REO Speedwagon classic lineup reunites to perform with university marching band

2 October 2025, 10:47 | Updated: 2 October 2025, 10:49

A year after their supposed final split, REO Speedwagon make a very special live appearance.

REO Speedwagon called it a day last year, thanks to "irreconcilable differences” between singer Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall.

They played what was billed as their farewell show on December 21, 2024 at The Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas.

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But the band had a happy reunion at the weekend to play a short homecoming set with the University Of Illinois marching band.

What's more, it was the classic era of the band who performed for the first time in four decades. That meant not just Kevin Cronin, Bruce Hall and Neal Doughty, but also founding member Alan Gratzer on drums.

While still technically members of the group last year, Doughty and Hall were replaced by Derek Hilland and Matt Bissonette for their 2024 shows.

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Gratzer departed the line-up in 1988, being briefly replaced by Graham Lear before Bryan Hitt picked up the sticks for a 35 year stint with the group.

Doughty, Gratzer, Hall and early members Terry Luttrell, Mike Murphy and Steve Scorfina had previously played a show in June this year at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois, where they paid tribute to late guitarist Gary Richrath and bass player Gregg Philbin, but Cronin wasn't present.

"The organisers of the Champaign event could have picked a date when all of the former members of REO were available to participate," Cronin wrote on Facebook at the time, complaining that he was already booked to perform with Styx and Kevin Cronin Band that evening.

"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.

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"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 honoring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded."

However, he shrugged off that hurt to appear at Saturday's show (September 27), although he didn't sing during the three-track performance of 'Ridin' the Storm Out', 'Roll With the Changes' and '157 Riverside Avenue' alongside the acclaimed Marching Illini.

Drummer Gratzer described the reunion as "special" and when asked if this was their last ever appearance, the group said: "You never know."