By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-23 20:16:48 | Updated at 2024-12-26 12:42:08
2 days ago
One of rock music's most legendary bands took the stage together for the last time on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
This comes months after REO Speedwagon decided to call it quits after 57 years together, citing 'irreconcilable differences.'
The band, who lost guitarist Gary Richrath in 2015, shared the sad news with their fans on their website in September.
'It is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1, 2025,' they reported.
'Neal, Kevin and Bruce thank their fans for all their years of loyal support and for giving back to the band such wonderful memories that will remain with each of them forever.'
During their final show at the Venetian Theater, lead vocalist Kevin Cronin, 73, told the audience, 'My chance meeting with Gary Richrath back in 1972 took me from the clubs of the folk scene of Chicago to the greatest venues of the world - Red Rocks in Colorado. The Los Angeles Forum.
'The Budokan Arena in Tokyo. Madison Square Garden. The Chicago Stadium. The Houston Astrodome. The New Orleans Superdome on back-to-back nights. Here, in the Venetian Theater, doing this amazing show with you guys.'
REO Speedwagon will rock together no more. After 57 years together, the band had called it quits and performed their final show in Las Vegas Saturday night (Pictured in Scottsdale, AZ December 15)
The rocker went on to thank families and the crew, before turning to his bandmates.
'I want to pay tribute to the co-founders and only real original members of REO Speedwagon, Alan Gratzer and Neil Doughty' he said.
He went on to recognize 'the other original members of the band, Gregg Philbin and Terry Latrell, and of course my close partner in crime, in art, in everything, the late great Gary Richrath,' as well as newer members Mike Murphy, Bruce Hall, Dave Amato and Brian Hit.
Gratzer, a drummer, and Doughty, a pianist, met when they were both students at the University of Chicago in Champaign, IL in 1967.
After several incarnations over the years, Gratzer, Doughty, Terry Luttrell, Gregg Philbin and Gary Richrath signed with Epic Records and released their first album, R.E.O. Speedwagon in 1971.
Luttrell left the band after the first disc, joining another group, Starcastle, and was replaced by Cronin for their second album R.E.O./T.W.O.
Cronin quit while recording their third album, 1973's Ridin' the Storm Out, due to internal conflicts, but returned in 1976.
The rockers released their first live album, Live: You Get What You Play For in 1977, which was certified platinum.
During their final show, lead vocalist Kevin Cronin, 73, thanked his fellow bandmates with whom he had worked for nearly six decades
Cronin (center) joined the group as vocalist in 1972. The band had great success in the 1980s with hits such as Keep On Lovin' You and Take It On The Run (Pictured l-r with Bruce hall, Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer and Neal Doughty in Detroit in December 1985)
Philbin left that same year, and was replaced by Bruce Hall.
In 1980, the band released Hi Infidelity, which increased their exposure to the pop market with the hits Keep On Lovin' You, Take It On The Run, In Your Letter and Don't Let Him Go.
The record spent 15 weeks at the top of Billboard's 200 chart and sold more than 10 million copies.
Their 1984 album, Wheels Are Turnin' introduced fans to the chart topper Can't Fight This Feelingm along with hit singles I Do Wanna Know and One Lonely Night.
After losing their contract with Epic Records in the 1990s, the band released their own self-financed album Find Your Way Home in 2007 and a holiday album, Not So Silent Night... Christmas with REO Speedwagon, in 2009 (Pictured in May 2007)
It was internal conflicts between Cronin and guitarist Bruce Hall that lead to the 'irreconcilable differences' that resulted in the band's break up (Pictured in Chicago in February 1981)
Cronin will continue sharing the band's music with the world. He will join Styx and former Eagles guitarist Don Felder on the Brotherhood Of Rock tour beginning in May 2025 (Pictured in Scottsdale, AZ on December 15)
Internal turmoil and poor record sales in 1990s hurt the band's success and they lost their contract with Epic Records, but the company cashed in on the success of past hits, repackaging the albums with updated artwork and design.
The band had continued to travel around performing their classic hits and released their own self-financed album, Find Your Way Home in 2007 and a holiday album, Not So Silent Night... Christmas with REO Speedwagon, in 2009.
The internal struggles between the band member continued, and the majority determined it was time to call it a day, with disagreements between Hall, who had been sidelined by back surgery, and Cronin resulting in the band's swan song.
After nearly six decades on the road, REO Speedwagon will no longer perform as a group, but Cronin isn't done with performing. He will join Styx and former Eagles guitarist Don Felder on the Brotherhood Of Rock tour beginning in May 2025.
