{{Short description|American rock band}} {{for|the vehicle|REO Speed Wagon}} {{Use American English|date=July 2016}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=January 2023}} {{Lead too short|date=October 2025}}}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = REO Speedwagon | image = REO Speedwagon (1982 Epic Press photo).jpg | image_upright = 1.2 | caption = REO Speedwagon in 1982. From left to right: Neal Doughty, Bruce Hall, Gary Richrath, Kevin Cronin and Alan Gratzer | background = group_or_band | origin = Champaign, Illinois, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Arena rock|pop rock|hard rock|AOR|blues rock (early)}} | works = Discography | years_active = {{hlist|1967–2024|2025|2026}} | label = {{hlist|Epic|Speedwagon|Sony/Legacy}} | website = {{URL|reospeedwagon.com}} | current_members = | past_members = * Neal Doughty * Alan Gratzer * Mike Blair * Joe Matt * Bob Cranover * Terry Luttrell * Joe McCabe * Gregg Philbin * Marty Shepard * Bill Fiorio * Steve Scorfina * Gary Richrath * Kevin Cronin * Mike Murphy * Bruce Hall * Graham Lear * Carla Day * Melanie Jackson * Miles Joseph * Dave Amato * Jesse Harms * Bryan Hitt * Elliott Crain (Kazoo) }}
'''REO Speedwagon''' (originally stylized as '''R.E.O. Speedwagon'''), or simply '''REO''', was an American rock band formed in Champaign, Illinois, in 1967. The band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Their best-selling album, ''Hi Infidelity'' (1980), contained four US Top 40 hits and sold more than 10 million copies.<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/hi-infidelity-mw0000191545 Hi Infidelity] AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2023.</ref>
REO Speedwagon sold more than 40 million records and charted thirteen Top 40 hits, including the number ones "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling". After sixteen studio albums, with Neal Doughty the only constant member, REO Speedwagon retired in December 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/boston-tour-without-tom-scholz/ |title=REO Speedwagon Played Final Show as REO Speedwagon |last=Avila |first=Daniela |date=December 23, 2024 |website=People.com |access-date=March 13, 2026}}</ref> The band has since made occasional one-off live appearances.<ref name="ucr 2025">{{cite web |last1=Wardlaw |first1=Matt |title=Watch Kevin Cronin and REO Speedwagon Reunite: Set List, Video |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/reo-speedwagon-reunion-2025/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=October 28, 2025 |date=September 29, 2025}}</ref><ref name="ucr 2026">{{cite web |last1=Wardlaw |first1=Matt |title=REO Speedwagon and Kevin Cronin Play Surprise Reunion Concert |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/reo-speedwagon-kevin-cronin-reunion-concert-2026/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=March 13, 2026 |date=March 9, 2026}}</ref>
==History== ===Formation=== [[File:REO half ton Speedwagon.jpeg|thumb|250px|Advertisement for an REO Speed Wagon]] In the fall of 1966, Neal Doughty was a junior at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, where he met fellow student Alan Gratzer. Doughty had learned some Beatles songs on his parents' piano, and Gratzer had been a drummer in local bands since high school. <ref name="mtv.com">{{cite web| url= http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/reo_speedwagon/artist.jhtml#bio | archive-url= https://archive.today/20130129041658/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/reo_speedwagon/artist.jhtml%23bio | url-status= dead | archive-date= January 29, 2013 |title=REO Speedwagon | New Music And Songs |website= MTV.com|access-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref><ref name=NG2017>{{cite news |url=http://www.news-gazette.com/section/answerbook/famous-residents-former-residents.html |title=Famous residents, former residents |newspaper=Champaign News-Gazette |date=January 15, 2017 |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116184358/http://www.news-gazette.com/section/answerbook/famous-residents-former-residents.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Gratzer continued performing with his band (which had a keyboard-playing lead singer), and Doughty eventually sat in for a few songs. On the last day of the university's spring semester, guitarist Joe Matt called the band's leader and told him that he and the other members (Gratzer and bassist Mike Blair) had decided to start a new band with Doughty where everyone but Doughty would sing.
