REO Speedwagon's final year as a touring band was 2024, with the classic rock group citing "irreconcilable differences" preventing them from continuing to perform together beyond their commitments last year. In an interview ahead of their final show a few months later, frontman Kevin Cronin — who initially entered the fold after the release of their debut LP, was fired after the release of 1972's R.E.O./T.W.O., then rejoined in 1976, later going on to write the hits "Can't Fight This Feeling" and "Keep On Loving You," among others — admitted that he didn't want the band to break up, telling Billboard that he "just got outvoted."
This summer, Cronin is touring with Styx. Meanwhile, former REO members Neal Doughty, Alan Gratzer, Bruce Hall, Terry Luttrell, Mike Murphy and Steve Scorfina are playing a show together in Champaign, IL, "honouring the legacy of REO Speedwagon." As you can probably guess, Cronin isn't too thrilled about not being included.
A fan in the Facebook comments on the Kevin Cronin Band's recent announcement that they'll be taking part in the 2026 Rock Legends Cruise mentioned the Champaign concert, writing, "Sure would be nice if you were to attend." Cronin responded to the comment, saying he was "deeply disturbed and hurt" by his ex-bandmates' actions.
"The organizers of the Champaign event could have picked a date when all of the former members of REO were available to participate," the musician responded. "Instead they chose June 14, 2025, a date where it was public knowledge that I was previously committed to perform with Styx and Kevin Cronin Band in Bend, Oregon. Bottom line, I am being asked to participate in an event on a date when I can't possibly be there in-person. And then being falsely accused of turning down the invitation. I am deeply disturbed and hurt by all of this."
Cronin continued, "After all I have done to help build the legacy of REO Speedwagon, I feel I have earned and deserve to be included in any event honouring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded," adding that Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt, who each served 35-year tenures in the band, "were not even shown the respect of being invited."
It's worth noting that most recent bassist Hall was the member of the band with whom Cronin had the "irreconcilable differences" that allegedly caused the dissolution. This is normally never recommendable, but check out the comments section of the Facebook post below to see Cronin's response.