Since the retirement of REO Speedwagon, fans have been requesting the members to talk things out and retire the band ‘properly.’ Kevin Cronin has recently responded to these requests on his Facebook comments section.
“Wish you would meet with Bruce Hall of REO Speedwagon and talk things out. This isn’t the right way to retire REO. The fans deserve better,” a user wrote under one of Cronin’s recent posts.
The singer agreed with the user but asked them not to bring it up again. “I agree that the fans deserve the nothing but the best effort from any artist they buy a ticket to see. That is what I have always striven for with REO Speedwagon. As to a farewell tour … I am simply not ready to say farewell, and I can’t control the retirement schedules of others. I have spoken to this question several times, so I would respectfully ask that you take these sentiments elsewhere.”
REO Speedwagon played their final show under the band’s name on December 22. The 15-song setlist covered their entire 1980s, including the ‘Hi Infidelity,’ featuring the hit ‘Keep On Loving You.’ The band ended their career with an encore performance of ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’ and ‘Roll With the Changes.’
The final shows have taken place amid public tension, with ‘irreconcilable differences’ between Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall causing Hall to miss the performances.
However, Speedwagon continues now under a new name, billed Kevin Cronin. “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,” Cronin earlier responded to a fan.
He added that his name will now represent the new phase for the band, and reassured fans that the band is sticking together. “My name now represents this awesome band, crew, and organization… all of whom are sticking together through this transition and into 2025 and beyond.” He ended his message by thanking fans for their support as they move into the future of their music journey.
The band will tour this year on the Brotherhood of Rock tour with Styx. The tour starts on May 28 and wraps up on August 24.
