REO Speedwagon to Cease Touring Due to ‘Irreconcilable Differences’
Source: Bruce Hall and Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon perform at Shoreline Amphitheatre on July 15, 2022 in Mountain View, California. (Steve Jennings/Getty Images)
Legendary rock band REO Speedwagon announced Monday it will cease touring due to “irreconcilable differences,” according to their website. Disagreements between bassist Bruce Hall and frontman Kevin Cronin has led to the band to cease touring, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
REO Speedwagon had been on their “Back on the Road Again” tour this summer – without Hall – and plans to continue their tour through Nov. 23. Hall underwent back surgery last fall, leaving bass duties to Matt Bissonette for all of their 2024 shows to “keep the Wagon rolling.”
According to the band, Hall had hoped to return to the band by now, but that decision was “not up to just him.”
“The consensus opinion was that [Hall] had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect,” the band said in a statement.
“[Hall] never had any intention of retiring or walking away from the band, fans, and crew he has loved for almost 50 years,” the band said.
The statement then went on to express Cronin’s side of the story, saying he too hasn’t had any intention on leaving REO Speedwagon. The band’s statement continued talking about the collective disappointment in the way things played out for REO.
Source: American rock group REO SPEEDWAGON members: Richard Marx, Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Bruce Hall, Alan Gratzer, circa 1978. (BSR Agency/Gentle Look via Getty Images)
“Due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between [Hall] and [Cronin],” the band said. “So, it is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1, 2025. Neal [Doughty], [Cronin] and [Hall] thank their fans for all their years of loyal support and for giving back to the band such wonderful memories that will remain with each of them forever.”
On his Facebook page, Hall released his own statement:
“Never ever thought it would end like this and I’m heartbroken,” Hall said. “Please know [Doughty] and I did everything in our power to try and keep the Wagon rolling. I am so appreciative of ALL the amazing love and support. You guys have been very vocal and clear in your wishes for me to return to the stage. Trust me … that’s all I wanted too. We all deserved a farewell tour.”
REO Speedwagon was supposed to perform as part of their summer tour at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in August, but canceled the show the day before due to “voice concerns” from one of the band members in either REO or Train, who were touring together.
Coming together in 1967 in Champaign, Illinois, REO Speedwagon has been recording and touring in some form or another ever since. In that time the band has released 16 studio albums amid several lineup changes.
While none of the original members tour with the band any longer (Doughty, the last remaining original member, retired from touring in 2023), longtime lineup staples like Cronin and Hall have kept the “Wagon rolling” the last several decades, but apparently the wheels have finally rolled off.
