The Heartbreaking Truth: Why REO Speedwagon Is Retiring From Touring In 2025

The lights are dimming on one of classic rock's most enduring touring acts. On January 1, 2025, REO Speedwagon will officially cease all touring activities, marking the end of a nearly six-decade run on the road. This abrupt "retirement" announcement, which broke in September 2024, came as a shock to fans who have followed the band's non-stop touring schedule for decades, and the reason is far more complex and heartbreaking than a simple desire to slow down. The decision was not a unanimous one, but rather the result of deep, "irreconcilable differences" that arose between two of the band’s longest-serving members: frontman Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall. This internal conflict, compounded by the earlier retirement of a founding member, forced the iconic band to slam the brakes on their live performance career.

The news has sparked intense curiosity about the future of the band's music, the fate of the classic hits, and the specifics of the internal drama that led to the split. As of late 2025, the remaining members are navigating a challenging transition, with lead singer Kevin Cronin planning a new entity to continue performing the legendary catalog. The band's final touring dates throughout late 2024 served as a bittersweet farewell to the REO Speedwagon name, leaving a legacy defined by anthems like "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling."

REO Speedwagon: Core Members and Band Biography Profile

REO Speedwagon was formed in 1967 in Champaign, Illinois, by students at the University of Illinois. The band's name comes from a model of 1915 truck, the REO Speed Wagon. While the lineup has seen numerous changes over the years, the core of their commercial success was built around a stable lineup that defined the arena rock era of the late 70s and early 80s.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

• Founding Year: 1967
• Origin: Champaign, Illinois, USA
• Key Genre: Arena Rock, Pop Rock, Hard Rock
• Peak Commercial Success: Hi Infidelity (1980) – Diamond-certified, sold over 10 million copies.
• Founding Member (Last to Tour): Neal Doughty (Keyboards)
• Longest-Serving Current Members: Kevin Cronin (Vocals, Guitar) and Bruce Hall (Bass)
• Current Touring Lineup (until Jan 2025): Kevin Cronin, Bruce Hall, Dave Amato (Guitar), Bryan Hitt (Drums), and Derek Hilland (Keyboards - filling in for Doughty).
• Key Albums: T.W.O. (1972), Ridin' the Storm Out (1973), You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish (1978), Hi Infidelity (1980), Good Trouble (1982).

The Irreconcilable Rift: Kevin Cronin vs. Bruce Hall

The primary catalyst for REO Speedwagon's touring retirement was a dramatic and public split between lead singer Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall. The announcement in September 2024 cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason the group would cease touring as an entity on January 1, 2025.

This conflict was described as a "complex situation" that arose between the two long-time bandmates. While the exact, intimate details of the disagreement remain private, the context points to a struggle over the band's future, particularly concerning touring and the use of the REO Speedwagon name. The tension appears to have escalated to a point where one party lost the legal right to continue using the name for touring purposes, forcing the abrupt end of the iconic brand on the road.

Kevin Cronin, who has been the band's frontman for most of its history, publicly expressed his sadness over the situation, implying that the decision was not his preferred outcome. The fallout is a classic example of the kind of internal drama that often plagues long-running rock bands, where business, creative control, and personal relationships finally collide after decades of shared history and success.

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

The Precursor: Neal Doughty's Retirement and the Loss of the Last Original Member

The underlying instability that led to the 2025 touring cessation began two years earlier with the retirement of the band's last remaining original member. In January 2023, founding keyboardist Neal Doughty announced he was retiring from touring after 55 years with the band.

Doughty was the only member to appear on all 16 of REO Speedwagon's studio albums, making him the sole constant presence since the band's formation in 1967. His departure meant that for the first time in its history, the REO Speedwagon touring lineup contained no original founding members. This symbolic shift likely contributed to the "complex situation" that later led to the rift between Cronin and Hall, as the band's legal and emotional foundation began to change.

Doughty's decision was an understandable one, citing that he had "spent his entire adult life on the road." However, his absence from the touring lineup removed a key anchor, paving the way for the later, more decisive split that ended the touring career of the REO Speedwagon name entirely.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

What Happens Next? The Future of the Music with "The Kevin Cronin Band"

While the REO Speedwagon name will no longer grace concert marquees after January 1, 2025, the music itself will continue. The immediate aftermath of the announcement revealed Kevin Cronin's plan to continue performing the band's hits under a new banner.

The remaining musicians from the final REO Speedwagon touring lineup—including guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt—will continue as "The Kevin Cronin Band." This new entity is being billed as "The Voice and Songs of REO Speedwagon," a clear indication that the focus will remain on the beloved catalog of classic rock staples.

The formation of The Kevin Cronin Band is a direct response to the legal ramifications of the split. Since Cronin lost the right to use the REO Speedwagon name for future touring, creating a new, legally distinct entity allows him to keep the band's crew employed and, most importantly, continue performing the songs that fans have cherished for decades.

A New Chapter for the Classic Hits

For fans, the transition means that the experience of hearing the classic songs live will continue, albeit under a different name. The setlist will undoubtedly feature all the power ballads and rock anthems that defined the band's career, including:

• "Take It on the Run"
• "Keep On Loving You"
• "Can't Fight This Feeling"
• "Roll with the Changes"
• "Time for Me to Fly"
• "Ridin' the Storm Out"

This move mirrors similar strategies employed by other classic rock acts facing internal disputes or member retirements, ensuring that the musical legacy endures even when the original brand name is retired. The "Kevin Cronin Band" essentially becomes the successor, preserving the sound and energy that REO Speedwagon brought to the arena stage.

The End of an Era: The Legacy of REO Speedwagon

The retirement of REO Speedwagon from touring marks the end of a remarkable era in American rock music. The band's non-stop dedication to the road is legendary, having built a massive following through relentless touring, a strategy that helped them break through with their diamond-selling album, Hi Infidelity. They were masters of the arena rock genre, blending hard rock guitar riffs with catchy pop melodies and heartfelt power ballads.

Despite the sad circumstances of its touring end—a casualty of internal disputes and the natural progression of time—REO Speedwagon’s contribution to the landscape of classic rock is undeniable. The songs remain staples on radio and in the hearts of multiple generations of fans. While the "irreconcilable differences" brought the touring name to a halt, the formation of the Kevin Cronin Band ensures that the voice and the songs will continue to roll with the changes, keeping the spirit of REO Speedwagon alive for years to come.