The new band made a list of songs to learn over the summer break. Doughty landed a summer job and bought a Farfisa organ. The members returned to school in the fall of 1967 and had their first rehearsal before classes started. They named the band REO Speedwagon after Doughty saw it written on a blackboard, from the REO Speed Wagon truck designed in 1915 by Ransom Eli Olds.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite encyclopedia |title= REO Speedwagono| encyclopedia= The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor-first= Colin| editor-last= Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books |date= 1997| edition= Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=1006}}</ref> Rather than pronouncing REO as a single word as the motor company did {{nowrap|("''REE-oh''")}}, they chose to pronounce each letter individually ("R-E-O"). An advertisement in the school newspaper produced their first gig, a frat party that turned into a food fight. They performed cover songs in campus bars, frat parties, and university events.
In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined on guitar, replacing Matt. When Mike Blair left in 1968, Gregg Philbin replaced Blair. Joe McCabe played sax until he was replaced by Marty Shepard on trumpet, soon joined by a second trumpeter named Steve Massingill, with Doughty as a third horn player on some tunes. After Shepard left the following year, horns were dropped from the group altogether.<ref>{{Cite book|title=REO Speedwagon: Every Album, Every song (On Track) |last=Romag |first=James |year=2023 |publisher=Sonicbond Publishing |isbn=978-1789522624 }}</ref>
Bob Crownover was replaced first by Bill Fiorio in 1969, and then Steve Scorfina, before Gary Richrath took over on guitar in 1970. Richrath had driven 100 miles (160 km) to see the band. "I'm going to be a part of that band whether they like it or not," Richrath declared. A prolific songwriter who brought with him original compositions, the band's regional popularity grew with Richrath on board. Support from KSHE in St. Louis, one of the most influential rock stations in the country, further elevated the band's profile.
Epic Records signed the band to a contract in 1971.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/R/REO_Speedwagon/Timeline/ | title=MusicMoz - Bands and Artists: R: REO Speedwagon: Timeline }}</ref> The lineup on the first album consisted of Richrath, Gratzer, Doughty, Philbin, and Luttrell.<ref name="Larkin"/>
===Early years=== In the early days, REO was managed by its University of Illinois classmate Irving Azoff, who went on to manage The Eagles and ran MCA Music Entertainment Group. With the use of a friend's station wagon, REO played bars and clubs across the Midwest. Its debut album, ''R.E.O. Speedwagon'', was released on Epic Records in October 1971.<ref name="Larkin"/>thumb|A newspaper advertisement for a concert featuring REO in Indianapolis in 1973 Although the lineup otherwise remained stable, REO Speedwagon switched lead vocalists on each of their first three albums.
Kevin Cronin recorded 1972's ''R.E.O./T.W.O.'' but left during the recording sessions for 1973's ''Ridin' the Storm Out'',<ref>{{cite news |last=Sheff |first=David |title=Now It's Cheat to the Beat, as Reo Speedwagon Finally Arrives with 'Hi Infidelity' |url=https://people.com/archive/now-its-cheat-to-the-beat-as-reo-speedwagon-finally-arrives-with-hi-infidelity-vol-15-no-11/ |work=People |volume=15 |number=11 |date=March 23, 1981 |access-date=March 25, 2022}}</ref> which was completed with Michael Bryan Murphy. Murphy stayed for ''Lost in a Dream'' (1974) and ''This Time We Mean It'' (1975) before Cronin returned in 1976 for ''R.E.O.''.<ref name="Larkin"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/07/16/born-again-techno-rock/02d9e05c-3d5c-47f3-9ab0-07b0d5b3682e/ |title=Born-Again Techno-Rock |last=Karp |first=Jonathan |date=July 16, 1985 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 25, 2022}}</ref>
On the strength of the band's live performances, Epic agreed to their first live album, ''Live: You Get What You Play For'' in 1977, which sold certified platinum<ref name="Larkin"/> and the band, minus Philbin, relocated to Los Angeles. Philbin's place was taken by another Centennial High School alumnus, Bruce Hall,<ref name=NG2017 /> for ''You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish''<ref name="Larkin"/> in 1978. Featuring the chart singles "Roll with the Changes" and "Time for Me to Fly", it was REO's first album to make the Top 40, and achieved double platinum status.
