I am an avid Mac-user, nerd, musician, freelancer, and gamer. He was 65. We are pleased to do a new interview with Cronin, about how he wrote his classic REO songs, and his creative songwriting process. DK: So what were you thinking about, when you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling? 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. The first was a Hey, everybody, how you doing? thing. Chauvin's defense in his trial, which began March 29 with prosecution testimony, is due to start next week. 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. Cronins decision to forgo a college education for music paid off by the age of 20, hed been recruited by REO Speedwagon as a replacement to original lead vocalist, Terry Luttrell. In addition to being in the band Carcosa, he has also been in Galactic Pegasus and One More Slice. 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. When REO Speedwagon were at the peak of their popularity in the 1980s, their tours were known to get pretty wild. 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." ". 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. REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin turns to his kids for advice when deciding on new projects including the band's recent cameo on Netflix's "Ozark.". The entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans. The last time they toured together was 2018, but now theyre promising a comeback to the stage with a multi-act major tour. So far, Cronin is keeping mum on who the other acts will be, telling Ultimate Classic Rock, The two other bands will remain nameless for the moment but suffice to say, theyre really both great friends of ours. Se do you feel more comfortable writing the song by yourself, or do you also love the process of co-writing? Trivia 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? REOSpeedwagonPlans HiInfidelty30thAnniversary Reissue, Tour. For our episode, they had me on stage delivering a couple of lines. The band REO Speedwagon, which originated in Champaign, Illinois, in 1967, consists of original member Neal Doughty, 67; Kevin Cronin and Bruce Hall, who joined in the 1970s; and Dave Amato and Brian Hitt, who came aboard in 1989. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. The songs for that album had a certain cohesive nature to them. At that point, Cronin decided to dole out some tough love and stop enabling his son. 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. I had a little red Wurlitzer electric piano that Id had since I was in high school. But I think it served its purpose because people at the record company heard it, REO Speedwagon fans heard itif they didnt hear it on the radio they heard us playing it live. 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. Please subscribe. It took a long time, and I wrote that song before I finally got the guts to tell her. https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/cantfightthisfeeling.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keeponlovingyou.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/takeitontherun.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/rollwiththechanges.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/timeformetofly.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/dontlethimgo.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keepthefireburnin.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/inmydreams.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/onelonelynight.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/inyourletter.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keeppushin.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/backontheroadagain.html, Rock Music: 49 Different Types and Their Characteristics, Loverboy Greatest Hits: The 17 Best Songs of All Time, 42 Songs About the Experience of Being 17, 48+ Songs About Good Times and Memories to Look Back On. What was it that inspired you to write it? Showing Editorial results for reo speedwagon. Thats another way of doing it. Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, August 24, 1980. But it certainly did come together. "We laughed, we joked it was like we knew each other forever. 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. Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. Then theres gun violence. In fact, the group's best-selling album is Hi Infidelity. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. How did it come about? Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Cronin: Yeah, I think so. Even though it wasnt a hit, its a REO fan favorite. 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 For the good ones, the inspiration is usually a pretty big piece of the song. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. He guards that guitar with his life., The COVID lockdowns havent exactly been pleasant, but through adversity, comes opportunity, and in Cronins case, hes relished the chance to reconnect with his family. Had I seen [that script] But that was episode one. And sure enough, it ended up working out. 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. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. 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. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. Roll With The Changes was personally about me moving from Chicago to L.A.I was quite literally rolling with the changes. But the records that came before it, the songs that our fans already knew about, like Keep Pushin and Roll With The Changes and Time For Me To Fly which hadnt really been hits, but our fans knew about them. Meanwhile, their 1988 compilation album, The Hits, entered the Top Rock Albums chart at 49. Then of course, you refine it from there. After releasing one album (1972s R.E.O./T.W.O,), he left the band during the recording of 1973s Ridin the Storm Out over creative differences. So I think that really helped for the album, that it felt like all the songs belonged together. In the REO Speedwagon band, there are two lead singers, and one is Kevin Cronin and Terry Luttrell. She's thinking about what her life would be like without [Marty/Jason Bateman]. Paul Natkin/WireImage. 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. When the call came in for us to appear in Ozark,my reaction was, Theyre going to have REO Speedwagon playing on a riverboat in the Lake of the Ozarks? When I have a question, I bring it up at the dinner table. The career of Antonio Vivaldi defies music industry logic. How Marvel went big with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He was 65. 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 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. Cronin: That song, coincidentally, was number one 35 years ago from right now. Im finding myself waking up in the middle of the night with ideas, and writing them down and recording them. "The lead singer of REO Speedwagon, Kevin he's a rock-n-roll Hall of Famer he said, 'How about that LaTonya, your first live performance, and you've got a platinum record already.' But if theres one guitar he never leaves home without, its his trusty 52 Fender Telecaster. written by REO Speedwagon January 22, 2016, As the lead singer & songwriterof the multi-platinum rock band REO Speedwagon, Kevin Cronin has been the bands guiding force since joining the group in the mid-1970s. I didnt put a whole lot of time and energy into the creative part of what I do. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. We thought it was all going to be right next to each other, like on the show. After all, hes been a mainstay in the world of rap music since the late 1980s. 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. I feel so sad. The band made a music video for this song in 1978, three years before MTV went on the air. We pull up to the last gig of the tour and there on the marquee, in English, it says, REO Speedwagon plus ventriloquist act. We go into the venue, and not only were we sharing the bill, but we were sharing the dressing room with the ventriloquist act. We're all sitting there going, God, this is bullst. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. But at the end of the episode, Marty gets dragged out of our concert and you don't know what happens to him until the next episode, where he's in Mexico. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. DK: I know you play both guitar and piano onstage. 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. As time went on, and my buddy broke up with her, we still remained friends. And then if Im lucky enough to capture that, then the actual craftsmanship comes into play. On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with. Band members read about that anecdote in PEOPLE and responded by contacting Floyd family attorney, Ben Crump, to say they'd like to give LaTonya a surprise. We did a tour of Mexico. Free shipping for many products! REO Speedwagon skyrocketed to fame in 1980 with their chart topping . So when I finished Cant Fight This Feeling, I realized that yeah, Ive gotta make this move. Ive gotta do what Im saying in this songIve got to make this happen. Find out more about their lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist as we reveal 10 things you didnt know about Kevin Cronin. I didn't know what to make of it. 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. 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.. I sat there on the floor of my bedroom, and I thought, Alright, what is this song all about? Why cant I name this songwhy cant I write the chorus for this song? Afterwards, she spent time with Cronin, his daughter and his manager. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from, Paul McCartney was in too much 'emotional pain' to keep the Beatles going after John Lennon left. I think the main reason that I got the gig, was that REO had released one album, and they were working on songs for their second album for Epic Records. Now, hes all about healthy eating and working out. Who do you think is listening: old fans who were reminded of REO by the show, or young listeners just discovering the band? Formed in 1967, the group originally included drummer and backing vocalist Alan Gratzer, guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and lead vocalist Mike Blair, and keyboardist Neal Doughty. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Get recommendations for other artists you'll love. Busted After Ariana Found Sexual Texts to Raquel. Back in the day of the album, that was very important. I think it's a combination of both. I couldnt figure it out, and as a result, I had a really hard time finishing that song. It was really my songs that got me the gig. I was writing [the words] on this brown paper bag as I was rolling down the road. "Gregg . Read REO Speedwagon's bio and find out more about REO Speedwagon's songs, albums, and chart history. "It's amazing when I walk out on stage and start playing one of the songs . Ask me about my collection of M:TG cards! 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. