After five spectacular decades, REO Speedwagon, as we know it, came to an end on Las Vegas' Venetian Theater stage in December. Two months earlier, the arena rock legends announced their retirement from live performing, citing "irreconcilable differences." Although ceasing to tour under the name REO Speedwagon, frontman Kevin Cronin will continue performing hits like "Take It On the Run" and "Can't Fight This Feeling." Recently, Cronin further elaborated on the events that culminated in the band's split.
In November 2023, longtime REO Speedwagon bassist Bruce Hall took a leave of absence to have back surgery. In the meantime, the band brought in Matt Bissonette, who has played for Elton John and David Lee Roth, to take his place for their Las Vegas residency. However, Hall still retained ownership in REO Speedwagon, along with vocalist Kevin Cronin and keyboardist Neal Doughty.
Initially, Hall planned to return to the stage by March 2024. However, Cronin said during a recent appearance on SiriusXM's The Eddie Trunk Podcast that he had his doubts from the beginning.
"I saw the X-ray and I'm like, dude, 'I don't see how you're going to be ready by March 1st, June 1st,'" said Cronin, 73. "I said, 'If I were you, man, I would just sit out the year.' And he didn't take very kindly to that."
When the pair got around to discussing Hall's return, Cronin says that his former bandmate made "irresponsible" and "impossible" demands. By that time, he said, the online rumor mill had grabbed ahold of the story.
"The specifics and the details of what goes on in rock bands, it's meant to stay within the band," Cronin told Trunk. "What I've heard has been circulated online is that I somehow prevented Bruce from touring, from coming out on the road last year. And that's just inaccurate. It's just not the truth."
Finding themselves at a stalemate, REO Speedwagon agreed to cease touring by 2025.
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While Kevin Cronin admits that "it just got ugly," he denies that he wanted to abandon REO Speedwagon to pursue a solo career.
"I would never quit REO Speedwagon," he declared. I've spent my adult life working to enhance REO Speedwagon and always lift the bar on REO Speedwagon to make the band better and better and better." However, he later added that he wishes Bruce Hall "nothing but the best."
Meanwhile, Hall has put forth a different account on his own social media page, stating that the frontman "quit." "No one forced [Cronin] to rebrand. He decided he wanted to tour with the sub bassist instead of me," the bassist wrote in January.
"He and he alone did this," Hall continued. "I wanted nothing more than to continue to tour after my scheduled, successful back surgery. I've been cleared to play since January."