REO Speedwagon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon performing live at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, in 2010
Background information
Origin	Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Rock pop rock hard rock arena rock
Years active	1967 (1967)–present
Labels	Epic Speedwagon Sony/Legacy
Associated acts	Styx
Members	Neal Doughty Kevin Cronin Bruce Hall Dave Amato Bryan Hitt
Past members	See: Former band members

REO Speedwagon is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. They formed in 1967 and became very popular in the 1970s. The band had huge success in the 1980s. Their best-selling album, Hi Infidelity (1980), had four songs that made it into the Top 40 charts in the US. This album sold more than ten million copies!

REO Speedwagon has sold over 40 million records. They had 13 songs reach the Top 40, including two number-one hits: "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling". Even though their songs were played less on the radio in the late 1980s, they are still a very popular band to see live in concert today.

The Story of REO Speedwagon

How the Band Started

Advertisement for a Reo Speed Wagon, the truck the band was named after

In 1966, Neal Doughty was a college student studying engineering at the University of Illinois. One night, he met another student named Alan Gratzer. Neal played piano, and Alan was a drummer. They started playing music together in their dorm room.

Alan was already in a local band, and Neal began to join them for a few songs. In 1967, Neal, Alan, and bassist Mike Blair decided to form a new band. They spent the summer learning songs. Neal bought his first organ and learned to play hits like "Light My Fire" by The Doors.

When they returned to school, they needed a name. Neal saw "REO Speed Wagon" written on a blackboard in his history class. It was the name of a 1915 truck designed by Ransom E. Olds. The band decided to use it, but they pronounced each letter separately: "R-E-O." Their first show was at a college party, which turned into a food fight! They continued to play cover songs at campus events.

Over the next few years, the band's members changed a few times. In 1968, Terry Luttrell became the lead singer. Later, Gary Richrath joined as the guitarist in 1970. Gary was a great songwriter, and with him, the band became much more popular in their area. A radio station in St. Louis, KSHE, started playing their music, which helped them become known outside of Illinois.

In 1971, Epic Records signed the band. A record producer named Paul Leka saw them play in the rain and was impressed. He brought them to his studio, and they recorded their first album. The band members on this first album were Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer, Neal Doughty, Gregg Philbin, and Terry Luttrell.

Early Years and Changes

In their early days, REO Speedwagon was managed by Irving Azoff, who later became a very powerful person in the music industry. The band traveled around the Midwest, playing in bars and clubs. Their first album, R.E.O. Speedwagon, came out in October 1971. A popular song from this album was "157 Riverside Avenue", which is still a fan favorite at concerts.

The band changed lead singers several times for their first few albums. Terry Luttrell left in 1972 and was replaced by Kevin Cronin. Kevin recorded one album, R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972). He left for a short time, and Michael Bryan Murphy sang on Ridin' the Storm Out (1973) and two more albums. Kevin Cronin returned to the band in January 1976 and has been the lead singer ever since.

In 1977, REO Speedwagon convinced Epic Records that their live shows were their biggest strength. So, Epic let them release their first live album, Live: You Get What You Play For (1977). This album sold over a million copies! That same year, the band moved to Los Angeles.

Also in 1977, bassist Gregg Philbin left the band. He was replaced by Bruce Hall. Bruce helped record the album You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish, released in 1978. This album became very popular on the radio with songs like "Roll with the Changes" and "Time for Me to Fly". It was REO's first album to reach the Top 40, selling over two million copies.

In 1979, the band released Nine Lives, which was more of a hard rock album.

Becoming Super Stars

On November 21, 1980, Epic Records released Hi Infidelity. This album changed the band's sound from hard rock to more pop-friendly music. Hi Infidelity was a massive hit! It had four hit songs:

• "Keep On Loving You" (which went to number one!)
• "Take It on the Run" (#5)
• "In Your Letter" (#20)
• "Don't Let Him Go" (#24)

The album stayed on the music charts for 65 weeks and was number one on the Billboard 200 chart for 15 weeks. Hi Infidelity sold over ten million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.

The band's next album, Good Trouble, came out in 1982. It also had hit singles like "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (#7) and "Sweet Time" (#26).

