Kevin Cronin Responds to REO Speedwagon Reunion Exclusion: ‘Deeply Disturbed And Hurt'
Cronin, who has been touring with his own Kevin Cronin Band, addressed a fan on Facebook who noted the singer's absence from REO Speedwagon's forthcoming concert in Champaign, Illinois on June 14, responding that organizers of the event could have picked a date when many of the band's former members were readily available to attend.
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'Instead they chose June 14, 2025, a date where it was public knowledge that I was previously committed to perform with Styx and Kevin Cronin Band in Bend, Oregon,' Cronin wrote. 'Bottom line, I am being asked to participate in an event on a date when I can't possibly be there in-person. And then being falsely accused of turning down the invitation. I am deeply disturbed and hurt by all of this.
'After all I have done to help build the legacy of REO Speedwagon, I feel I have earned and deserve to be included in any event honoring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded.'
Cronin joined REO Speedwagon in early 1972, taking over from Terry Luttrell who reportedly left due to personal issues with guitarist Gary Richrath. Though Cronin was himself briefly replaced by Mike Murphy the following year, he returned in 1976 and remained in the band until their end, performing on tracks such as their two Hot 100 chart-toppers 'Keep On Loving You' and 'Can't Fight This Feeling.'
In late 2024, REO Speedwagon announced that they would cease touring as of Jan. 1, 2025. In a note shared to fans, the group explained that bassist Bruce Hall had not recovered sufficiently from previous back surgery and his inability to tour led to 'irreconcilable differences' between Hall and Cronin.
REO Speedwagon played their final live performance on Dec. 21 at The Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas, but in March announced they would be playing a special one-off show at the State Farm Center in their hometown of Champaign, Illinois on June 14. Officially titled as an event 'Honoring the Legacy of REO Speedwagon,' the show is described as a 'concert retrospective featuring special guests & former members.'
Indeed, Hall and Neal Doughty from the final REO Speedwagon lineup are confirmed to attend, as are previous vocalists Luttrell and Murphy. Founding drummer Alan Gratzer and 1969 guitarist Steve Scorfina are also listed as appearing, while a special tribute will be held to late members Gary Richrath and Gregg Philbin.
In his social media comment, Cronin also claimed that the remaining members of the band's final lineup – who currently perform alongside him in the Kevin Cronin Band – weren't given the option of appearing at the forthcoming show. '35-year REO veterans Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt were not even shown the respect of being invited to the Champaign event,' he added.
Cronin spoke to Billboard ahead of REO Speedwagon's final show in December, explaining that the circumstances behind the band's ending were less than ideal, and admitted there is still a level of acrimony between he and Hall. 'It's kind of like a divorce of sorts,' he explained, 'and during a divorce things get a little muddy and things get a little sticky. I wish it could've been more amicable, but the minute attorneys get involved it just changes the atmosphere of things.'
'I think it's unfortunate that some fans were kind of brought into something that I really feel should've been kept as a private, personal matter,' he continued. 'It's never thrilling when things are said that are inaccurate and hurtful. My hope is that there will come a time where the dust will have settled. My intention is to ask forgiveness for anything that I've done or any hurt that I have caused Bruce. I don't like to have grudges with people. I like to forgive and be forgiven.'
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