members have taken a more public turn with recent developments surrounding the band’s future.
The Music Universe reported that REO Speedwagon announced a one-off reunion concert scheduled for June 14, 2025, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. The event features founding members Neal Doughty, Bruce Hall, and several early bandmates—but notably excludes Kevin Cronin. Hall described the event as a “proper goodbye.” Proceeds will benefit the REO Speedwagon Foundation supporting rare genitourinary cancer research at Moffitt Cancer Center.
The exclusion of Cronin from this reunion event has added another layer to the band’s internal discord. Vinyl Me Please noted that Kevin Cronin expressed hurt over his exclusion from the reunion. He cited a scheduling conflict with his own Styx tour on the same date and dismissed rumors that he declined an invitation.
“I was hurt by it,” Cronin stated regarding his exclusion from the reunion concert. He clarified that the date conflict was legitimate and not a deliberate snub.
This public airing of grievances highlights the ongoing internal discord that continues to impact the band’s legacy and future plans. The situation underscores the challenges facing classic rock bands when personal and professional relationships deteriorate. This affects not only the musicians involved but also their dedicated fanbase who hope for reconciliation.
