CHAMPAIGN Ill. (Chambana Today) — A little over a week after members of REO Speedwagon made their way back home, where it all began, fans are still asking if the band might still re-unite in brotherhood, one last time together for a farewell tour.
When original founding members, Neal Doughty and Alan Gratzer joined together Homecoming weekend at the U of I with Champaign native and long tenured bassist Bruce Hall and singer Kevin Cronin for a performance with the Marching Illini for a Homecoming Halftime show and parade, fans were buzzing with excitement hoping the band would find a way to settle differences and possibly tour together one last time.
Things became rocky for the band a few years ago, after Hall had back surgery and was later cleared to go back on tour by his doctors. Cronin, lead singer, refused to let Hall back in to play, stating that he felt Hall’s posture wasn’t at a level that he thought fans would expect. That led to legalities in which Hall, Cronin and Doughty, each having one third ownership in the band, faced a two-to-one decision to officially stop touring and retire the REO name from being used. The band as it were, officially stopped touring in January this year.
In June, Hall along with Gratzer and Doughty held a Legacy show at State Farm Center, honoring original members of REO and fans with a retrospect Thank You show. Cronin did not appear due to other commitments. Hall and Cronin hadn’t spoke for more than a year and a half, until they met up for Homecoming.
Band members and fans alike, were hoping that a reconciliation would happen.
Bruce Hall said, after their halftime performance, that he had such a great, memorable time with his fellow bandmates and had hoped for a reconciliation with Cronin. An immediate answer didn’t come, but Hall is remaining optimistic about leaving the door open for the future of the band.
“It’s too early to tell right now,” Hall said warily. “It’s one of those things, where we just have to wait and see from here.” He emphasized that this is something that’s not likely not going to happen overnight.
Hall mentioned that they got along well during their time together, as they broke the ice, but nothing as far as getting the band back together was really discussed during Homecoming weekend. “We will just have to wait and see what happens,” Hall said.
Hall said that just prior to coming back to Champaign, he had spoken to REO founders, Doughty who was still with the band until February 2023, and Gratzer, who left the band in 1988, and discussed the possibility of a Farewell tour if they found that Cronin would be amenable to that idea. They all agreed that they would be interested, as long as Cronin was too, but for now, fans still patiently wait to see what happens next.
During Homecoming weekend, Cronin said during their performance with the Marching Illini, “We are all better, when we work together,” giving fans more hope that the band will reunite one last time for a final tour. He also mentioned that with them all be together after such a long time, was very special. He also said in a recent interview that “What REO Speedwagon has always stood for is that they always Ride The Storm Out, we Roll With the Changes, we Keep Pushin’…We’re a positive energy source and that’s what the institution of REO Speedwagon has always stood for,” Cronin said.
He continued by saying “I think that this sends a message to the fans, that you overcome whatever you’ve got to overcome, in the service of them, the fans.”
Neal Doughty also said that the future is unpredictable to see what might happen. “You just never know,” he said. Gratzer agreed, saying, “One never knows what’s in the future.”
So, for now, fans might have to patiently wait a little longer to see if the Wagon keeps on Rollin’ to get Back on the Road Again.