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. Cronin, like the rest of the band, earned a reputation as a party animal. Grazing In The Grass by The Friends Of Distinction was the first big hit to use the phrase "dig it" in the lyric. And there were some radio stations in the Midwest that were playing those songs. Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUNAs featured on The Essential REO Speedwagon. Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. achieved significant commercial success during the 1980s. The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned. Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? Have you ever played a dental convention or equally oddball gig? Now I kind of see how it feels when your own name is up there. "AOR poll part 2: Which lead singer's voice do you like best? I learned something from thisthat if you pay attention to the song, the song will tell you what it needs. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the groups hit song Take It on the Run, died Sunday, according to a publicist for the band. Up until then, the songwriting was credited to the whole bandthat they all wrote the songs togetherbut I think the truth was that it was mostly Gary who would spark (the songs creation) and then the band would get together and jam and finish it. DK: More recently, REO has released the album Find Your Own Way Home in 2007 and REOs Christmas album in 2009. So well seethis year should be interesting. 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. I couldnt do it the real way that human beings communicate (laughs). 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. But I was probably over halfway finished with Cant Fight This Feeling, and I felt that it was something special. I was really focused on my wife, my children and my homemy children are all in high school now. I saw both seasons, all the way through, and I was like, Im ready to go. When my children were born, I didnt name my children when my wife was pregnant. Hi Infidelity blew the doors off the joint and people went back and discovered (early albums like)You Can Tune a Piano, But You Cant Tuna Fish and discovered R.E.O/T.W.O, and all the songs on those albums. Now, hes hoping to repeat the success of that classic track, albeit on the printed page. My wife is an amazing person. 'Heartland' Actor Robert Cormier Dead at 33 Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? Joined my first band in 2008 (a Metallica cover band) and. 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). Honestly, when I finished that song, I was really youngI was 18 or 19 when I wrote that song. Time for Me to Fly has taken me on an amazing musical journey that started when I wrote it in 1970. "If I want to see if . I wrote Time For Me To Fly on the guitarmost of my songs I write on the acoustic guitar. Among other things, the memoir promises to lift the lid on Cronins troubled relationship with bandmate Gary Richrath, who died from complications following surgery in 2016. How do you think Ozark meant for the song to be seen? Cronin: I think so. Theres something going on emotionally for me, usually some kind of a feeling that I either dont understand yet, or I understand and havent figured out how to express it yet. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. I felt like I had a fever and my stomach hurt. I've also got a horrible habit of needing the absolute newest technological wonder, whether it's stable or not. 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. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. She was actually going out with one of my buddies. If you catch Linda at a wedding be sure to check out the dance floor. Cronin, 68, spoke to EW by phone about how his band ended up in the show, what it was like being on set, and also revealed one of the weirdest gigs REO Speedwagon ever played. Theres no bigger influence for me. We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. says the actress. Cronin: I would hope that the point [of this story is], when youre writing a song, you have to stick with your gut. The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album. John Waite was the lead singer for the Babys and Bad English but most likely you know him from his smash single "Missing You." Most recently, he dropped his tenth studio album "Rough & Tumble". Who knows what came first, the chicken or the egg there. 9/28/2010 1:00 PM PT With '80s hits like " Keep On Loving You " and " Can't Fight This Feeling ," Kevin. Yet Im thinking this song is so important to me and I think its got the potential to be a real special song in the world, but this title is going to kill it. Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. After realizing his lifestyle was starting to overshadow his work and family life, he made a 180-degree turn. Speaking to Guitar World about his favorite piece of kit, he said: People tell me its too valuable to take on tour, but I love playing that guitar so much that I dont care. REO Speedwagon has recorded 16 studio albums which have sold a total of more than 40 million units. When MTV launched in 1981, they played the video, as REO Speedwagon were huge at the time, with a string of hits from their, Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band). Still now, this band is remarked and will be noted for its best performance in rock kinds of music. We were all psyched up. LaTonya Floyd, at right, with sister Zsa Zsa Floyd at their brother George's funeral June 9, 2020. So when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. Artists and entertainers. DK: A couple years later REO released Hi Infidelity, which became your biggest album. Erik Stein confirmed on Monday that Richrath passed away but offered no details about the cause of death.