===Mainstream success=== After 1979's ''Nine Lives''<ref name="Larkin"/>, the band went from hard rock to more pop-oriented material<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> starting with ''Hi Infidelity'' in 1980.<ref name="Larkin"/> ''Hi Infidelity'' spawned four hits, most notably Cronin's "Keep On Loving You"<ref name="Larkin"/> and "Take It on the Run", penned by Richrath. The album stayed on the charts for 65 weeks (32 in the top 10), including 15 weeks at No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' 200. ''Hi Infidelity'' sold over ten million copies.
The follow-up, ''Good Trouble'', in June 1982,<ref name="Larkin"/> performed moderately well commercially and featured "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (U.S. No. 7). 1984's ''Wheels Are Turnin''', included the No. 1 hit "Can't Fight This Feeling".<ref name="Larkin"/>
REO Speedwagon toured the US in 1985, including a stop in Philadelphia at the US leg of Live Aid. 1987's ''Life as We Know It''<ref name="Larkin"/><ref>{{cite magazine | url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=reo speedwagon|chart=all}} | title=Artist Chart History - REO Speedwagon|magazine=Billboard | access-date=May 9, 2009}}</ref> and ''The Hits'' compilation in 1988<ref name="Larkin"/> brought minor hits and declining sales, and wrapped up the careers of Richrath and Gratzer in the band.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/reo-speedwagon-gary-richrath-kevin-cronin-interview-6700404/|title=REO Speedwagon Will Dedicate Every Show to Late Guitarist Gary Richrath 'Probably Forever'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 3, 2019}}</ref> "Here with Me", which peaked at No. 20, was the group's final hit on the main chart.
===Changes in the 1990s=== Graham Lear and Miles Joseph replaced Gratzer and Richrath, and backup singers Carla Day and Melanie Jackson were added. This lineup performed one show, in Chile in 1989, after which Joseph, Day, and Jackson were let go in favor of Dave Amato and keyboardist Jesse Harms. 1990's ''The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken'', with Bryan Hitt on drums, brought the band's final main chart single, "Love Is a Rock", which peaked at No. 65. Not inclined to be out on the road touring, Harms left in 1991.
After forming his own short-lived band, Richrath joined REO on stage in Los Angeles on two occasions. The contract with Epic at an end, REO Speedwagon released ''Building the Bridge'' independently in 1996.
===Revival of the hits=== As Epic released REO compilation albums, REO teamed up with Styx in 2000 for a tour that included an appearance at the Riverport Amphitheater in St. Louis, which was released as the live concert video ''Arch Allies: Live at Riverport''. REO's portion of the show was re-released as ''Live - Plus'' (2001), ''Live Plus 3'' (2001), and ''Extended Versions'' (2001), which was certified gold in 2006. REO toured with Styx again in 2003 alongside Journey.
===2000–2026=== The self-financed ''Find Your Own Way Home'' in 2007, produced two singles, "I Needed to Fall" and "Find Your Own Way Home", that appeared on ''Billboard'''s Adult Contemporary chart. REO Speedwagon continued to tour regularly, on their own and in tandem with other bands of their era, mostly performing their classic hits.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://archive.louisville.com/content/reo-speedwagons-kevin-cronin-louisville-power-ballads-and-if-my-wifes-slut| title=REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on Louisville, power ballads and if my wife's a slut| website=Louisville.com| access-date=February 24, 2010| archive-date=June 23, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623120047/http://www.louisville.com/content/reo-speedwagons-kevin-cronin-louisville-power-ballads-and-if-my-wifes-slut| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269330/styx-reo-speedwagon-team-up-for-rockin-tour-single | title=Styx, REO Speedwagon Team Up For "Rockin'" Tour, Single | magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 29, 2009}}</ref>
2009 brought a Christmas album, ''Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon.''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=100890339&blogId=509425779 |title=Myspace |website=Blogs.myspace.com |access-date=February 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707183639/http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=100890339&blogId=509425779 |archive-date=July 7, 2012 }}</ref>300px|thumbnail|Main Street in Champaign, named REO Speedwagon Way in honor of the band