In 1984, they released Wheels Are Turnin'. This album included another number-one hit, "Can't Fight This Feeling", and other popular songs like "I Do' Wanna Know" (#29) and "One Lonely Night" (#19).

In 1985, REO Speedwagon played at Live Aid, a huge concert to raise money for charity. They performed "Can't Fight This Feeling" and "Roll with the Changes" with members of the Beach Boys.

Their 1987 album, Life as We Know It, had hits like "That Ain't Love" (#16) and "In My Dreams" (#19).

In 1988, they released The Hits, a collection of their best songs. It also included two new songs: "I Don't Want to Lose You" and "Here with Me." "Here with Me" was their last song to reach the Top 40.

Changes in the 1990s and Beyond

By the late 1980s, the band's popularity began to slow down. Alan Gratzer, the drummer, left in 1988 to open a restaurant. In 1989, guitarist Gary Richrath also left the band.

Dave Amato joined as the new lead guitarist in 1989, and Bryan Hitt became the new drummer in 1990. Their 1990 album, The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken, didn't sell as well as their previous ones.

After losing their record deal, REO Speedwagon released Building the Bridge in 1996. This album also didn't become a big hit.

Because their newer songs weren't as popular, Epic Records started re-releasing their older, successful albums. They also put out many "greatest hits" collections, like The Ballads in 1999.

Recent Years and Tours

In 2000, REO Speedwagon started touring with another famous band, Styx. They released a live concert video together called Arch Allies: Live at Riverport. They continued to tour with Styx and other bands like Journey in the following years.

The band released a new album called Find Your Own Way Home in 2007. It had two songs, "I Needed to Fall" and "Find Your Own Way Home," that were played on Adult Contemporary radio.

REO Speedwagon still tours regularly, mostly playing their classic hit songs. In 2009, they released a Christmas album called Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon. They even released an online video game called Find Your Own Way Home!

Main Street in Champaign, Illinois, was named REO Speedwagon Way to honor the band

In 2013, REO Speedwagon and Styx held a special concert called "Rock to the Rescue" to help families affected by tornadoes in Illinois. Gary Richrath, the former guitarist, joined REO on stage for one last performance of "Ridin' the Storm Out" at this concert. Gary Richrath passed away in 2015.

In 2016, REO toured with Def Leppard and Tesla. They also appeared on the TV show Greatest Hits with the rapper Pitbull. In 2017, their album Hi Infidelity received the Diamond Award for selling over ten million copies in the U.S.

The band appeared in an episode of the TV series Ozark in 2020. After this, four of their songs became popular on the rock charts again! Their song "Take it on the Run" was also featured in an episode of the TV series "Cobra Kai."

In 2021, REO Speedwagon was added to the Hall of Fame at the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum. They continue to tour and play their music for fans around the world.

In 2023, Neal Doughty, the only original member, announced he would retire from touring after 55 years. He might still appear at some shows. Derek Hilland is now touring with the band on keyboards. Also in 2023, bassist Bruce Hall took a break for surgery, and Matt Bissonette is filling in for him.

Band members

Current members

• Kevin Cronin – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, keyboards (1972–1973, 1976–present)
• Dave Amato – lead guitar, vocals (1989–present)
• Bryan Hitt – drums, percussion (1989–present)

Non-touring members

• Neal Doughty - keyboards, organ, piano, synthesizer (1967–present; non-touring since 2023)
• Bruce Hall – bass, vocals (songwriter 1974; 1977–present; on hiatus until early 2024)

Former members

Touring substitutes

• Joe Vannelli – keyboards (2007)
• Derek Hilland – keyboards, organ, piano, synthesizer, backing vocals (2023–present)
• Matt Bissonette – bass, vocals (2023–2024)

Discography

Studio albums

• R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971)
• R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972)
• Ridin' the Storm Out (1973)
• Lost in a Dream (1974)
• This Time We Mean It (1975)
• R.E.O. (1976)
• You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish (1978)
• Nine Lives (1979)
• Hi Infidelity (1980)
• Good Trouble (1982)
• Wheels Are Turnin' (1984)
• Life as We Know It (1987)
• The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken (1990)
• Building the Bridge (1996)
• Find Your Own Way Home (2007)
• Not So Silent Night ... Christmas with REO Speedwagon (2009)

See also

In Spanish: REO Speedwagon para niños