Kevin Cronin presses on as REO Speedwagon dissolves and a new era begins
Kevin Cronin, the long-time frontman who has been weathering the storms of REO Speedwagon for roughly five decades, is navigating a bold new chapter after the band announced its dissolution in September 2024. The decision came after a 2-1 vote among band owners Cronin, Neal Doughty (the founding keyboardist who had retired from touring in 2023), and Bruce Hall (the bassist since 1977 who took a leave of absence for back surgery at the end of 2023). The band’s statement cited irreconcilable differences as the catalyst for ending the collective and leaving Cronin to continue performing under a familiar banner—only now as the Kevin Cronin Band.
Cronin, 73, speaks from his California home about the difficult reality: if fans want the REO Speedwagon experience, they’ll still get it—just under a rebranded name. “REO Speedwagon at this point is a three-person partnership…and I have one vote,” he notes. “If I get outvoted, then I have to accept that, whether I like it or not. It’s not easy going out as the Kevin Cronin Band, but what fans come for are the songs, the energy, and the connection.”
Despite the friction and the emotional toll, Cronin is steadfast that the core of the live show remains intact. He points to the band’s enduring catalog—hits such as Roll With the Changes, Time For Me to Fly, Keep On Loving You, and Can’t Fight This Feeling—as the heart of the REO Speedwagon experience. He argues that the Kevin Cronin Band will still deliver “the REO experience,” and audiences have responded with the same enthusiasm as in past years.
The dissolution didn’t end Cronin’s road with the other longtime members entirely. There has been public friction, especially with Hall, who has publicly stated that he was cleared by a doctor to perform but felt he couldn’t meet the level fans expect. Cronin, for his part, maintains that 2024’s version of REO felt exhilarating and inspiring and that Hall could have appeared as a guest, but not as a full-time return to the lineup. The sides did not come together for a June alumni reunion show in Champaign, Illinois, which featured former members including drummer Alan Gratzer and original vocalist Terry Luttrell; Luttrell’s post-show automobile accident drew attention to the gathering and Cronin’s later reflections on the event.
Still, Cronin hasn’t shut the door on the idea of a broader reunion someday. He acknowledges the appeal of bringing everyone who has ever been part of REO Speedwagon together for a big, celebratory moment, even if that day isn’t imminent. “At some point down the road when I’m ready to really say goodbye, that might be a time where I would be open to a reunion of every living person who’s ever been a member of REO Speedwagon and just have a big blowout,” he says. For now, his focus is on the current tour and what he’s calling the Brotherhood of Rock Tour, which pairs him with Styx and Don Felder of the Eagles.
The tour carries emotional weight for Cronin. The initial plan was for REO Speedwagon to join the Brotherhood of Rock Tour, and Cronin expresses gratitude toward Styx for carrying the baton during this transition. He is performing REO’s Diamond-certified 1980 album Hi Infidelity in its entirety along with other REO hits, a nod to the band’s enduring legacy and a promise to fans that the core repertoire remains intact.
As for the future of the Kevin Cronin Band, Cronin is honest about its provisional nature. He has reassigned or released several crew members—guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt (who have been with him for decades), keyboardist Derek Hilland, and bassist Matt Bissonette—to work on other projects and limit the band’s appearances after the current tour. He notes that REO Speedwagon could still book dates in autumn or winter, but not under the Kevin Cronin Band, underscoring the new reality: the band’s identity is changing, and so too is its schedule.
Cronin isn’t shying away from work. He’s already plotting new music, including a collaboration with Richard Marx, and is continuing work on a memoir that has taken years to shape. He frames the period as an opportunity to redefine goals after a lifetime of touring. “The hard part is, for the past 50 years, at the end of each tour I’m used to already know what the next tour’s going to be,” he says. “At the end of this tour it’ll be the first time that I’m not in that situation, that I don’t have a real, concrete goal that I’m working towards.” Yet the guitar remains his lifelong companion, and his resolve to make music—whether solo, with the band, or in other formats—appears unwavering.
Fans who attend the Brotherhood of Rock Tour stop at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls on Wednesday, August 20, will still hear the familiar REO blend Cronin has shaped since joining the band in the 1970s. The show, billed as a night with Styx and Don Felder, promises a vibrant fusion of classic rock staples, deep cuts, and a sense of shared history among veteran rock acts who have defined generations of audiences.
What this means for fans is clear: the music endures. Cronin’s band will continue to deliver the songs that defined an era, even if the name on the marquee has shifted. For Cronin, the path forward might include occasional band dates, private and charity events, and new creative projects that carry the spirit of REO Speedwagon into a new phase.
Value-adding note:
– The story underscores how veteran acts navigate leadership splits and brand identity while preserving fan appeal. It also highlights the tension between fan expectations and the realities of aging bands, where membership, health, and personal differences can reshape a legacy.
– For readers, the article spotlights specific tour dates and the continued relevance of classic hits, offering a direct link to upcoming live experiences and potential future reunions.
Summary: Kevin Cronin leads a reimagined chapter as REO Speedwagon dissolves, with Cronin continuing to perform under the Kevin Cronin Band while preserving the classic catalog that fans love. The Brotherhood of Rock Tour with Styx and Don Felder keeps the music alive, even as internal differences reshape the band’s future. Cronin remains committed to new music and a memoir as he looks ahead to a post-touring landscape, hopeful that reunions may surface in the future. A strong reminder that the music lives on, even as the lineup and branding evolve.