REO Speedwagon bassist Bruce Hall recently discussed the possibility of a band reunion in an interview shared on Harmless Dave. He addressed whether the band could reunite following their September performance together.
Hall explained that the band members came together for a University of Illinois halftime show in September. They performed alongside the marching band, and this reunion sparked conversations among the remaining members about organizing a proper farewell tour for their fans.
“So, anyway, University of Illinois, then that went over really well, that show. And they invited us to come back in September to play at the halftime show,” Hall said. “We got to play with the marching band which was so much fun. It was cool. I mean, we’ve never done anything like that before in our whole career.”
The successful performance led to discussions about a more formal reunion. Hall emphasized that the band hadn’t been together as a complete unit in decades, making the experience significant for all involved.
“And Kevin made it for that. So, he came back and we kind of got along,” Hall continued. “It was nice to be back together. And that kind of got everybody thinking, well, Alan especially and myself and well, Neil was kind of retired. Alan hadn’t been in the band for 30 years, but we were thinking, wouldn’t it be nice to go out and say goodbye to the fans the proper way, the right way, and give them closure and give us some closure, too.”
Hall acknowledged uncertainty about whether the reunion will materialize. He cited difficulty in securing Kevin Cronin’s commitment to the project.
“I can’t seem to get Kevin’s answer to it,” Hall said. “I don’t know what to say about it. I mean, I’m not sure if it’ll work or if it’s going to happen or not, but I think the fans deserve it. I would love to see them, you know, just it does with the work we put together and the years we were out there and just to have it fall apart at the end, it feels like we just drove it off a cliff. I would like to be able to go off and at least say thank you to everybody.”
The September 2025 reunion at the University of Illinois represents a significant milestone for the legendary rock band. Ultimate Classic Rock reported that the September 27, 2025 halftime show marked the first time all four classic lineup members—Kevin Cronin, Bruce Hall, Neal Doughty, and Alan Gratzer—had shared a stage together since December 31, 1988. This nearly four-decade gap underscores the emotional weight of their reunion performance with the Marching Illini.
The timing of this reunion is particularly poignant given the band’s recent history. Consequence noted that REO Speedwagon announced in September 2024 they would cease touring due to “irreconcilable differences” between Cronin and Hall. Hall’s back surgery and Doughty’s retirement from touring contributed to this decision. The December 21, 2024, Las Vegas show was billed as their final performance under the REO Speedwagon name, making the September 2025 University of Illinois appearance all the more unexpected and meaningful.
Tensions between the band members have persisted despite the successful reunion event. AXS revealed that earlier in 2025, a retrospective concert in Champaign featured Hall, Doughty, Gratzer, and other former members. Cronin was excluded due to scheduling conflicts with his ongoing “Brotherhood of Rock” tour with Styx and Don Felder. The conflicting commitments and past disagreements highlight the complexity of orchestrating a full reunion.
The path to a complete REO Speedwagon reunion remains uncertain looking forward. While the September 2025 University of Illinois performance demonstrated that the classic lineup could still perform together, no official announcement of a full-scale reunion tour or further performances has been made. Hall’s recent comments suggest he remains hopeful about giving fans proper closure. However, securing Cronin’s full commitment to such an endeavor continues to be the primary obstacle.
