Kevin Cronin recently addressed the circumstances surrounding REO Speedwagon’s decision to retire from touring and clarified his relationship with bassist Bruce Hall. He shared his perspective in an interview on The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan.
The REO Speedwagon frontman explained the challenges the band faced after reuniting post-pandemic. He described how an injury to Hall ultimately led to significant changes within the group.
“When REO Speedwagon got back together after the pandemic, I was psyched. And some of the guys in the band shared that excitement, and some of the guys didn’t. And so it became a little bit of a, like, wait a minute, what’s going on here? So there was a little bit of a chasm opening within the band. And then Bruce [Hall] hurt himself, our bass player Bruce, who was my sidekick,” Cronin said.
Cronin emphasized his close working relationship with Hall and the difficult timing of the bassist’s injury.
“Every side project that I ever did, Bruce was always part of it. And we were just simpatico. Musically, he was a Beatles guy, as I am. But Bruce hurt his back a long time ago. And I’ve been working on a presentation for the band for a Las Vegas residency. It has to be different than what you do on tour. So the idea was to perform the entire High Fidelity record all the way through with a massive audio visual presentation, different, very theatrical in a way, but still rock and roll,” he continued.
The singer described how Hall’s injury occurred just before their planned Las Vegas residency. This forced difficult decisions about the band’s future.
“But I put a lot of work into it with our content and lighting director, Paul Dexter. And when Bruce hurt himself, it was a week before we were supposed to open in Vegas. And I put a year of work into this. And people buy tickets from all over the world to come to the show for a residency. And so I didn’t want to lose the residency. And I said, Bruce, ‘You’ve got to go home and take care of yourself.’ And he did,” Cronin explained.
Cronin went on to describe how replacement bassist Matt Bissonette brought new energy to the band during this challenging period.
“And I just was, if there’s a way to salvage this thing, I’m going to salvage it. And it just so happened that Elton John had retired, and his bass player, who’s named Matt Bissonette, Gregg Bissonette’s brother, all friends of ours. And Matt came out, learned our entire set list overnight, came in with a stack of charts, read the charts for a couple of days, threw the charts away. And something happened in the band. And it just, and I was trying to lift the band. Now I felt the band lifting me,” he said.
The frontman concluded by addressing any misconceptions about his relationship with Hall and the circumstances that led to the band’s current situation.
“So that was kind of the scenario, because I love Bruce, and I think he might feel like I was out to get him. I’ve heard that from people, that there’s a feeling there, and it’s just not the case at all. I hold no ill feelings toward him. It’s just it just became an impossible situation where it’s always been my job, I felt, especially since Gary left, if I remember the day that it was, I was either going to go into a solo album or stick with REO Speedwagon,” Cronin stated.
The singer added, “And I was standing with John Berrick, and John said, well, if you’re going to end the band, I guess we gotta empty the lockers, sell the equipment. And it was like, it was like the ice water thing where they pour ice water on your head. I was just like, ‘Wait, what?’ That just blew my mind. And I thought at that moment, I haven’t really given this my all yet, you know? Because before it was Gary and I, and then the band, of course, Alan and Neil and Bruce were all part of it, but Gary and I were sitting in the front seat of the roller coaster, you know, and so I felt it was my job to continue to keep REO Speedwagon moving forward.”
“But there was never any there was never any preconceived notion on my part that I thought that REO Speedwagon would ride into the barn. We would all retire at the same time as friends. The crew would be with us,” Cronin said.
Cronin’s explanation comes as the band has officially concluded their touring career. This marks the end of an era for the classic rock group.
AOL reported that Bruce Hall has been absent from touring since November 2023 due to back surgery and was replaced with Matt Bissonette. The situation escalated when the band announced in September that they would stop touring in 2025 due to “irreconcilable differences” between Cronin and Hall. The cessation of touring became effective January 1, 2025.
The band’s final chapter represents the conclusion of a remarkable journey that began in the late 1960s. REO Speedwagon achieved massive commercial success throughout the 1980s with hits like “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Keep On Loving You.” They became one of the most recognizable arena rock acts of their generation.
Hall’s departure due to health issues and the subsequent internal conflicts highlight the challenges that veteran rock bands face as they navigate aging, health concerns, and creative differences. The replacement of a longtime member often creates dynamics that can fundamentally alter a band’s chemistry and working relationships.
The timing of these events occurred just as the band was preparing for what could have been a lucrative Las Vegas residency. This underscores the unpredictable nature of the music industry. Cronin’s year-long preparation for the High Fidelity album presentation demonstrates the significant investment and planning that goes into modern touring productions. This makes last-minute changes particularly challenging both financially and creatively.
