The band is stepping away from the road after a disagreement
REO Speedwagon bassist Bruce Hall has contradicted part of the band’s public statement about its decision to cease touring at the end of 2024. Yesterday (Mon, Sept 16th), the band shared the decision was prompted by a disagreement about when Hall would return after having back surgery last fall.
“Bruce has intended to be Back On the Road Again by now. If it were up to just him, he’d be back on tour… but it’s not up to just him. The consensus opinion was that he had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect. Bruce respected that opinion and is grateful that Matt [Bissonette] has been around to keep the Wagon rolling through the summer tour. Bruce never had any intention of retiring or walking away from the band, fans, and crew he has loved for almost 50 years,” the statement reads in part.
While the decision was prompted by a disagreement between Hall and longtime frontman Kevin Cronin, Hall confirms to The Music Universe that he’s ready to return to the road.
“Kevin is absolutely the voice. They will have toured a year without me. I’m healed, cleared by my dr and ready to rock. People go on medical leave all the time and return to their jobs. It has nothing to do with money,” Hall states. “It would be easy to ‘sell out,’ but I have to respect the wishes of the two founding members (as well as Gary’s family) and protect the brand and legacy. Bottom line is, l’d love nothing more than for REO to continue on…but if Kevin wants to leave, I can’t keep him from doing so.”
Hall had also stated independently, “Never ever thought it would end like this and I’m heartbroken. Please know Neal and I did everything in our power to try and keep the Wagon rolling. I am so appreciative of ALL the amazing love & support. You guys have been very vocal and clear in your wishes for me to return to the stage. Trust me…that’s all I wanted too. We all deserved a farewell tour. For the record, I wanted REO Speedwagon to continue to tour with the lineup of Kevin, myself, Dave, Bryan and Derek. Just as it was prior to my necessary, planned and successful back surgery.”
To distill this down and try to make sense of this: Mr. Hall’s statement contradicts what REO said in their own statement. REO said that Mr. Hall was unable to return to the road due to an insufficient recovery. The band’s statement also mentions “disagreements” with Mr. Cronin, the lead singer. This statement gave the impression that Mr. Cronin wanted to continue, but that Mr. Hall had exerted his control as a company owner and told the group they were not to perform without him, thus leading to Mr. Cronin’s decision to leave the group.
But what Mr. Hall said in his Facebook comment to TMU’s Matt Bailey gives the exact opposite impression. That is, Mr. Hall was ready to return from his sabbatical, and reunite a familiar lineup of REO Speedwagon–but Mr. Cronin did not want to do that.
Lead singer Kevin Cronin has not commented independently of the band’s statement.
None of the current members are original. The last remaining original and founding member is keyboardist Neal Doughty who decided to retire from touring in early 2023. Doughty served the band for 55 years before stepping away in that capacity.
“I want everyone to know that it was all that traveling that finally got to me,” Doughty said in a January 2023 statement. “I always enjoyed playing the shows and looking out to see all the loyal fans who allowed me to do this for so long.”
The group recently wrapped the co-headlining Summer Road Trip with Train earlier this month earlier than expected after Cronin had emergency surgery that forced the band to cancel two shows.
Formed in 1967, signed in 1971, and fronted by iconic vocalist Kevin Cronin since 1972, REO Speedwagon’s unrelenting drive, and non-stop touring and recording jump-started the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. Platinum albums and radio staples soon followed, setting the stage for the band’s explosive Hi Infidelity in 1980, which contained the massive hit singles “Keep On Loving You” and “Take It On the Run.” That landmark album spent 15 weeks in the No. 1 slot and has since earned the RIAA’s coveted Diamond Award for surpassing sales of ten million units in the United States..
From 1977 to 1989, REO Speedwagon released nine consecutive albums all certified platinum or higher. To date, REO Speedwagon has sold more than 40 million albums around the globe.
Matt Bailey contributed to this report.
