Joined my first band in 2008 (a Metallica cover band) and. 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. Foreigner: Lou Gramm Styx: Dennis DeYoung Journey: Steve Perry REO Speedwagon: Kevin Cronin" Scott Weiland, lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, died December 3 at age 48. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. When they wrote those songs, they were just trying to write good . Robert Smith doesn't license Cure songs for commercials, but he made an exception in 2004 when he let Hewlett-Packard use "Pictures Of You." For our episode, they had me on stage delivering a couple of lines. Formed in 1966, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. How did it come about? 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. She covers numerous genres of music but her favorites are Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, Rap, and even the classics. 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. But Ive written some of our biggest hits on the piano. Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. But it would be fun to have some success as a co-writer. It was monumental.". So when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. Cronin: That song, coincidentally, was number one 35 years ago from right now. Kevin Patrick Cronin (born October 6, 1951) is an American singer and songwriter, who is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and pianist for the rock band REO Speedwagon. So it was literally time for him to fly. S.F. So when theres chaos in your personal life, then you look to the band for that security. 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. His initial period with the band proved brief. 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. So the songs come in all different shapes and forms. 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. Who do you think is listening: old fans who were reminded of REO by the show, or young listeners just discovering the band? To hear people say things like this is amazing, said Bruce Hall, bass guitarist and lead and harmony vocalist for REO Speedwagon. Kevin Cronin took over that role for their next effort, R.E.O./T.W.O. Next year is set to be a big one for Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon. It took me 10 days. But if theres one guitar he never leaves home without, its his trusty 52 Fender Telecaster. Its kind of a blessing and a curse. George Floyd (center) with LaTonya Floyd and her stepson Treyshawn Barker. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, REO Speedwagon scored numerous hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including two chart-topping singles written by Cronin: "Keep on Loving You" (1981) and "Can't Fight This Feeling" (1982). 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. Honestly, when I finished that song, I was really youngI was 18 or 19 when I wrote that song. 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. 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. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. 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. Kevin Cronin -- lead singer of '80s rock group REO Speedwagon -- heard the words straight from his own son's mouth . So well seethis year should be interesting. Is the lead singer of REO Speedwagon married? He was 65. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for REO Speedwagon CD Lot! So we wrote that into the script. I think it's a combination of both. DK: A couple years later REO released Hi Infidelity, which became your biggest album. In addition to REO's jaunty 1978 hit 'Time for Me . Sure enough, its proven itself right so many times for me, that I have to really believe its a truth that I can count on. On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. ", "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" by Marvin Gaye was inspired by Jackie Gleason's saying, "How Sweet It Is!". 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. Hes a real sweet guy and hes written some big hit ballads, and we were supposed to co-write. 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. Please subscribe. Ive sat down with peopleIve written with some great writers in Nashville, and for whatever reason, none of those songs have really panned out. But my friend, Sammy Hagar, his brand name is Sammy Hagar. The bands most famous album, Hi Infidelity, which was released in 1980, has sold 10 million copies and became the best-selling rock album of 1981. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned. 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 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. 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. Last year, we called our tour the Family First Tour. 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. So he knew that they needed some help in the songwriting department. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Gary was both a unique guitarist and songwriter, and the embodiment of the tough guy with a heart of gold. Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, August 24, 1980. I was really focused on my wife, my children and my homemy children are all in high school now. But the whole thing about the dentists, that happened in episode one. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This is bullst.". 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. No. REO Speedwagon skyrocketed to fame in 1980 with their chart topping . Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Chauvin, 44, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George seen on bystander video as Chauvin pressed his knee to George's neck for nearly nine minutes while George lay handcuffed on the ground during his arrest for allegedly spending a counterfeit $20 bill. Richrath was born in October 1949, according to public records. REO Speedwagon, Boz Scaggs Latest To Sue Sony Music Over Digital Downloads, I feel so sad. The. When you start second guessing yourself, thats when you get lost. And the journey continues. Time for Me to Fly has taken me on an amazing musical journey that started when I wrote it in 1970. 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. Classic Rock at the best online prices at eBay! How do you think Ozark meant for the song to be seen? 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. 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. [REO band member] Gary Richraththe late, great Gary Richrath who unfortunately passed away this past yearwas my partner in crime, so to speak. Basically, the only songs I can play on piano are those that I wrote (he laughs). REOSpeedwagonPlans HiInfidelty30thAnniversary Reissue, Tour. Night Ranger original guitarist formed in 1980. So that was the song that kind of got it going. Cronin: I first joined the band in 1972. REO Speedwagon has recorded 16 studio albums which have sold a total of more than 40 million units. 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? My longtime friend and collaborator Gary Richrath passed away earlier today. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. When you were recording Hi Infidelity, did you and the band feel that this was your best album up to that point? DK: These days, so much of the songwriting process is co-writing, particularly in Nashville. It was not a high point of my life. I learned something from thisthat if you pay attention to the song, the song will tell you what it needs. I didn't know what to make of it. 