In 2017, ''Hi Infidelity'' received the Diamond Award for official U.S. sales of over ten million copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/upi/9189ddf5a3c738527b4f179c8db3414d/REO-Speedwagons-Hi-Infidelity-receives-10X-Diamond-Award/|title=REO Speedwagon's 'Hi Infidelity' receives 10× Diamond Award|website=Upi.com|access-date=October 3, 2019}}</ref>[[File:REO Speedwagon at Red Rocks July 2010.jpg|thumb|233x233px|REO Speedwagon performing live at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, in 2010]] The band appeared in an episode in the third season of the Netflix series ''Ozark'' in 2020, after which four REO songs reentered the ''Billboard'' rock charts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/reo-speedwagon-drive-back-into-the-charts-thanks-to-ozark-appearance |title=REO Speedwagon drive back into the charts thanks to Ozark appearance |last=April 2020 |first=Scott Munro14 |website=Classic Rock Magazine |date=April 14, 2020 |access-date=April 16, 2020}}</ref>
Gary Richrath died in 2015, and Gregg Philbin in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.music-news.com/ShowNews.asp?nItemID=92204|title=Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon dies|date=September 14, 2015|website=Music-News.com|access-date=November 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://reospeedwagon.com/gregg-philbin/|title=Gregg Philbin|website=Reospeedwagon.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/gregg-philbin-reo-speedwagon-dead/ | title=Former REO Speedwagon Bassist Gregg Philbin Has Died|website=Ultimateclassicrock.com | date=October 24, 2022 }}</ref> In 2023, the band's sole remaining original member, Neal Doughty, retired from touring after 55 years.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/reo-speedwagon-neal-doughty-retirement/ | title=REO Speedwagon's Neal Doughty Announces Retirement from Touring |website=Ultimateclassicrock.com| date=January 4, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://reospeedwagon.com/a-statement-from-reo-speedwagon-january-2023/ | title=A Statement from REO Speedwagon – January 2023 |website=Reospeedwagon.com}}</ref> The band announced Derek Hilland (ex-Iron Butterfly) as a touring replacement.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://reospeedwagon.com/introducing-derek-hilland/ | title=Introducing Derek Hilland |website=Reospeedwagon.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tribtoday.com/life/ticket/2023/06/reo-speedwagon-rolls-with-changes/ | title=REO Speedwagon rolls with changes |website=Tribtoday.com}}</ref> Bruce Hall announced he would take a leave of absence to undergo back surgery, with plans to rejoin the band on tour in 2024, with Matt Bissonette filling in.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://reospeedwagon.com/update-on-bruce/ | title=Update on Bruce |website=Reospeedwagon.com }}</ref>
On September 16, 2024, the band announced<ref>{{cite web | url=https://reospeedwagon.com/to-our-fans/ | title=To Our Fans|website=Reospeedwagon.com }}</ref> they would stop touring at year's end. Although Hall was sufficiently recovered from his surgery and cleared by his doctors to return to touring, there were irreconcilable differences between himself and Cronin. The REO name would be retired, but Cronin would tour with the final touring lineup as the Kevin Cronin Band and perform REO Speedwagon songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/reo-speedwagon-played-final-show-will-continue-with-different-name-8765954 |title=REO Speedwagon Played Their Final Show as REO Speedwagon — and Will Continue with a Different Name |website=People.com |date=December 23, 2024 |access-date=December 23, 2024}}</ref> The Kevin Cronin Band (Cronin, Amato, Hitt, Hilland, Bissonette) co-headlined the "Brotherhood of Rock Tour" with Styx in 2025 with Don Felder opening.<ref name="2025Tour-1">{{cite web |last1=Wardlaw |first1=Matt |title=Styx and Kevin Cronin Announce Summer 2025 Tour |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/styx-kevin-cronin-2025-tour/ |website=Ultimateclassicrock.com |access-date=July 21, 2025 |date=December 6, 2024}}</ref><ref name="2025Tour-2">{{cite web |title=Styx and Kevin Cronin to Play Classic Albums in Full on 'Brotherhood of Rock' Summer 2025 Tour with Don Felder |url=https://rockcellarmagazine.com/styx-kevin-cronin-full-albums-reo-speedwagon-tour-dates-2025/ |website=Rockcellarmagazine.com|access-date=July 21, 2025 |date=February 17, 2025}}</ref><ref name="2025Tour-3">{{cite web |last1=Wilkening |first1=Matthew |title=Styx and Kevin Cronin Kick Off Summer 2025 Tour: Video, Set List [sic] |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/styx-2025-set-list/ |website=Ultimateclassicrock.com |access-date=July 21, 2025 |date=May 29, 2025}}</ref><ref name="2025Tour-1"></ref><ref name="2025Tour-2"></ref><ref name="2025Tour-3"></ref>
