REO Speedwagon to cease touring due to "irreconcilable differences"

[highplainsdem]

https://www.loudersound.com/news/reo-speedwagon-cease-touring

"Never ever thought it would end like this and I'm heartbroken": REO Speedwagon to cease touring due to "irreconcilable differences"

By Fraser Lewry( Classic Rock ) published 3 hours ago


REO Speedwagon have announced that they will cease touring after this year due to "irreconcilable differences" between frontman Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall. The news comes days after the band finished their Summer Road Trip co-headline tour with Train, a run of dates they've been playing without Hall, who is recuperating from back surgery.

-snip-

"Due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between Bruce and Kevin. So, it is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1, 2025. Neal [Doughty, keyboards], Kevin, and Bruce thank their fans for all their years of loyal support and for giving back to the band such wonderful memories that will remain with each of them forever."

Responding on Facebook, Hall said, "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 and 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.

-snip-

REO Speedwagon's last show was at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, on September 8. Since that date, the band have cancelled two shows in Chula Vista and Phoenix due to Cronin falling ill, and the frontman also reports that he has undergone emergency surgery.

-snip-

What Kevin Cronin posted on Facebook (several paragraphs of text with the video):

https://facebook.com/watch/?v=997461615465319&vanity=REOSpeedwagon

[BootinUp]

5. True.

[Diraven]

2. I saw them back in 2007 I think

They were awesome

[chicoescuela]

3. What happened ? Got to keep on rollin' fellas

[AZSkiffyGeek]

6. Just guessing

I suspect there were money disagreements with the bassist recuperating and not touring.
These things always seem to come down to who is getting less money.

[chicoescuela]

7. Guess it was time for me to fly instead of keep pushing

[AZSkiffyGeek]

9. They should just take it easy, take it slow

Sounds like the bassist just needs a chance to grow

[liberal N proud]

4. Seen them 3 times

Hate to see it end

[AZ8theist]

8. One of my favorite groups....

But as with all bands (with maybe the exception of the Rolling Stones..) they eventually tire of each other, fight about money or music, and end up breaking up.

[highplainsdem]

10. Golden Earring made it all the way from 1961 (first lineup) to 2021, after 13 yo George Kooymans founded the

band (after teaching his neighbor and future brother-in-law to play guitar; Rinus became the bass player and keyboardist). They had a different lead singer and drummer by the end of the '60s, but those 4 were still together by their final arena show in November 2019, before Covid ended plans for their scheduled spring 2020 tour...and then George was diagnosed with ALS in late 2020 and they announced they were disbanding in early 2021.

At the time of the diagnosis George was also in a duo with American Frank Carillo and a supergroup trio with two other Dutch musicians who'd had very successful careers doing different types of music earlier, touring and recording with them, and the trio's third and final album was a hit in the Netherlands last year.

So it's possible to keep a band together that long, but most people can't manage it.

George is still married to his childhood sweetheart, Rinus's sister, too. Also unusual, especially for rock stars.

The other members of Golden Earring wouldn't consider going on as a band without George. They've continued with separate music careers, and Rinus and Cesar (the drummer) have played together a couple of times, but they're so determined not to raise false hopes that that they will someday continue as Golden Earring without George that they just announced they won't even be together to attend a tribute concert this fall where hundreds of fans will perform Golden Earring songs (with some other, professional musicians joining them). George hasn't done any interviews since last year, and has needed a wheelchair for a couple of years.

[AZ8theist]

12. Wow! I didn't know that.....

They were (are) a great band. It seems like ALL of the really great musical groups came together in the 60s and 70s.
But here we are in 2024 and they've "aged out" so to speak. But then again so have I!!!!

I saw Twisted Sister back in the 80s in a bar in New Jersey. (my ears are still ringing from that show) They didn't last long, but the lead singer, Dee Snyder, married his high school sweatheart. I believe they are still together, so that's pretty cool.

Thanks for that great write up on Golden Earring!

[highplainsdem]

13. You're welcome! Much more info here in the OP and lots of replies -

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181674319 - which link to some of the many other threads I've posted about the band and their side projects and other artists they've helped. They've done so much more than the two international hits they're best known for.

That's cool, that Dee Snider's marriage to his high school sweetheart has been so successful. That can provide so much stability in a crazy lifestyle.

Golden Earring didn't avoid the drug use so common in the '60s and '70s. They loved partying with Keith Moon, for instance, while touring with The Who, and George had to be carried onto the plane the next day after one in those nights trying to keep up with Keith. But they survived that, started families, and all have kids who are musicians, and at least two of them (George and lead singer Barry) are grandfathers. They found a way to combine rock'n'roll and happy, successful lifestyles, after seeing so many around them self-destruct.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. I Get It

Kevin has been difficult to work with since the early 70s.
He & Richrath had MANY moments, up to & including punches thrown.
Their first national hit (Ridin' The Storm Out) was done with a different singer.
Kevin cam & went a few times in the early days.
With Gary gone, there wasn't anybody to check Cronin, so I can see him acting like it was tye Kevin Cronin show, and everyone else were just sideman.
I found Kevin to be an ok guy, but I wouldn't have wanted to work with him. (Or Richrath when he was drinking heavily.)