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. But I was probably over halfway finished with Cant Fight This Feeling, and I felt that it was something special. Still now, this band is remarked and will be noted for its best performance in rock kinds of music. 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. When you write a song, you have no idea the journey that song may or may not take you on. We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. When we play Time for Me to Fly in concert, it's always one of those songs that gets a big response. Theyre all home (and becoming) young adults. All of his kids have left home, but when his daughter started working remotely and his sons colleges closed, all three moved back into the family home. 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. Fortunately, I stumbled into my home studio, which was a very humble little studio back in those days. Because I had a couple lines, they gave me the script, and it didn't dawn on me at first, but then I noticed the name of the episode was Kevin Cronin Was Here. I thought that was just a working title. It just so happens that the album came out when I was in junior high school. "Pretty In Pink" by Psychedelic Furs was released in 1981. Gary, Posted by REO Speedwagon onSunday, 13 September 2015, Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. On Friday, as the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin for George Floyd's murder continued in Minneapolis, REO lead singer Kevin Cronin joined LaTonya and others for a vigil honoring George, 46, at The Community of Faith Church in Houston, where Cronin and LaTonya stood on stage and sang the song together. I'm self-taught on. Thats not to say they never willsongs have a way of surfacing in the future sometimes. 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. Cronin, like the rest of the band, earned a reputation as a party animal. 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.. Directed by Arnold Levine, the black-and-white footage was shot at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri at their show on May 13, 1978. I can tell when a song is too much craftsmanship and not enough inspiration. 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. Showing Editorial results for kevin cronin of reo speedwagon. 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. Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUN Show more REO Speedwagon - Event. DK: One of my favorite songs is Roll With The ChangesI think that song has inspired a lot of people. 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. I didnt really picture myself as a Los Angeles person, Im a Midwest boy. 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. Have you ever played a dental convention or equally oddball gig? 1980 - Present43 years. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Theres no bigger influence for me. The neck fits my left hand perfectly, and it sounds exactly how I think an electric guitar should sound. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! He was 65. Are you and the band working on a new studio album? Read REO Speedwagon's bio and find out more about REO Speedwagon's songs, albums, and chart history. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. Your email address will not be published. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. As my father always used to say, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and in songwriting thats ityour opening line. YouTube Video link: REO Speedwagon band was one of the top groups in the 20th century. [But] they sent me the first two seasons of the show and I got on the tour bus, got in my bunk and binge-watched. In addition to being in the band Carcosa, he has also been in Galactic Pegasus and One More Slice. 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.". 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. If you catch Linda at a wedding be sure to check out the dance floor. Offers may be subject to change without notice. I was talking to someone today about how the opening line of a song is so important to me. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names. In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. Here is the Q&A interview with Kevin Cronin: DK: When did you join REO Speedwagon, andhow did you developa key role as the bands singer & songwriter? We did have a feeling that there was something special going on. I had the verses already written. The cause of death has not yet been. . REO Speedwagon has released a number of successful albums, including 1980s Hi Infidelity,which sold 10 million copies in the United States. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. How much is REO Speedwagon worth? When REO Speedwagon were at the peak of their popularity in the 1980s, their tours were known to get pretty wild. Ozark, a dark, violent drama about family both the crime and blood variety is not the kind of show where youd expect to hear the light classic rock stylings of REO Speedwagon. He realized that the band needed songs. Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. Had I seen [that script] But that was episode one. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. But I was looking at the discography of your hits, and I noticed that you wrote your biggest hits by yourself. I didnt just want to jump on an airplaneit was too big of a move for me. REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. In addition, his songs Roll With The Changes and Keep The Fire Burning have had an enduring impact, becoming rock anthems which convey positive and uplifting lyric themes. I can always pick up a guitar or sit down at the piano. I wrote Keep On Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling and Roll With The Changes on the piano. She's thinking about what her life would be like without [Marty/Jason Bateman]. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. It was one of those albums which was definitely top-heavy with songs that people, to this daythey come to our concerts and we play at least five or six songs from Hi Infidelity every night. They also have pleaded not guilty. So that was special. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. "I had my eyes closed the whole time picturing my brother. 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? Tell me about being on set to film your scene. 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. 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 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.' ". "When Gregg left the band in 1977, he took with him the prog-leaning extended instrumental section aspect of the REO sound," Cronin wrote. They were told they could either bail him out or Paris would spend the next 4 days in jail. Linda has been writing professionally since November 2012. 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). When youre writing a song, you have no idea where that songs going to end upyou dont know whats going to happen. Yes! Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. 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.
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