Seasoned in the Art of Rock n’ Roll

            If Kevin Cronin, lead singer of the band REO Speedwagon, had to choose a motto that best represented his bands purpose it would be “Roll with the Changes.” REO Speedwagon has been doing just that prior to the release of their first album in 1971. Most bands would sever a limb to be able to last over thirty years, and those who have achieved this milestone in audio history are few and far between. Although this band was living the rock ‘n’ roll  dream ten years before I was born, it is clear this group of men love what they do and continue to have a burning passion for playing music. In Kevin Cronin’s case writing songs has and always will be his forte, and the origin of his love for performing.

 REO Speedwagon 2 copy.jpg           As a culmination of all their experiences since the new millennium REO Speedwagon has released their latest studio album entitled Find Your Own Way Home. This is a long awaited event especially for their most loyal Speedwagon fans as it has been the only new release in eleven years since 1996’s Building the Bridge. For those not akin to the era in which REO Speedwagon flourished, know nothing about their genre, or even know nothing about the band itself there are five members. Kevin Cronin is lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Bruce Hall is on bass guitar. Neal Doughtry plays keyboards. Dave Amato is at the helm, playing lead guitar and Bryan Hitt is the band’s rhythmic backbone on the drums.  

            REO Speedwagon came onto the scene at a funky time. Although, at the time they were out of the vein as far as style goes, it was not long until they helped spread the soaring, whimsical, feel good, ballads of the Eighties. However, their most popular songs such as “Can’t Fight This Feelin’” and “Keep on Lovin’ You” achieved the highest status on the charts it is unfair just to classify the guys of REO Speedwagon as a machine cranking out synthetic love songs. They did and still have a style unique to their time and place.

            In the start of the new millennium REO embarked on a nationwide tour with their Midwestern counterparts Styx. The tour sold out stadiums all over the U.S. and proved to be an overall sensation. Riding high wave of success, REO suddenly descended into a deep trough as did most of the country following the catastrophic events of Sept. 11th, 2001. In response both bands continued touring, and put in even more effort than they were before to raise proceeds to benefit families who had lost a loved one that day. To be a little more specific, those members of the New York Port Authority Police who sacrificed their lives while serving their fellow Americans. After that, the band toured non-stop for two years.

            Towards the end of the bands philanthropic duties, they decided to explore “small town America.” This was a path the band had no taken in a long while. Once again they teamed up with their past rivals – Styx – and added the nostalgic rockers of Journey to the bill for a musical entourage entitled the Main Event Tour. This trio seemed to work wonders and once again REO was playing sold out sREO Speedwagon.jpghows all over the U.S. while at the same time dazzling critics.

            In the middle of September, I got a chance to talk to the ringleader of REO Speedwagon Kevin Cronin to see if I could get a glimpse into the inner workings of his creative mind, as well as discovering what makes the rest of his band such a persevering force in music. Quickly I found out that Cronin puts himself in the passenger’s seat as far as the music goes but writes a majority of the band’s lyrics. Cronin said has a very strong connection with most every song in REO Speedwagon’s catalogue and that nothing empowers him more than seeing fans singing the words he wrote.

            Cronin’s musical inspiration came from a variety of rock ‘n’ roll royalty. The Beatles, The Byrds, Elton John, and Crosby, Stills and Nash all melded together to form Cronin’s style in the band. When I asked what specific moment called him to music he identified it as when The Beatles played on the Ed Sullivan Show when he knew exactly why he got his first guitar. Speaking of youth, Cronin said their band has seen an enlarging fan base of young people at their shows and seemed genuinely grateful and surprised by it. When asked what advice he would give to an aspiring young musician Cronin simply said, “Get out there and play.”

            On a contemporary note, Cronin said he believes music today should be seen as a moment to embrace and to be a part of, but he also believes the process of becoming a well-known artist in the past was much more organic. Most importantly, I asked Cronin what he thinks of artists who convey strong political opinions, as it has been a popular trend in the new millennium. He said if they feel that passionately about something they should go for it but then quickly added he would want to see a musician talk politics just as much as he would want to see a politician play and sing onstage.

            Passion is what Cronin and his band are in a surplus supply of when it comes to their music. I believe this is one of the integral reasons why REO Speedwagon has gone so long without a hiatus. Make sure to clear your schedule to see this passion first-hand at The Centre in Evansville, Indiana on Saturday, October 25th at 8 p.m. Tickets are available now. These guys have refreshing mentality on music and even have the organizational skills to plan family time as well! Well, I say keep the tunes comin’guys, and I treasure the fact that I will never see a Cronin for President sign anytime soon.  

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