REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin is facing pushback from fans after sharing details of a recent all-star performance. The singer’s update honored REO Speedwagon’s legacy and his late bandmate Gary Richrath, but it also reignited fan calls for a full band reunion.
Cronin described joining Kings of Chaos for a gig in Palm Desert, performing alongside a lineup of veteran rock musicians and paying tribute to Richrath’s guitar work.
“Hi Friends, so, the weekend after we returned from Copenhagen, I sped off to Palm Desert for a gig with my buddies the Kings of Chaos, featuring an all-star band of Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) and Phil X (Bon Jovi, Triumph) on guitars, and Matt ‘King’ Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, the Cult) on drums,” Kevin Cronin said.
He went on to describe the guest performers and reflected on how Richrath might have felt about the tribute.
“The night’s guest singers were Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Jack Blades (Night Ranger), Richie Sambora, and me, each playing four of our hits and singing backgrounds on each other’s songs! What a treat to hear my songs performed by this powerhouse band,” Cronin continued. “I know Gary Richrath would be honored by Steve Stevens and Phil X putting their spin on those unique Richrath harmony guitar parts in ‘Take it on the Run’ and ‘Roll with the Changes.'”
Cronin also noted that a fan-shot video of the show had reached him and was shared in an edited form.
“This fan video found its way to me … it is raw and unsweetened, the way rock and roll is meant to be. We shortened it a bit to fit in the Facebook space. Much love,” Cronin said.
The post drew a strong reaction from longtime REO Speedwagon fans in the comments section. One fan wrote, “Let’s stop the nonsense Kevin, and put the band back together. How about the new guys and bring back the old members for a partial part of the show. It may work, everyone makes money, and you all make the long time fans happy. It will work, put the egos aside for the REO fans and Legacy of the band.” Another commented, “Gary would be honored if you did what fans are begging you to do and got together with Neal, Alan, and Bruce.” A third fan simply stated, “Not even close to the real thing. Get the band back together.”
The fan backlash comes against a broader backdrop of REO Speedwagon’s fractured history, one that stretches back decades and continues to shape how the band’s legacy is honored today.
Gary Richrath departed REO Speedwagon in 1989 following years of musical differences and struggles with alcoholism, ending nearly two decades as the band’s lead guitarist and chief songwriter. He passed away on September 13, 2015, at the age of 65. Cronin publicly confirmed the news at the time and later described the loss as the moment the band lost “the original soul of REO Speedwagon.”
The Kings of Chaos performance in Palm Desert was part of a broader run for the supergroup. The act also played Rancho Mirage, California, with Cronin sharing the bill alongside Jack Blades, Glenn Hughes, Steve Stevens, Matt Sorum, and both the former and current Bon Jovi guitarists, Richie Sambora and Phil X.
Meanwhile, REO Speedwagon’s classic lineup remains far from reunited on a permanent basis. The band officially stopped touring at the end of 2024. No formal tour or residency involving the original members has been announced since.
Cronin, Neal Doughty, Bruce Hall, and Alan Gratzer did briefly reunite in March 2026. The reunion was only to mark the opening of an exhibit honoring Richrath at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, not to relaunch a tour.
Cronin has since acknowledged that performing under his own name, rather than the REO Speedwagon banner, has proven to be a tougher sell for fans. He continues to headline shows with his own backing band, featuring longtime collaborators Dave Amato, Bryan Hitt, Derek Hilland, and Matt Bissonette.
That reality may help explain why fans continue pressing for a true reunion each time Cronin appears with other musicians instead of his original bandmates.
