They perform about 100 dates a year. Required fields are marked *. So to me, my experience has been that my strongest songs are the ones where it all kind of happens at once. REO Speedwagon Even after more than 40 years of success, Kevin Cronin, lead singer of arena rock specialists REO Speedwagon, never takes the band's status for granted. They were told they could either bail him out or Paris would spend the next 4 days in jail. Formed in 1966, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. As we all know, those memories are Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? After trying to help him via interventions and stints in rehab, the family hit rock bottom when they received a phone call to say Paris had been arrested for possession. Do you love music? In addition to being in the band Carcosa, he has also been in Galactic Pegasus and One More Slice. Id just started to write a couple little silly songs. Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. So I was quite literally and figuratively rolling with the changes (laughs). REOSpeedwagonPlans HiInfidelty30thAnniversary Reissue, Tour. I didn't know what to make of it. Its like the stars lining up. When Gary (Richrath) heard that song, it signaled to him that I had some ability as a songwriter. Having accidentally begun writing his autobiography during REO Speedwagons 2016 tour with Status Quo, the enforced hiatus from touring bought about by the pandemic has made him get serious about it. I used to listen to the Beatles Rubber Soul albumI know that album inside and out. "Pretty In Pink" by Psychedelic Furs was released in 1981. "We laughed, we joked it was like we knew each other forever. Cronin: That song, coincidentally, was number one 35 years ago from right now. But this year I think I need to start tapping into the creative side of my being, because otherwise it starts exploding (laughs) in other ways. She was actually going out with one of my buddies. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for REO Speedwagon CD Lot! I try to stick with the inspiration, and keep as much of that initial burst of creativity in the song as I possibly can. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. That said, there is little doubt that you will be hearing a great deal more about, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about 2KBABYContinue, Few drummers have managed to achieve the reputation that Steve Jordon enjoys in the industry. I think the opening scene is more a literal translation of what the song is about. There was no way we would get together because she was with my friend. One day, I was really frustrated because we had an album that was due, and we really needed that song that was going to pick up where Keep On Loving You left off, and we didnt have it. Since rejoining the band, Cronin has penned the bulk of their most successful songs, including Keep the Fire Burnin', I Do Wanna Know, Keep on Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling, In My Dreams, and Dont Let Him Go. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 10 Things You Didnt Know about Andrew Baena, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Angel Vivaldi, The Top 10 Ice Nine Kills Songs From The Silver Scream, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Steve Jordan. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. "When Gregg left the band in 1977, he took with him the prog-leaning extended instrumental section aspect of the REO sound," Cronin wrote. So when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. After realizing his lifestyle was starting to overshadow his work and family life, he made a 180-degree turn. Is the lead singer of REO Speedwagon married? It's one of my favorite moments, because when I play those opening guitar chords, everybody in the place stands, everybody's got their lighters or cell phones up. I was an unknown, unproven commodity as far as performingGary never really saw me play anywherehe just came up to my apartment and we got out a couple acoustic guitars, and I played some of my songs. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. They are Do you love animals? So my dental line kinda bombed. Cronin is known to play Ovations on tour, and even has his own signature guitar from the brand. During the peak of their success, the band was an almost permanent fixture on the Billboard Hot 100, racking up 13 Top 40 hits, two number 1s, and selling over 40 million records in total. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. Find out more about their lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist as we reveal 10 things you didnt know about Kevin Cronin. "It was so inspirational.". DK: Besides some of your big hits, what are some of your songs that are your favorites? Then theres gun violence. As my father always used to say, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and in songwriting thats ityour opening line. Derek Chauvin's Use of Force Was 'In No Way, Shape or Form' Proper, Police Chief Testifies. Luckily, I had the sense to stick with my gut and sure enough, Cant Fight This Feeling ends up being the most popular song Ive ever written. . The 10 Best Ty Dolla Sign Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best Lupe Fiasco Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best 4 Non Blondes Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best Marina and the Diamonds Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best Ruben Blades Songs of All-Time. All Rights Reserved. He needed the money to buy the group's back catalogue. Richrath was born in October 1949, according to public records. You have an entire episode of Ozark named after you (Kevin Cronin Was Here) and you and the band perform Time for Me to Fly in it. Scott Weiland, lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, died December 3 at age 48. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. "It's amazing when I walk out on stage and start playing one of the songs . 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? He refused to bail him out, something he credits with putting Paris, whos now sober, on the road to recovery The songs on the album were written about the experience, which Cronin has described as the darkest, yet most fulfilling, chapter of my life.. Basically, the only songs I can play on piano are those that I wrote (he laughs). Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. Cronin: Well, I will tell youI was thinking about this todaythis year (2016) will be the year that I get back to knucklin down. Showing Editorial results for reo speedwagon. Send me email updates and offers from TMZ and its Affiliates. Or maybe it was a little thing to make me feel at home? Had I seen [that script] But that was episode one. For example, In 2011, He worked on Universal Language with producer Will, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Angel VivaldiContinue, Ice Nine Kills is a metal band that hails from from about an hour from where I grew up: Boston, MA. I wrote Keep On Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling and Roll With The Changes on the piano. Turning 17 is a big deal. The cause of death has not yet been. So when the Hi Infidelity album came out and Keep On Loving You went to number one, then suddenly people started looking back and realized, Wait a minute, that was REOs 11th album, maybe I should check out their earlier albums because there might be some good songs on it after all (laughs). Kevin Cronin -- lead singer of '80s rock group REO Speedwagon -- heard the words straight from his own son's mouth . About The Lead Singer Of REO Speedwagon But, spoiler alert: REO plays a major role in one Season 3 episode, which also happens to be named after the band's lead singer, Kevin Cronin. Formed in 1967, the group originally included guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Blair, keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer. Im thankful for that and proud of that as well. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! The MCUs tiniest heroes are kicking off its biggest phase yet, setting up the next several years of storytelling. He refers to the band as The Wagon, when fans actually call you REO. Read REO Speedwagon's bio and find out more about REO Speedwagon's songs, albums, and chart history. This song, even though it wasnt finished yet, meant so much to me and it was such a big part of who I am, that I just knew that I wanted to finish this song myself. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Biggest hit "Sister Christian" (1984) took the band to . Theyre one of my favorite bands of all time, and I thought it was, Read More The Top 10 Ice Nine Kills Songs From The Silver ScreamContinue, Have you heard of American rap artist 2KBABY? It's a time when many young people feel like they are finally becoming adults. DK: So what were you thinking about, when you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling? Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUN Show more REO Speedwagon - Event. Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Hi friends, kc here. "AOR poll part 2: Which lead singer's voice do you like best? How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names. Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, September 10, 1982. The bandwe were all kind of going through some chaos in our personal lives. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. It was the first song where I thought, Wow, I kind of like this song (laughs). When my children were born, I didnt name my children when my wife was pregnant. "When the call came in for us to appear in, REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on the band's surprising. The Hi Infidelity album was the one that broke things loose. Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. I told the writer, You know, thats not what I would normally say. What Ive been saying for I don't know how many years is, Hey Cincinnati, check yourselves out. And then our light guy puts the spots on the audience. Richrath last played with the band in 2013, when the band performed a benefit concert in Bloomington, Illinois, to raise money for tornado victims. Speedwagon ), or simply REO, is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Kevin Cronin is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and occasional pianist for the American rock band REO Speedwagon. He was 65. I thought that if I co-wrote it with someone, I had a feeling it would lose something that was really necessary for the song to happen. It was monumental.". 1 of 13. Hearing Time for Me to Fly in that show, there may well be people who heard that song for the first time and went, Oh, that's cool. [1] [REO band member] Gary Richraththe late, great Gary Richrath who unfortunately passed away this past yearwas my partner in crime, so to speak. He goes, [Spanish accent] This is bullst. S.F. Cronin: I actually wrote that song as I was traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles, when I rejoined the band; I left the band for a couple years. Theyre all home (and becoming) young adults. Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Kodak Black Ordered Into Rehab By Florida Judge, Kodak Black Arrest Warrant Issued in Florida Over Failed Drug Test, Brad Paisley Drops Song Featuring Ukrainian Pres. The neck fits my left hand perfectly, and it sounds exactly how I think an electric guitar should sound. REO Speedwagon has a net worth of $46 million. If you catch Linda at a wedding be sure to check out the dance floor. I think it's a combination of both. He left education after graduating from Chicagos Brother Rice High School, having already become convinced that his future lay in music, not business. Well, that got dropped. But then once I got done with the craftsmanship part of it, I thought HeyI think I could hear this song on the radiopeople might want to listen to it. Its funny, when youre just starting out as a songwriterwhen youre trying to figure things out and see what your path is and where youre headingas I reminisce and think about it, it seems I have these sweet memories of that time. Last year, we called our tour the Family First Tour. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon, and LaTonya Floyd, sister of George Floyd, sing "Keep on Loving You" together at The Community of Faith Church in Houston for a prayer vigil . Since starting his career at the age of 19 as the house drummer on Saturday Night Live, hes graduated into, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Steve JordanContinue, If youre a fan of rap music, you might be quite familiar with the name DJ Paul. You know, I went through some fictional years there in the past! In the original script there was a shot of a banner that has a big REO Speedwagon logo and says "Welcome to the Missouri Dental Association Convention." The song was remixed for the re-release to have more Pop appeal. DK: I know you play both guitar and piano onstage. So if the viewer remembers that this is a dental convention, that line is kind of funny. The songs for that album had a certain cohesive nature to them. These are ten things you didnt, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Andrew BaenaContinue, Angel Vivaldi is a New Jersey-based progressive metal guitarist, composer, producer, environmentalist, and philanthropist. When we play Time for Me to Fly in concert, it's always one of those songs that gets a big response. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. Warning: This article contains spoilers forOzarkseason 3. I had the verses already written. Im trained on the guitarI took guitar lessons for years when I was a kid. DK: More recently, REO has released the album Find Your Own Way Home in 2007 and REOs Christmas album in 2009. As a result, hes spent more time with them in the past 18 months than he ever has, and says the bond theyve formed will remain forever.. It's a different feeling, because I'm not used to it. After all, hes been a mainstay in the world of rap music since the late 1980s. Andrew Baena was born on July 18, 1992, in Canada. I was kind of a late bloomermusic was my vehicle. The entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans. Dont second guess it. In 2008, Cronin took a break from the recording studio to appear as a celebrity contestant on Dont Forget the Lyrics! The premise of the show revolved around contestants competing for a prize pot of $1million by selecting songs to sing along to alongside a karaoke-style video screen. REO remains a popular live band which tours steadily throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Cronin, like the rest of the band, earned a reputation as a party animal. And my immediate reaction was, Wait a minute, all the other characters are fictional, except for us. I'm strictly nonfiction at this point in my life. Richrath co-wrote some of the band's songs, including "Take It on the Run," which became a Top 5 pop hit on the Billboard charts. Its funnyeven though it was 35 years ago, it still feels like it was just yesterday to me, because I remember writing it so vividly. This is bullst.". ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. What inspired you to write this song? Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. How did it come about? How Marvel went big with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. For our episode, they had me on stage delivering a couple of lines. It must have been 1989 after [late guitarist/songwriter] Gary Richrath and I parted ways and the band was at kind of a low point. I literally woke up in the middle of the night and I had these three, simple piano chords going through my head. Five years later, it inspired a movie of the same name starring Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer. And the journey continues. Zelenskyy on Anniversary of Russian War. We are pleased to do a new interview with Cronin, about how he wrote his classic REO songs, and his creative songwriting process. Cronin managed to reach $350,000 before being eliminated after forgetting the lyrics to Donna Summers Last Dance.. DK: Thats a great story about how you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling. Thank you. So the earlier songs were given a second chance as a result of the Hi Infidelity album. Night Ranger original guitarist formed in 1980. REO Speedwagon, Boz Scaggs Latest To Sue Sony Music Over Digital Downloads, I feel so sad. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Busted After Ariana Found Sexual Texts to Raquel. I'm self-taught on. 12 best REO Speedwagon songs 1. She's thinking about what her life would be like without [Marty/Jason Bateman]. The. Cronin had been inspired to write the album after his son, Paris, fell into drug addiction. But if theres one guitar he never leaves home without, its his trusty 52 Fender Telecaster. Because of all the traveling wed done, and the work wed been doing over the years, we all just arrived at this place where we really needed each other as brothers for mutual support. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Michael Murphy (actor) (born 1938), American actor Mike Murphy (musician) (1946-2006), American drummer for the Bee Gees and Chicago Michael Bryan Murphy, lead singer of REO Speedwagon; Michael John Murphy, American folk musician; Mike L. Murphy (born 1975), American film maker and animator; Michael Murphy (singer) (born 1986), New Zealand Idol runner up It just so happens that the album came out when I was in junior high school. "Gregg . this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Collect, curate and comment on your files. They might not be bothering the charts quite as much these days, but they still know how to pull in the crowds at their live sets. So that was special. DK: One of my favorite songs is Roll With The ChangesI think that song has inspired a lot of people. Richrath released a solo album, Only the Strong Survive,in 1992. But the whole thing about the dentists, that happened in episode one. October 6, 1951 Birthplace Evanston , IL Age 71 years old Birth Sign Libra About American guitarist and lead singer for the rock band REO Speedwagon who wrote "Keep on Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling." Before Fame He was first chosen as the second lead singer of REO Speedwagon at age twenty in 1971. Anyway, Smooth would chase them down. The first line of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" is "It was the 3rd of September," which is the day lead singer Dennis Edwards' father died. REO Speedwagon is back on the Billboard charts for songs that are many decades old. When fans of the Netflix show Ozark tuned in to its third season, they were treated to a surprise appearance from Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon during episode three. I was talking to someone today about how the opening line of a song is so important to me. Get recommendations for other artists you'll love. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. He might still occasionally enjoy the odd glass of wine at dinner, but he makes sure to drink it by the glass rather than the bottle. Which instrument do you prefer to write songs on? But then looking back on it, and now seeing the impact that Cant Fight This Feeling has had on my life, the life of everyone in the REO Speedwagon family, the lives of people whom Ive never met all over the worldpeople have played that song at their weddings. I am an avid Mac-user, nerd, musician, freelancer, and gamer. His initial period with the band proved brief. How do you think Ozark meant for the song to be seen? When LaTonya Floyd last spoke to her brother, George Floyd, days before he died last May with a police officer's knee pinned to his neck, the two sang REO Speedwagon's hit "Keep on Loving You" over the phone to each other, she told PEOPLE. It was kind of shocking in a way. Showing Editorial results for kevin cronin of reo speedwagon. My biggest inspiration in music is the Beatles, and Lennon & McCartney in my mind are the great songwriting duo in the history of the world, and I owe everything that I know about being in a band, writing a songI owe it all to the Beatles. And then if Im lucky enough to capture that, then the actual craftsmanship comes into play. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. The current lineup of REO Speedwagon consists of Cronin, original member Neal Doughty (keyboards), Bruce Hall (bass), Dave Amato (lead guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums). We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Richrath co-wrote some of the bands songs, including Take It on the Run, which became a Top 5 pop hit on the Billboard charts. "It's like a direct connection with my brother that was our song," LaTonya, 52, told PEOPLE afterward. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Now, hes hoping to repeat the success of that classic track, albeit on the printed page. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. I kind of want to hear some more about that. To a lesser extent perhaps, [its like] when Journeys Dont Stop Believin got played on the Sopranos final episode and that just breathed new life into that song. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Three other now-former officers on the scene face related charges in George's death, and will be tried later this summer. Now Central Louisiana fans will have the chance to hear those songs and more live in concert when REO Speedwagon performs at 7:30 p.m. on March 16 at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. At that time, my [twin] sons were 19 and my daughter was 22. Thats another way of doing it. 2023 Getty Images. Are you and the band working on a new studio album? With Cant Fight This Feeling, I did not know what the name of that song was. She began at a small local paper covering up and coming bands. So my manager, Tom Consolo, set up a writing session with Eric Carmen, who was the lead singer of the Raspberries. I could have very easily followed that fear that I had about that title and thought Oh Man, I better not call it this, because of some commercial concern. Then as many of my songs do, I write them and then I kind of learn about myself when Im finished with them. Thanks to their appearance, REO songs "Keep On Loving You," "Can't Fight This Feeling," "Time for Me to Fly," and "Take It On the Run" have all re-entered Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart. Gary was both a unique guitarist and songwriter, and the embodiment of the tough guy with a heart of gold. Guess what he looks like now! Michael Bryan Murphy took his place, and remained with the band until Cronin stepped back up to the mic in January 1976. I remember thinking to myselfWowCant Fight This Feelingwhat a horrible, f**king song title. So he knew that they needed some help in the songwriting department. Bay Area. I try to keep it that way, because I think theres a certain purityI try to keep the craftsmanship to a minimum. Cronin: Ive written songs on both, honestly. Some of the greatest songs ever have been written by songwriting partnerships. Before we start the interview, here is some information about REO Speedwagons hit discography, and about the other members of the band, both past and present. Erik Stein confirmed on Monday that Richrath passed away but offered no details about the cause of death. 4 CD Lot! The subjects that we were writing about were what was going on in our lives, since we were all in the same boat in a lot of ways. So thats going to be a lot of fun. Considering the band has toured with everyone from Def Leppard to Status Quo and Chicago, it promises to be unmissable. He was there with me.". My wife is an amazing person. If they made a home-version of the LHC, I'd have 2. Have you ever played a dental convention or equally oddball gig? When youre writing a song, you have no idea where that songs going to end upyou dont know whats going to happen. Kevin Cronin Of REO Speedwagon Talks About His Classic Hits And His Songwriting written by REO Speedwagon January 22, 2016 As the lead singer & songwriter of the multi-platinum rock band REO Speedwagon, Kevin Cronin has been the band's guiding force since joining the group in the mid-1970s. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. and still couldn't believe it -- but it is one of the funniest celeb. We wanted to see the Blue Cat [Lodge; the set is a shuttered bar on Lake Allatoona] and the strip club, Lickety Splitz. At that point, Cronin decided to dole out some tough love and stop enabling his son. I wanted to put any extra time that I hadobviously the band tours and thats very important to all of us.

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