On September 28, 2025, the band's classic lineup (minus Richrath) reunited alongside the University of Illinois marching band, performing "Ridin' the Storm Out", "Roll With The Changes", and "157 Riverside Avenue".<ref name="ucr 2025"/> Cronin did not sing (as the melodies were provided by the marching band), but it was the first time Cronin, Hall, Doughty, and Gratzer shared a stage since 1988. The band members officially reunited the previous day as Grand Marshals in the University's homecoming parade.<ref name="ucr 2025"/>
On March 7, 2026, REO Speedwagon reunited again as Cronin, Doughty, Hall, and Gratzer marked the opening of an exhibit honoring Richrath at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. The classic lineup was joined by Murphy and Eric Richrath. After a Q&A session, the band played "Ridin' the Storm Out," "Take It On The Run," "Roll With The Changes," and a cover of Van Morrison's "Gloria." Murphy and Cronin traded lead vocals during "Ridin' the Storm Out," marking the first time the two ever performed together. The gathering was also the first time Gratzer played with Cronin on these REO songs since 1988.<ref name="ucr 2026"/>
==Band members== {{main|List of REO Speedwagon members}}
'''Final lineup''' * Neal Doughty – keyboards {{small|(1966–2024; ''not touring 2023–2024'')}} *Kevin Cronin – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards {{small|(1972–1973, 1976–2024)}} * Bruce Hall – bass, vocals {{small|(1977–2024; ''not touring late 2023–2024'')}} * Dave Amato – lead guitar, vocals {{small|(1989–2024)}} * Bryan Hitt – drums, percussion {{small|(1989–2024)}}
==Discography== {{main|REO Speedwagon discography}}
'''Studio albums''' * ''R.E.O. Speedwagon'' (1971) * ''R.E.O./T.W.O.'' (1972) * ''Ridin' the Storm Out'' (1973) * ''Lost in a Dream'' (1974) * ''This Time We Mean It'' (1975) * ''R.E.O.'' (1976) * ''You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish'' (1978) * ''Nine Lives'' (1979) * ''Hi Infidelity'' (1980) * ''Good Trouble'' (1982) * ''Wheels Are Turnin''' (1984) * ''Life as We Know It'' (1987) * ''The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken'' (1990) * ''Building the Bridge'' (1996) * ''Find Your Own Way Home'' (2007)<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book | first= Martin C. | last= Strong | year= 2000 | title= The Great Rock Discography | edition= 5th | publisher= Mojo Books | location= Edinburgh | pages= 810–811 | isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref> * ''Not So Silent Night ... Christmas with REO Speedwagon'' (2009)
==See also== *List of artists who reached number one in the United States
==References== ===Notes=== {{notelist}}
===Citations=== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{official website|http://www.reospeedwagon.com}} * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p117990}} * {{discogs artist|REO Speedwagon}} * {{IMDb name|1884543}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140625032227/http://vinson.hagleyblogs.org/2011/12/dowanna-know-how-reo-speedwagon-got-their-name/ How REO Speedwagon Got Their Name] * [https://www.flickr.com/photos/melodicrockconcerts/sets/72157624303601253/ REO Speedwagon Live Photo Gallery]
{{REO Speedwagon}} {{Billboard Year-End number one albums 1970–1989}} {{Billboard Year-End Top Artists}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1967 establishments in Illinois Category:2025 disestablishments in Illinois Category:American musical quintets Category:American pop rock music groups Category:American soft rock music groups Category:Arena rock musical groups Category:Epic Records artists Category:Hard rock musical groups from Illinois Category:Musical groups established in 1967 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2025 Category:Musical groups from Champaign, Illinois